UNC SHS CES’ ‘Project Sibol’ highlights
urban gardening importance JAYVEE FORTUNO TO HIGHLIGHT THE importance of urban gardening, the UNC Senior High School Community Extension Service (UNC SHS-CES) launched ‘Project Sibol’ last April 5. According to UNC SHS-CES President Eweneja Aquino, the said project was proposed to them by SHS Assistant Principal for Student Affairs Melinda Susana Dy, and even led the distribution of its materials such as pechay seeds, sacks of soil, and water bottles. A total of 26 participants, both from grades 11 and 12, joined the event. “This project was proposed to us in December last year, but due to a fortuitous event, we were not able to push through it and decided to move it this year. It took us more or less than two weeks to gather information and distribute seeds, soil, and planters that the volunteers need,” Aquino added, referring to the weather disturbances that affected the Region during those times. Aquino also mentioned that the project will not be successfully implemented without the cooperation of the officers and members, as well as the volunteers for their time and support. “I can say that this whole experience can be described as a roller coaster ride. I, myself, started from scratch, clueless of what could happen to my plants. Facing different obstacles from time to time, and finding the best solution. But seeing my plants grow makes me so proud, and I could not wait to harvest my plants,” Aquino added,
SOWING THE SEEDS. As part of ‘Project Sibol,’ urban gardening materials were distributed to 26 participating students among Grade 11 and 12 learners. Said project aimed to highlight the significance of urban gardening. Photo by Melinda Susana Dy and words by Pauline Velasco
citing her experience with the project. Meanwhile, UNC SHS-CES Treasurer Babylen Belen felt proud when she saw her plants grow after over a week. “It was great, to be honest, but the experience is quite nerve-wracking because even if I have small knowledge about planting, there are still so many things to know and explore. I even remember, at first, I thought the seeds were not alive because it took almost a week and a half to have a sprout. That time, I was always watching youtube videos and searching for answers to why it wasn’t growing,” Belen continued. Belen also mentioned some of the challenges she faced during the process. “At first when my seeds were already growing our dogs played with it causing it to die. Luckily, I just planted half of the seeds so I was able to plant another batch and so far, they are growing. Another problem that I have encountered is that I was quite busy with my schoolwork so I wasn’t able to water it every day. What I did was to remind myself early in the morning or late in the evening by using my alarm clock. It helped me because it became my breather from my schoolwork,” Belen stated. Aside from conducting community service projects for its adopted communities, the pursuant of the said project linkages to one of the University’s core values ‘We are dynamic and Creative’ as they maximize ideas in forming a project beneficial for the volunteers, officers, and to the community. It is also the organization’s avenue to encourage everyone to engage with environmental activities while being resourceful and creative.
SHS students partake in ‘Project AKI’
JAY VHIE ABUNDA TO BUILD RAPPORT, connect, and fill gaps between students coming from different departments of the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC), the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) conducted a series of training, known as ‘PROJECT Adopt-a-Kid Initiative’ or PROJECT AKI. “Basically, Project AKI is a training program wherein trainers are from the college department while trainees are from the Basic Ed--from Elem to SHS”, Democrat’s Associate Editor and head of the training team of the project in their publication Norene Cantor stated in an interview last July 2. The official publication of the college department headed the said program wherein ten staff members of The PANTOGRAPH x MALAYA also engaged in the said project through a series of training in the different field in Journalism on the following dates: April 17, May 8, and June 3 via Google Meet. The Democrat’s motive on the series of
training is to help their fellow campus journalists’ understanding and sense of purpose: “It is like an initial thought that older people are more experienced and therefore skilled than their juniors, and we believe this project is trying to bridge such knowledge on certain things in order for trainees to propagate their unique takes and eventually make their own creation using this knowledge,” Cantor added. Despite the situation that we have right now, the said project gained positive feedback coming from the participants. “I learned that there are more styles in writing news and editorial articles. As someone who mainly uses a few different ways of writing those articles, it helped me in finding better ways in conveying the truth to the audience as there are styles that can make a topic interesting to the readers,” Jibril Lorente mentioned in an interview last July 3. Lorente’s statement was also agreed upon by Jayvee Fortuno who said that PROJECT AKI helped her improve her writing skills because The Democrat introduced different ideas and styles that aspiring writers can apply in different writing fields.
“It made us realize that there are much more beyond what we know in campus journalism,” she continued. Fellow participant Curt Jairus Perez also praised the personalities of the trainers saying that they are approachable making it easier for him to understand the concepts. Cantor shared that it would have been better if they reached more audiences, however, it is quite understandable in every way because of our setup. Despite a smaller number of participants, The Democrat also expressed its thanks to the editors who worked and put in the effort, as well as The Pantograph’s time and efforts to be with them in the project. From the feedback given to them, Cantor believed they achieved the mission that the OSA gave “We have achieved our purpose of bridging knowledge and also discovering their creativity and skills, learned from them, and gave them ideas on what they can still work on.” Cantor stated. The said project of OSA will be sustained and as for the Democrat, they are willing to continue this program when the OSA calls for their presence.
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