Rotaract Clubs launch ‘Bida El Comunidad’

THE CIRCUIT

The 2-in-1 Partnership Project launched by the Rotaract Clubs of Makati and Zamboanga showcases the Gardenator and Beware the Snakes projects

Rotaract Clubs launch ‘Bida El Comunidad’ — Rotaract Club of Makati president Emmanuel Adrian Manuel (standing, left) and RAC Zamboanga City West president Ma. Theresa Lanelle C. Bañez (standing, right), with students of Tulungatung Elementary School, Zamboanga City during the launching of Project BTS. | PHOTOgraph courtesy of Rotaract Club of Makati

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Rotaract Club of Makati and the Rotaract Club of Zamboanga City West implemented last November 25 the "Bida El Comunidad" at Barangay Tulungatung, Zamboanga City.

This 2-in-1 joint project highlights Project BTS: "Beware the Snake" and the Gardenator — a sustainable backyard farming.

The BTS Project is a children's book aimed at raising the sensitive topic of personal space and boundaries, deftly addressing the underlying issue of sexual harassment and child trafficking.

The book was taught to the children through different modalities such as storytelling, roleplaying, and active reading, emphasizing the Three R's: Reject, Retreat, and Report (Tumanggi, Umiwas at Magsumbong).

Furthermore, essential conversations between caregivers were facilitated, focusing on the vulnerability and safety of children.

The Rotary Club of Manila group led by the Club's president, Rafael Alunan III (shown at center, 7th from left), attending the 54th Founding Anniversary Fundraising Ball of the Rotary Club of Manila's sister club, Rotary Club of Kowloon East, HK, at the Kowloon Shangrila, Hong Kong last 4 December 2023. Shown (from left to right) are Mrs. Joi Santos Cutter, PD John Cutter, Mrs. John Tan, Rotarian John Tan, May Andrea Locsin Katigbak, STAR Rotarian J. Alfonso Katigbak, RC Manila president Rafael Alunan III, RC Manila director Hans Palacios, Mrs. Marge Palacios, Ms. Iana Palacios, Internal Auditor (IA) Nick Locsin, RC Manila Treasurer PJ Garcia, Rotarian Teddy Tee and Mrs. Len Tee. | Photograph courtesy of Rotary Club of Kowloon East, HK

Immediately after Project BTS, a seminar workshop about the Gardenator was conducted at ATIWA (Association of Tulungatung Innovative Women Agripreneurs) Farm, a few meters away from the Tulungatung Elementary School.

This comprehensive project aims to equip households with a Gardenator — an integrated vertical barrel container garden and food waste composting system — accompanied by a full-cycle technology transfer on cultivating leafy and fruiting vegetables and Bokashi composting for effective household food waste management.

Developed in Japan, the Bokashi method is used in various parts of Asia to ferment food before composting. The process uses lactobacillus bacteria to predigest waste matter, thus, eliminating odors and composting time. It converts food waste and similar organic matter into a soil amendment, adding nutrients to and improving the texture of soil.

Aside from the aforesaid seminar workshop, each beneficiary received a set of Gardenator inclusive of the soil and seeds. This initiative benefitted 20 families who were recently displaced and were newly relocated to the barangay.

The projects were implemented safely and soundly with the help of 60 Rotaractors and Interactors, along with the assistance of the 6th Air Reserve Center of the Philippine Air Force which actively participated in the actual implementation of the project.