Youth Take Climate Action with $50,000 Grant

The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is taking steps toward a sustainable future after securing a $50,000 grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The funding will fuel a series of youth-driven initiatives focused on raising climate change awareness and promoting action in environmental conservation and sustainability.

“The grant will facilitate a series of interactive educational activities, including youth-focused community events, digital campaigns, and forums that highlight the importance of environmental conservation and sustainable living,” said the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Transport.

Key projects include the “Our Future, Our Planet” digital campaign, which already engaged student participation across eleven schools. The department also hosted a Climate Change Youth Forum, where students showcased innovative solutions at a Project Design Competition.

During that forum, Muffles College students took the top three spots, with their projects ranging from eco-bricks made from plastic waste to coconut husk-based water filtration systems. The first-place winners, Gianna Flowers, Adir Castillo, and Alexandra Blanco, presented Solar Synergy Schools, which focused on reducing carbon emissions in classrooms by replacing traditional lighting with solar-powered LED systems.

The second-place Husk Flow, developed by Leilani Tun, Jarel Cordova, and Ziraili Narvallez, focuses on using coconut husks to create affordable water filtration systems for rural areas.

Meanwhile, the Eco Bricks team, including Marcel Riverol, Brianna Castillo, and Marvin Flores, seeks to repurpose plastic waste into sustainable building materials.