LU BOARD MEMBER JOY ORTEGA TAKES HER GREEN MIND INTO THE NEXT LEVEL
By: Joanna C. Guerrero | Photos By: Airwind Bautista, SP Secretariat and PIO | Date: January 6, 2023
Board Member and Tourism Committee Chairman Joy R. Ortega is taking her environmental advocacy to the next level through the program dubbed as โClassroom Without Walls.โThe initiative, which was created by BM Ortega, aims to educate young children on the importance of the environment through a fun and engaging way. The program is composed of a series of activities, spread over 4 days, to give children a hands-on experience in sustainable living and environmental conservation.
The first activity was held on January 6, 2023 at Canaoay Elementary School in San Fernando City. It kicked off with an opening ceremony and orientation program for Grade 2 pupils. It was followed by lectures on proper planting methods and a vegetable planting experience in the school garden.
The following week, they were further encouraged to be environmentally responsible citizens as they were immersed into a coastal clean-up drive along the shores of Brgy. Canaoay. The group learned about proper waste management and were able to collect 7 kilograms of trash during the 1-hour clean-up drive.
For their third session, the pupils played the role of โbeach patrollersโ for a day at CURMA in Brgy Ili Sur, San Juan. They were educated about the importance of turtles and ways to protect them. The kids also had a coloring activity. The highlight of the day was the hatching of the turtles on the very day of the tour and their releasing to the sea.
Switching to a modern form of learning that extends beyond the classroom, the kids were brought to Lotus Valley, an emerging Eco-Tourism destination in Brgy. Dasay, San Juan. Owner and environmentalist, Mr. Toby Tamayo started off with an "eco-tour," an outdoor activity which incorporated the identification of different plants and lectures on protecting the environment. In addition, they created artworks by using leaves and flowers, sang songs of praise, and were served a delicious vegan lunch in the middle of the forest. Kids were running around, enjoying the openness of the place and soaking in the wonders of nature. Mrs. Marissa Tamayo and SIFCare volunteers facilitated the activities which ended with an inspirational message from Gov. Rafy Ortega-David.
โThe goal of this program is to inspire kids to become more engaged in their communities and to have real life experiences that teach them valuable lessons. It helps kids understand why the environment is important and provides them with the building blocks they need to live eco-friendly and sustainable lives,โ said BM Ortega, as she happily shared her experiences with the kids throughout the whole program.
โI am a believer that when children spend time exploring nature, they will protect the things that they love,โ she further said.
One of the parents expressed her commendation and appreciation for the program saying, โNakakatuwa po ang programang ito na sa murang edad ng mga bata natututo silang alagaan ang kalikasan para din sa kanilang kinabukasan. Mas maigi talagang minsan hindi lang sa classroom ang pag-aaral. (It's really nice to know that through this program, the kids, at their very young age, learn how to take care of the environment, which will have a direct impact on their future. Sometimes, it is really better learned outside the classroom.โ
This project was implemented by the Provincial Government of La Union headed by Gov. Rafy Ortega-David, through its Environment and Natural Resources Office, in partnership with the Department of Education, SIFCare-CURMA, and Lotus Valley. "Classroom Without Walls" drives the realization of the PGLU's vision to be the heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025.
โClassroom without Wallsโ is a continuous program which taps pupils in various schools in La Union. Second wave is targeted to be staged March this year.
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