LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET — In response to rapid urbanization, rising waste management challenges, and the pressing global call for sustainability, Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) through its Climate Warriors Club (CWC) successfully spearheaded “AYWANAN NAN ILI: Climate Warriors’ Answer to Climate Call.”
Held from June 24 to July 5, 2025, at the CCDC Campus, the two-week environmental initiative engaged approximately 250 youth leaders and community members representing various local organizations across La Trinidad.
Empowering Youth Through Global-Local Synergy
Organized by CCDC-CWC student officers under the guidance of club adviser, Ms. Kahren Wayet, Aywanan nan Ili (a local phrase translating to “taking care of the homeland”) was implemented through the prestigious Movers 4 Green Jobs Fellowship.
The fellowship program – an initiative under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported by UN Volunteers—is designed to empower young people across the Asia-Pacific region. By equipping participants with the knowledge, skill sets, and professional networks required to pursue green careers, the program fosters meaningful contributions to local and global climate action.
Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action
The Aywanan nan Ili project directly reinforces SDG 13 (Climate Action) by exemplifying institutional collaboration with international non-governmental bodies to advance grassroots environmental education.
The initiative served a dual purpose:
1. Educational Platform: Delivering comprehensive environmental education that addresses ecological balance, social responsibility, and sustainable development.
2. Call to Action: Training participants in practical, community-level solutions to waste management and urban environmental decay.
Through strategic partnerships with bodies like the UNDP and UN Volunteers, CCDC continues to position its student leaders at the forefront of climate advocacy—empowering the youth of Benguet to become proactive implementers of sustainable local solutions.
