2015.2 Philippines CFP National Workshop

Children from all over the Philippines participated in the National Workshop 2015

The National Workshop 2015 of the Children’s Forest Program (CFP) was held in Nueva Vizcaya Province on February 15-17, 2015. A total of 105 people including children participating in the CFP, school teachers and coordinators from all over the country, came over to take part in the workshop. Under the main theme: “Being a Catalyst of Change in the Community: 21st Century Skills and Youth”, lectures by coordinators and specialists and also other programs such as nature observation, environment poster-making, nature games were conducted.

In the nature observation, profiling plants, experiencing seedlings making and nature games carried out in groups, the children mutually cooperated and learnt from each other. They enjoyed fully utilizing their body and sense and realized the importance of protecting and nurturing the surrounding nature.
   In addition to programs utilizing the ancient scrip and traditional musical instruments of the Philippines, the traditional cultures such as dances and songs from the respective regions were also presented by the children. There are different regional languages and cultures in the Philippines. One of the objectives of the workshop was to take pride in their own regional cultures and also to learn the importance of accepting and respecting the diverse cultures.

In the Philippines where natural disasters are increasing year after year and the environmental problems are developing more serious, they are making efforts to promote environmental education and develop leadership in youth. It is expected that the participants who have learnt biological diversity and cultural diversity will be strong leaders and promote various activities in the respective regions.