With 21 Badjao kids as participants in this year’s Children’s Day, Samahan Department of Campaigns and Advocacies (DCA) Director Amiel Jay Lopez aimed to extend the importance of educating the youth, bringing inspiration from Project Dyesabel, particularly on the issue of environmental conservation.

“Para sa akoa, as young as they are, let’s make them very aware kay if bata pa sila aware na sila na “ay hala! problem diay ng magputol kahoy mag labay basura sa dagat” –murag bata pa sila kay sa ilang sarili, makabalo na sila unsa’y tamang buhaton ug maging responsible pod sila sa ilang sariling gipangbuhat,” he said.

The event, earlier held today at F213 in the university’s Finster Building, invited children coming from the Badjao community of Matina Aplaya, Davao City, who participated in activities such as story-telling, film viewings, and writing and drawing activities focusing on environmental conservation.

Inspired by Project Dyesabel, an advocacy for marine conservation and education among children in Davao City, DCA along with the SAMAHAN Welfare Community highlighted that children have the capacity to contribute to the improvement of the environment as young as they are.

“Ang atoang children man gud kay naa naman sila’y capacity to contribute or to care sa atoang environment so kato akoang murag hugot didto. At least somehow, biskan na di gud gani ana ka grabe ang change of perceptions pero ang knowledge lang ba na ma-aware sila kay na-appreciate man nila ug interactive na pod kaayo sila sa mga activities,” Lopez stressed.

Geleta Adjare, a member of the community and one of the cildren’s guardians, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity given to the children of their community through a sequence of in-depth discussions and interactive activities.

“Nagapasalamat jud kaayo ko kay usahay ra mi maka-experience ug ing-ani labi na ang mga bata. Nalipay jud kaayo mi na natagaan sila ug chansa na makasulay sa fiesta diri sa Ateneo,” she said.

The event was assisted by over 40 volunteers including student representatives from the Ecoteneo Student Unit, The Department of Campaign and Advocacies, Future Educators of Ateneo, as well as the Samahan Welfare Committee and Creative Team.