Reaching the Next Generation with the National Youth Council
April 2019
WWF-Philippines National Youth Council (NYC) Co-chairperson Romina Lim stands with students from the UP Diliman. The NYC has been conducting talks in the hopes of inspiring the youth to support conservation efforts within the country.
Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
Open minds and listening ears await the National Youth Council as they continue to carry their message of conservation.
The start of 2019 saw members of the National Youth Council (NYC) of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines hosting and conducting talks and workshops with students of both college and high school levels throughout the country, as part of their mandate to spread the message of conservation to the coming generations.
Lim speaks before an audience at the UP Asian Institute of Tourism. From high schools to colleges, the NYC reaches a wide spectrum of youths in the Philippines. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
The first NYC talks began in March of 2018 with NYC Member Deign Soriano, who is also a Biology Instructor at UP Baguio, hosting talks in his campus while Co-chairperson Romina Lim spoke at UP Diliman – both given on behalf of last year’s Earth Hour. The talks were also centered around the work conducted by WWF-Philippines, with each NYC member offering insights based on their particular field of expertise. Each talk was given in the hopes of inspiring young people to participate in conservation efforts, both through their individual actions and by supporting organizations committed to the environment.
“It may sound cliché, but the youth is our hope for the future,” says Lim. A marine biologist at only 23, Lim recognizes the progressiveness of the youth, their innovative capacity and their familiarity with emerging technologies. “The youth will be the future leaders of this nation. As early as now, the youth should be trained to be earth lovers and conservationists,” she adds.
Lim and Soriano take a selfie with a group of children a school engagement in Tranquilino L. Oblan Elementary School, San Vicente, Palawan. Photograph © Deign Soriano / WWF-Philippines
Talks have continued since the first ones given in March of 2018, with both high schools and universities alike approaching the NYC. So far, talks have been given at UP Diliman, UP Manila and UP Baguio, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippine Science Cordillera Administrative Region Campus, Easter College Baguio, Miriam College Quezon City, St. Joseph’s College Quezon City, St. Mary’s College Baliuag, and a consortium of schools in Rizal and Laguna. With a range spanning much of Luzon, the NYC has reached thousands of students.
“Once you know what is right, you should go out there and do it,” urges Lim, speaking before a Marine Science class at UP Diliman. “Don’t just keep it inside yourself, either. Do something about it.”
NYC Member Gab Mejia speaks at Earth Hour Philippines 2019, presenting his advocacy of conservation through visual storytelling. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
Beyond school walls, events such as WWF’s annual Earth Hour switch-off have given the NYC an opportunity to extend their reach even further. Outside of official WWF-Philippines functions, each NYC member supports conservation work through their own personal advocacies. Gab Mejia, for example, fights for the environment through visual storytelling. As a NatGeo Explorer, as well as part of the NYC, Mejia uses his camera for conservation.
“Our advocacy is fought not just online, but offline as well, teaching and educating kids and learning from the world around us. We are the youth, and we have the power to conserve our world. We just need to be guided,” said Mejia as he spoke to the audience during Earth Hour Philippines 2019.
More talks and events await the current NYC batch as they approach their second year. Many schools and many students have been reached so far and many opportunities have opened up, leaving the team with many options to carry WWF-Philippines’ advocacy to the young people of today. With the support of the youth, the NYC strives to prove that together, a sustainable future is possible, and that it starts today.
For more information, please contact:
Communications & Media Manager Mr. Dan Ramirez (dramirez@wwf.org.ph)
