AFoCO successfully completed the second Youth Volunteer Dispatch Project in the Philippines in partnership with Khayah International and Energy Development Corporation (EDC) from August 11 to 19. It fostered meaningful youth participation in climate action and strengthening collaboration with local communities.
At the AFoCO Project 040 site, youth volunteers participated in hands-on training from EDC, a renewable energy company in the Philippines. The EDC team provided lectures on the climate crisis, highlighted the importance of renewable energy, and guided participants through the nurseries and geothermal power plant operations. Volunteers also toured the arboretum, where they learned about native and threatened species, and engaged in practical tree planting activities. Through these activities, youth volunteers experienced full cycle of forest restoration and the tangible impact of their efforts.
In Osiao High School, where 253 students between the ages of 12 and 17 study, the youth volunteers participated in various activities that combined education and culture. Together with local students, they took part in a “plogging” activity to clean the seashore and conducted environmental campaign to raise awareness of ocean plastic pollution. These activities created a lively space where environmental learning blended with cultural exchange.
In Basud Elementary School, which has 504 students aged 6 to 12, the volunteers supported environmental awareness through gardening, helping students weed and cultivate their school gardens. To strengthen climate education, they also performed a hand-washing dance and delivered lectures on climate change, making basic concepts both fun and relatable for children.
The project not only strengthened AFoCO’s partnerships with EDC and Khayah International but also showcased its ongoing efforts in the Philippines. By engaging youth and local communities in tree planting and environmental campaigns, it highlighted the power of collaboration in driving climate action and inspired a generation of young climate leaders to carry forward the lessons of sustainability. Building on this success, AFoCO will broaden the impact of youth climate action across Asia and deepen collaboration with communities and partners to nurture future climate leaders committed to safeguarding forests and ecosystems.
Contributed by Jiyeong Jang, Assistant Program Officer of Strategic Planning Team