Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), a publicly listed minerals development company, brought together some 40 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) from Manicani, Eastern Samar, to engage in creative thinking techniques to respond to solid waste management challenges in the island.

The one-day leadership skills development coaching was conducted by Jose Bayani Baylon, NAC’s Senior VP for Sustainability, Risk, Community Relations, Governance and Communications.

The coaching initiative is part of NAC’s Sustainability Stakeholder Engagement with the aim to solicit the active participation of the youth to support NAC’s sustainability goals, including adapting circular cconomy in all its mining operations, where efforts are underway to minimize, and eventually eliminate, excessive solid wastes.

Under the guidance of Mr. Baylon, the youth leaders of Manicani, cheered by their barangay chiefs and other local government unit officials, were introduced to “creative techniques” to resolve pressing community issues and to find possible solutions to environmental problems such as solid waste management.

Guided by Baylon, the leaders of Manicani were stimulated to envision an island free of harmless plastic wastes with waste management programs led by its young people who are committed and inspired to champion the island’s environmental health and protect its rich biodiversity.

“The challenges of solid wastes management in Manicani can be resolved by attitude change and positive mindset and our youth leaders are eager to take charge to achieve an environmentally healthy and safe community,” says barangay captain Vincent Badar, of barangay San Jose in Manicani.