[PRESS RELEASE]
September 28 culminates the Global Goals Week celebration and awareness campaign of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Local SDG Action Partner CollaboX, together with SEED4COM, kicked off the celebration last September 17 to 18 with the National Clean Up Day Coalition for World Clean Up Day that mobilized local government units, youth groups and engaged citizens to participate from home here in the Philippines. On its 7th year, the National Clean Up Day 2021 conducted virtual training sessions on composting, upcycling and ecobrick making as well as small-group clean ups from Cavite to Laguna to Negros and Cebu. With the messages of support from The President, Vice President, Climate Change Commission and local leaders, this grassroots movement carries on the global campaign toward local action for reducing waste, protecting the environment and cleaning our oceans and waterways.
Ecobrick Training at Olango Island, Lapu Lapu City. Photo by Dann Diez, SEED4COM
Youth volunteers in Brgy. Pajac participating in National Clean Up Day. Photo by Christian Saligumba, Cebu Coalition of Student Councils
The global movement continued on with several days of virtual dialogues and keynote speeches from UN SDG Ambassadors to local project project leaders in different countries. This included the 3-day SDG Action Zone which brought the UN to the world and the world to the UN with its program focusing on poverty, inequalities, gender and climate action.
Photo by the United Nations
The UN Food Systems Summit also gathered innovators and thought leaders in promoting the transformation of food systems for healthier food production, sustainable agriculture, nutrition and zero hunger.
On September 25, the annual Global Citizen Live took to cities across the world its 24-hour music festival "To Defend the Planet and Defeat Poverty." The goal is to raise awareness and call for action by governments to invest in climate action and fight famine. The performances by top artists were livestreamed on the United Nations YouTube Channel and other media partners.
In the Philippines, CollaboX teams up with other social innovators to showcase local stories of action with “Voices from the Grassroots” virtual event on September 28. This virtual gathering brings together advocates, innovators and changemakers and gives a platform to showcase local actions taken to work towards the Global Goals. April V. Ong Vaño of Collabox shares that "These SDGs may seem very lofty and out of reach but as the campaign goes - every action matters to move the world - and this event is a testament to that. Empowered Filipinos are taking matters in their own hands and engaging others to do the same."
Participants of the program include locally-driven projects and organizations for the planet and for people. This includes: Cebu Coalition of Student Councils, Unawa PH, Eagle Scouts, EcoBricks PH, The Circle Hostel x Project 0613 BUILD THE SOOP, GT Save Manila Bay Task Force, SEED4COM, National Clean Up Day Coalition, Claire On Air, Roots Collective, Olango Payaw Project, Philippine Accessible Disability Services, Dubby's Ultimate Burgers, Pusyon Kinaiyahan (Alliance for the Earth), Aretes Style, My Soul Brief-Case, Budbud Gourmet Suman, OSYAF Online SDG Youth Action Forum and other project partners of CollaboX of SEED4COM.
Beyond Global Goals Week, let us all contribute to achieving the SDGs by participating in online initiatives, using your voice to raise awareness and taking local action now. Dann Diez of SEED4COM challenges everyone to "walk the talk and start doing something in your own community."
Photo by CollaboX
As a social enterprise, CollaboX is a platform for organizations and local businesses to collaborate in pursuit of social innovation. CollaboX remains committed to responding to the call for action and promotion of partnerships for sustainable development.
Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities (SEED4COM) is a volunteer-based NGO which addresses grassroots gaps to spur restoration, rehabilitation and sustainable growth in rural and urban poor communities across the Philippines.
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