ILIGAN, Philippines — In the Leave a Nest Forest Project, we are doing Education and Cultural Development as one of six approaches. On April 26, 2024, we worked together with the Philippine startup, Galansiyang Inc. in order to provide an education program for the younger generation. 

On April 26, 2024, a vibrant gathering of 135 K-12 students, accompanied by their teachers, participated in the 2024 Earth Day School Fair at Bethany Baptist Academy in Iligan City, Philippines. The event aimed to foster environmental awareness and inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators.

The day commenced with a Tree Walk, an educational activity designed to teach students about the importance of biodiversity. During the walk, students learned to identify various native and exotic tree species, emphasizing the critical role trees play in maintaining ecological balance.

Following the Tree Walk, the event program showcased the environmental and social advocacies of six startup companies. The highlight of the program was a keynote speech delivered virtually by Dr. Takumi Jindo from Leave a Nest Japan, also the Project Lead for the Leave a Nest Forest Project. Dr. Jindo’s inspiring address encouraged the students to pursue careers in science and technology, emphasizing how these fields can significantly contribute to the future development of the Philippines.

Dr. Jindo (on screen) with the young participants of the eTanom Earth Day

In the afternoon, students had the opportunity to explore the booths set up by the participating startups. These interactive booths provided hands-on experiences, allowing students to learn more about the innovative technologies and business models being developed to address environmental challenges.

The event was made possible through the collaboration with the Iligan City Association of Private Elementary and Secondary Schools (ICAPESS), which invited four schools to participate: Ficuva MPC Learning Center, St. Therese de Avila Academy, JAMN Academy, and Bethany Baptist Academy. This partnership ensured a diverse group of students could benefit from the educational and inspirational activities offered at the fair.

Overall, the eTanom Earth Day Fair was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on the young participants and reinforcing the importance of environmental stewardship and scientific innovation. Through this, we hope that in the future, these children will dedicate themselves to protecting and co-existing with our forests, which is one aspect that the Leave a Nest Forest hopes to achieve.