On April 25, 2025, JCI Surigao North proudly spearheaded the Area 5 launching of the JCI Philippines National Program “Think Green”, in celebration of the 7-Day Earth Week Challenge: “TreeVolution – Greening the Future Forward”. Held at the CENRO Tree Planting Site in Brgy. Mat-i, Surigao City, the event brought together civic organizations, youth groups, and government agencies in a collaborative effort to advance environmental sustainability and climate awareness at the local level.
The Challenge
Surigao City, like many growing urban centers, faces increasing environmental challenges including deforestation, improper waste disposal, and a general lack of eco-consciousness among community members. Despite the province’s rich natural resources, many local residents—especially the youth—lack access to programs that promote long-term ecological awareness and active participation in environmental conservation. The absence of sustained, grassroots environmental education and engagement has made it difficult to embed sustainable habits within communities.
The Solution
To address these gaps, JCI Surigao North took the lead in hosting the Think Green Area 5 launching, turning Earth Week into a full-scale environmental campaign. The week-long challenge featured tree planting, eco-workshops, and community-led sustainability activities. With the support of DENR-SDN, CENRO, Rotaract Metro Surigao, and youth partners like SK Pederasyon, LYDO, PYDO, and Surigao Youth Convergence, the initiative empowered locals to understand their ecological role. Through hands-on learning, youth leadership, and multi-sectoral collaboration, the program sparked awareness and action at the barangay level — showing that even small acts, when done collectively, make a lasting impact.
The Result
The Think Green area launch in Surigao successfully mobilized over a hundred individuals, including young leaders, volunteers, and advocates who pledged to take greener steps in their communities. Dozens of native trees were planted, new sustainability partnerships were formed, and the local conversation on climate responsibility was meaningfully elevated. The campaign fostered a sense of ecological responsibility across Surigao City and helped position the province as a proactive contributor to the national sustainability agenda. Through TreeVolution, Surigao truly planted seeds of hope and action for a cleaner, greener future.