Paying it forward

MANILA, Philippines - School plays a big role in launching our careers. We start at the bottom of the career ladder, but with hard work and a little help, we slowly rise to the top. And when we get there, some of us feel the need to pay it forward. But sometimes, this process doesn’t need to be followed. We can always reach out when we want to, especially when you have someone to back your dreams up in helping a community.

Unilab Foundation held a nationwide competition and social marketing clinic for college students. For its fourth year, Unilab Ideas Positive provided a venue for students to create sustainable solutions for concerns on health and wellness in communities in need. “We believe in the creativity and the wealth of ideas coming from the youth. We also realize that they only have limited resources. That’s where Unilab Foundation’s Ideas Positive comes into the picture. We help turn their ideas into reality,” Rhodora Palomar-Fresnedi of Unilab Foundation explained.

Out of 140 student teams that competed nationwide, Jerome Cuyos, Jeanette Cabahug, Rheyz Michael Campilan, John Paul Preston and Sharmaine Grace Tabal of Team Transformers from University of Cebu-Banilad rose to the top. Having seen the alarming sanitary conditions and working situation of the broom makers in Sitio Lapyahan, Mandaue City, the team proposed Angat Kapaligiran, Angat Kalusugan, Angat Kabuhayan. With the seed money provided by the Unilab Foundation, they were able to provide a clean and productive environment for the craftsmen to work in, and effectively lessened the risk of health problems.

Among the other winners are Team Kabayan and Team Malnutrition Rangers of  of University of the Philippines Visayas- Miag-Ao, Team Pneumonia of University of Sto. Tomas, and Team Lunas Lunas of STI San Pablo.

To learn more about their projects and journey throughout the competition, visit their Facebook page (http://facebook.com/Unilab.IdeasPositive)  or website www.unilabfoundation.org.