Change for the better

MANILA, Philippines - When asked about environmental issues, youth advocate Arnel Alipao replies, “It is essential to involve youth and children.”

A speaker at the 2nd Asian Children’s Museum Conference helmed by Museo Pambata last month, Arnel’s thought echoes that of many other speakers who discussed innovations in environment-related products and technology, new ways of teaching children about conserving nature, children’s literature that takes up environmental issues, and more.

The conference, which tackled the theme “Children and Climate Change,” highlighted the fact that children are greatly affected by environment problems – perhaps the most affected since it will be their generation that will have to deal with the effects of climate change.

The distinguished speakers at the conference included Dr. Meg Burke, director of Teacher and Youth Education at the California Academy of Sciences; Ameline Coulombier, project manager of a touring interactive exhibition on climate change called FORWARD+50; Lilibeth La ‘O, director/curator of Museo Sang Bata sa Negros; writer Carla Pacis; Jose Ma. Lorenzon Tan, CEO and vice chairman of the board of trustees of WWF Philippines; and Dr. Thomas van der Walt of the Department of Information Science at the University of South Africa, among other guest speakers and panelists.

Bryan McClelland’s bamboo bike is featured on the innovations panel.

Arnel, who gave the UNICEF repost on children and climate change on the first day of the conference, is well aware of the effects of climate change and has experienced dealing with natural disasters at an early age.

“Way back in high school, I used to cross some point in the provincial road which, during lengthy rains, is overrun by strong currents due to flash floods that make the way impassable,” he recalls of his experiences growing up in Surigao del Norte. 

“No one is exempted when calamity strikes. Young or old, rich or poor, we are all vulnerable in any disaster,” he says.

Early on, Arnel realized the importance of taking care of the environment because of the negative effects of climate change. “It’s the irregularity of the climate which brings unusual storms, then the floods that follow on and on in our place, submerging the common sources of our livelihood... We usually go hungry since we are relying on the root crops and rice fields for livelihood.”

A youth advocate for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Arnel has traveled to many places to talk about his advocacy.

“As a DRR youth advocate, I participate actively and encourage my peers in the community to take collective actions by planting trees, regular clean-up drives, and by building a strong partnership with the elders in the community and other stakeholders through conversations regarding the current issues prevalent in the community,” he says.

Arnel now studies at Caraga State University Cabadbaran Campus in Agusan del Norte where he is an officer of the Central Student Government. As an officer, he implemented a zero-waste management project in the campus.

A woman sells items made of recycled materials at the Tienda at Fiesta sa Museo Pambata.

He adds, “With the support of World Vision Philippines and Surigao Norte People’s Initiative Development Association (SNPIDA), I have been given the opportunities to participate in seminars, workshops and conferences about environmental awareness.”

One of his contributions to the cause is recommending that DRR become part of the school’s curriculum – a proposal he made in a speech last year at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Much of the responsibility, Arnel adds, still lies in the community leaders and government officials – “By giving the children and youth sustainable programs in the community with respect to the environment, and by implementing locally with efficacy the existing policies and laws of the government regarding this... there’s no doubt that Disaster Risk Reduction will be realized.”

Arnel says, “It is the collective effort of all the stakeholders and good governance in local, national, and international communities that are the key elements in this undertaking.”

A joint effort, indeed, it was with expert speakers, educators, and even some government officials taking part in the 2nd Asian Children’s Museum Conference. The participants thoroughly enjoyed the conference which, aside from speeches and panel discussions, also featured a fashion show by Ann Wizer and Alma Quinto, music, and fun activities as well.

“What a very memorable experience!” says Arnel of the conference, “I’ve been to numerous conferences, but the energy of the Children’s Museum Conference is incredibly different.”

With a brighter future in mind for the children of today, the participants of the 2nd Asian Children’s Conference are hopeful that by starting to care more for the environment now, the situation can only change for the better for all of us.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte-Alimurung talks about the city’s Plantsahan and pocket garden projects.