Kids learn green practices

CEBU, Philippines - The second wave of The FREEMAN Kid Stuff’s green advocacy facilitated an Eco House Tour for 27 children in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City last November 6.

According to Niña Martha Johnson, one of the participants, she enjoyed the tour “as it was very fun.” She described the Archival House (House Close to Nature) as a clean place because people there do not throw their waste outside but reuse these - either as fertilizer or for decorative purposes. “I learned many things like recycling and planting more trees.”

Elisha Iway, on the other hand, said that she enjoyed the tour especially when she learned on how to recycle, reuse, and reduce and how to use magazines in arts and crafts. “Paper can be made into accessories. That’s new information to me,” she said.

As for Gerlyn Remolado, she wrote in her reaction paper that she learned many things about recycling our trash. “I realize all our trash can be converted into money, furniture and accessories. I like that part when we entered the house of Engr. Nestor Archival. Everything inside his house is used things that they recycle. Amazing!”

Czachary Franz Abellana shared that he enjoyed and learned so many things on how to protect Mother Earth. “I hope that I can revisit the House Close to Nature, next time with my family,” he said.

“In this tour, I learned that we should always conserve or not waste the water; that we should put things in the right place, especially the garbage, and we should also recycle things too in order to take good care of our environment. This was really the best tour of my life and that I thank The FREEMAN Kid Stuff and also God,” Johanni Marie Beltran wrote.

As for Chezzny Karry Juera, she mentioned in her essay that she finds the tour a “wonderful experience.”

“Thank you for organizing this kind of tour. It really helped me understand that we should take care of Mother Earth so that the next generation can benefit,” a portion of her essay read.

Cielo Marie Daradar realized that she can “gain money out of trash.” She penned: “I learn that you can sell your trash and make furniture pieces too from paper and plastic.”

Tebley Jollyka Amazona said that the “eco tour makes me realize that cleaning and taking care of Nature is the best way to make our Mother Earth clean. Many speakers really encourage us to apply the 3Rs – reuse, recycle, reduce - and to conserve water.”

Speakers include Fer J. Jun Baldo, staff of The House Close to Nature, who also served as tour guide; Barangay Luz secretary Ronnie Sab-a with livelihood trainors Veronica Amajan and Naria Agang who demonstrated how to make rosary beads, candy dishes, bags and fashion accessories from recycled glossy magazines and bar code sticker paper; and Teacher Rhonette Abatayo who taught kids about junk art and evaluated their creations after the workshop.

* * *

Thank you to our sponsors: Georich Livelihood and Learning Foundation, A House Close to Nature of Engr. Nestor Archival, Islands Souvenirs, SM City Cebu, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Havaianas, ROX – Ayala Center Cebu, JG Summit, Cebu Pacific Air, Universal Robina Corporation, Parklane Cebu International Hotel, World of Fun, Toys R Us, and Human Heart Nature distributed by We Love Organics – A.S. Fortuna branch.