Education is key. Children need to be properly trained and educated to learn how to live differently than what they see in their current surroundings. Well guided children learn better and can step up to create a change in their environment.

Nestlé PH believes in the power of education for change - this belief drives the company in accelerating its efforts to teach proper solid waste management (SWM) for use by parents to help educate their children and local government units to teach their constituents.

These efforts are a component of Nestlé Wellness Campus (NWC), the company's flagship advocacy program in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd). It aims to uplift the lives of Filipino families through nutrition, health and wellness, as well as environmental education. Under NWC, Nestlé PH is helping students to learn and apply seven healthy habits including: choosing nutritious and varied options; managing food portions; choosing to drink water and milk; enjoying meals together as a family; playing actively; keeping good hygiene; and caring for the planet.

According to Christine Ponce-Garcia, Assistant Vice President and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé PH, modules on SWM, developed in collaboration with the National Solid Waste Management Commission, were designed to teach Grade 1 to 10 students to practice the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

"We reaffirm our commitment to raise happy, healthy and environmentally responsible children. They are the future stewards of our planet. We need to educate them as early as possible to be more mindful of the waste we generate and to become more aware of ways to properly segregate and manage waste in school, at home and in their communities," shared Ponce-Garcia.

Nationwide reach, overall impact

Kevin Carpio, NWC Program Lead, shared that all of the program's modules have been given to public school teachers for implementation in their classes.

"The Solid Waste Management modules were rolled out as part of the NWC for the first time this school year 2021-2022. We are grateful to the DepEd for providing us a platform that can reach millions of students, helping to shape their understanding of health and wellness while instilling the importance of caring for our environment," said Carpio.

Teacher Sheena Lyn Briones of Naga Central School II said the SWM modules have inspired their students to make eco-bricks from segregated waste.

"It is one thing to be able to teach our students the value of proper waste disposal. But what brings me more pride and joy is the fact that they were eager to create something useful out of the plastic waste and other trash collected in our school," Briones shared.

The community now ensures that all waste is properly disposed. Making their street one of the cleanest in the country. Photo source: Nestlé

The community now ensures that all waste is properly disposed. Making their street one of the cleanest in the country. Photo source: Nestlé

The community now ensures that all waste is properly disposed. Making their street one of the cleanest in the country. Photo source: Nestlé

The community now ensures that all waste is properly disposed. Making their street one of the cleanest in the country. Photo source: Nestlé

It makes her proud seeing the end products such as chairs, and other items that the children worked so hard for to achieve.

At home, Mommy Maricel Marimat's bonding with daughter Crishel now includes learning and practicing the 3Rs.

"Dahil sa modules ng Nestlé Wellness Campus, natutunan namin bilang isang pamilya ang reduce, reuse and recycle practices. Sa tulong nito, mas naging malinis at nabawasan ang mga insekto sa ang aming kapaligiran," shared Marimat.
(Because of Nestlé Wellness Campus' modules, we learned as a family to practice reduce, reuse, and recycle. It was able to help us to be clean and to clear out insects from our environment.)

Children along with the community create their own eco bricks out of environmental wastes. Photo source: Nestlé

Children along with the community create their own eco bricks out of environmental wastes. Photo source: Nestlé

Children along with the community create their own eco bricks out of environmental wastes. Photo source: Nestlé

Children along with the community create their own eco bricks out of environmental wastes. Photo source: Nestlé

As this school year's NWC Champion, Pinagbuhatan Elementary School shared their best practices in promoting the seven healthy habits. School Principal Dr. Wilma P. Soriano describes how their initiatives have spread outside the classroom.

"The true measure of our program's success is seeing our students lead the change in their own homes and barangays. We have seen this in our Gulayan sa Paaralan Hanggang sa Tahanan as well as in their active participation in the search for the cleanest streets in their own neighborhoods," she said.

According to Ms. Ponce-Garcia, the commitment of Nestlé PH to be a Kasambuhay sa Kalikasan (life partner for the environment) goes beyond classroom walls as it strives to create a real impact in the lives of Filipinos.

The company has expanded the development of SWM modules for use by parents to educate their children and local government units to educate their constituents.

"We at Nestlé Philippines recognize the importance of coming together and working closely to achieve a waste-free future for our kids, our families and our communities," she said, calling for a collective approach to benefit the environment and the planet.

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For more information about the Nestlé Wellness Campus visit their website and connect with them through their Facebook page.