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November 10, 2021 – Sixteen school paper advisers from the Department of Education (DepEd) field offices passed on their learnings from The Green Beat Initiative (TGBI) Radio to campus journalists to produce environmentally conscious and empowered youth.

School paper advisers from Regions III, IV- A, and NCR reinforced the role of journalism in climate change adaptation and mitigation based on the principles and practices of developing environmental stories.

“We are hopeful that we can encourage the youth to become a powerful catalyst for change given the current state of the environment,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones shared.

TGBI+, also known as TGBI Radio, is the second partnership project between DepEd-Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service (DRRMS) and environmental non-profit Association of Young Environmental Journalists (AYEJ) with the support of the World Vision Development Foundation.

The initiative is a four-month online training divided into two components, namely, Training of Trainers which took place from August 27 to September 27 this year, and the Re-Echoing Training with Campus Journalists, which will run until this year.

School paper advisers from all 16 divisions who have completed TGBI Radio are now replicating the workshop design in their school and passing on their learnings to around 140 learners.

“Dapat ine-enable natin ang kakayahan ng ating kabataan dahil kaming mga matatanda ay sumusuporta lamang sa inyong mga kakayahan para makapagbahagi kayo nang lubos dahil bahagi kayo ng solusyon sa mga nangyayari sa ating bansa,” Dir. Co shared during the TGBI Plus’ Grand Orientation Day virtually attended by 100 campus journalists and teachers.

The final output will be a 10-minute radio magazine show to be broadcast on local radio stations and streamed as a podcast for the 5th National Climate Change Conference (NCCC) in November. These will also be converted into Spotify podcasts for wider dissemination.

TGBI Radio’s roster of lecturers included Living Laudato Si PH Executive Director Rodne Galicha, UP Mindanao broadcasting instructor Merle Acol, film director and broadcast journalist Bryan Brazil, radio host Atty. John DX Lapid, and ABS-CBN journalist, Jacque Manabat.

During synchronous learning sessions, participants engaged with industry experts on media and radio while participating in formative assessments, assignments, and guided activities that break down the unit learnings for the week.

DepEd-DRRMS initially partnered with AYEJ for the first-ever conduct of pilot training for TGBI in 2020 for 40 high school campus journalists and 40 school paper advisers, producing 40 written environmental articles published in various local media outlets.

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