Selected student organizations from across the University of the Philippines System were awarded seed grants for their proposed grassroots projects at the end of the first-ever Champions of Change and Innovation: UP Youth Summit on Sustainable Development Goals, held March 12-13 at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, UP Diliman.
The summit aimed to strengthen student leaders’ understanding of sustainable development, equip them with practical and actionable skills, and promote collaboration in implementing grassroots initiatives within their communities. It was organized by the UP Office of the President through the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Office of Student Development Services, in partnership with UP-CIFAL Philippines and the UP Asian Center.
SDG-aligned projects
The top three SDG-aligned capstone projects pitched by student organizations received seed funding worth PhP50,000. They were: Balik-Bacauan: A Community-Led Mangrove Rehabilitation Project in Barangay Bacauan, Miagao, Iloilo (UP Visayas); Heartbeat: Incoming Global Volunteer (iGV) Project (UP Manila); and Project EcoSoilMates (UP Tacloban College).
A capstone project from each constituent university was also selected to receive the same seed funding amount. These projects include: Tambon Padayon: A Community-Led Tambon Fishing Revitalization and Capacity Building for Barangay Damilisan, Miagao, Iloilo (UPV); BAHIGON: Barangay Alternative Humification Initiative for Garbage Organization Network (UP Cebu); Juan Health: Health and Wellness Caravan (UPM); Project POSOble (UPTC); BEEPS: Baguio Enhanced Expressway PUJ Scheduling (UP Baguio); Project BAKHAW: Building Awareness, Knowledge, Holistic Action, and Welfare for Mangrove Sustainability (UP Los Baños); Project Isko-Ops 2.0 (UPD); Project Kaagapay (UP Mindanao); and (Re)Claiming Spaces: Establishing an E-Skolar Hub for Academic and Social Activities of UPOU Learners in the Greater Manila Area (UP Open University).
Special awards were also conferred. Balik-Bacauan was recognized as both the most SDG-aligned project and the project with the highest potential community impact. BAHIGON was awarded the most innovative project, while BEEPS received the award for best presentation. Each awardee received a cash prize of PhP4,000.
The grassroots projects will be implemented within a 12-month period in collaboration with partner communities. Projects were evaluated based on alignment with the SDGs, clarity of the community problem, feasibility, innovation, potential impact, and presentation quality. Student teams are required to submit quarterly updates, participate in a midyear progress session, and present their results at a final forum. Each team will be guided by a faculty mentor, and seed funding will be released in three phases.
Lectures by Resource Persons
The summit featured lectures and workshops designed to prepare participants as key partners in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the community level.
In his keynote, UN Resident Coordinator to the Philippines Arnaud Peral emphasized that the SDGs provide a rational pathway toward improving quality of life. He highlighted the importance of learning from best practices and expressed confidence in the Philippines’ potential to lead transformative efforts.
Aiman Jameel Albarakati, director of CIFAL Saudi Arabia, underscored that progress occurs incrementally and at the community level. He emphasized that meaningful change is driven by individuals — particularly young people — with courage, imagination, and a willingness to act.
A panel discussion on youth participation in national and global multisectoral platforms featured KABATAAN Party-list Representative Renee Louise Co, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network–Youth Initiative Coordinator Rafaella Justine Marie Villena, and 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines, Inc. Executive Director Ranze Aaron Calderon, who shared insights from their work.
Another panel discussion focused on inclusion, protection, and advocacy for women and youth. Speakers included Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Sarah Jane Elago, UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies Director Marie Aubrey Villaceran, and UP Alumni Association of San Francisco Board Member Sonia Delen.
Lectures were also delivered by UP-CIFAL Philippines Director Michelle Palumbarit and CIFAL York University multimedia specialist Peyman Naeemi (Embedding SDGs within Higher Education Institutions), Asian Institute of Management-Dado Banatao Incubator Executive Director Prim Paypon (Dreamageneering Filipino Innovations for Sustainable Impact), Keep the Change: Youth Policy Lab Founder and Chief Executive Officer Gerald John Guillermo (Good Governance and Democratic Citizenship Among the Youth), Lemonade Manila Executive Committee Member Meg Yarcia (Promoting Mental Health and Well-being Among the Youth), and UP Resilience Institute Executive Director Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay (Building Skills for Climate Action). These sessions provided participants with deeper insights into SDGs and the role of youth in grassroots initiatives.
UP President Angelo Jimenez, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Pe Symaco, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Student Affairs) Ma. Shari Niña Oliquino, OSDS Director Tristan Nathaniel Ramos, and AC Dean Noel Christian Moratilla delivered inspirational messages during the event.
Solidarity messages were also delivered by Brodie Beales (CIFAL Newcastle), Alex Mejia (UN Institute for Training and Research), and Nazh-far Mariwa Berganio (UNHCR Global IDP Advisory Group).
