I can personally attest to the fact that the Landmark Scholarship Program has been successful in attaining its goal not only in capacity building of participants but also in instilling the values for sustainable management of forests and other resources. The program has provided me both technical knowledge of the said field and also given me the opportunity to understand the host country in many aspects. For one, the management of the environment and natural resources in South Korea is very impressive, the people are warm, and the customs and traditions are very rich. This has allowed me to gain the confidence to do my best and fulfill my obligations as a scholar. This was indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity worth being remembered.
Given the prestige of being one of the selected few AFoCO scholars, it is with great pride and privilege to be an alumna of the University and the AFoCO scholarship program. I feel it is imperative for a scholar to carry out and cascade the learnings and make an impact on society. Such an impact brings positive change for the welfare of the people and the environment.
In order to achieve impact, I would basically take advantage of my position in the government to materialize the knowledge and skills I have acquired in the program in terms of effectively managing the environment and natural resources in my country. My participation in the program is crucial as I can now relate the theories and concepts with the actual scenarios of a localized environment and natural resources issues and challenges facing my country. It is an advantage for me to be in the Planning Office as the program sparked a realization that complex challenges require a systematic approach to respond to these peculiarities and recommend solutions and strategies. As a result, I may now propose enhancements to the current policies, plans, programs, and projects of the Department to strengthen sustainable protection and conservation of the environment and natural resources.