The ability of students to learn and discover new things is not confined within the classrooms.

Last weekend, Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club in Hamilo Coast, a marine protected area in Nasugbu, Batangas served as a classroom for thirty junior and senior high school students from different schools in Metro Manila.

This initiative, organized by one of the leading and responsible integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, SM Prime Holdings Inc., in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, aimed to help instill environmental awareness in the youth by going beyond conventional learning methods. Lectures on water, energy, and waste management provided insights beyond textbooks.

"Gusto naming i-connect ang mga kabataan sa lahat ng sinasabi natin tungkol sa sustainability. Dito, mayro'n kaming opportunity para ipakita sa kanila na ito ang ibig sabihin ng biodiversity, recycling, ito ang ibig sabihin ng sustainable farming," expressed Hans "Chico" Sy Jr., President of SM Engineering Design and Development Corporation (SMEDD).
(We want to connect the youth with all thesustainability efforts that we talk about. Here, we have the opportunity to show them what biodiversity, recycling, and sustainable farming truly mean.)

The eco camp included disaster response activities, addressing challenges posed by climate change such as typhoons and floods. This aimed to help empower Youth Ambassadors to make a positive impact on climate change-related issues.

The students also produced green manifesto videos, sharing their vision for the future and a call to action for their fellow youth. Watch them here.

Rean Kneisha Besitan, a student at Parañaque Science High School, shared her insights, "The entire eco-camp was very, very enjoyable. Grabbing this opportunity means I get to also influence and teach the others, 'yung mga miyembro ng organization namin, na kahit mga simpleng ways lang, kayang-kaya naming gawin, kayang-kaya naming i-adapt sa school namin." (the members of our organization, that even with simple ways, we can do it, we can adapt these practices in our school.)

Meanwhile, Teacher Mary Anna Jaramilla of Quezon City Science High School highlighted the multiplying effect to the students, "The kids that we have now are great multipliers because they have friends, families, schoolmates. From one school to another, they have these small things that they are doing one step at a time, one project at a time. Really, this world will be a better place."

The 3-day eco-camp is the second phase of the "YOUth are the Future" project of SM Prime in partnership with WWF-Philippines. The program unfolds in three phases, offering immersive experiences, educational tours, and a commitment to sustainable living.

In Phase 1, students explored the SM Mall of Asia Complex, discovering SM Prime's environmental efforts, such as water recycling, solar rooftops, efficient lighting, and sensor-operated escalators.

During the ceremonial activity attended by advocates for sustainability, including SM Prime, the World Wide Fund, DENR, DOST, and DEPED, the students were introduced as Youth Ambassadors. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga expressed confidence in the youth's energy and ambition for a better world.

The final leg of the program will follow in 2024 through a series of school and mall tours where the Youth Ambassadors are expected to use the platform to reach a larger number of the youth nationwide.

The eco camp illustrates how hands-on learning can change lives, motivating a new generation of environmentally aware individuals eager to make a positive impact.

'YOUth are the Future' eco camp highlights

To learn more about "YOUth are the Future" and its activities, visit the official Facebook pages of SM Cares and WWF Philippines.