Pinoy bags environmental leaders' award

LEVERKUSEN, Germany – A graduating nursing student from Iloilo City was named one of the winners of the first Bayer Young Environmental Leaders’ Award.

Christopher Millora, a scholar at the West Visayas State University, bested 50 other young environmental advocates from 18 countries who submitted proposals for solutions to environmental challenges.

Millora, 20, the eldest of three siblings, initially wanted to be a writer but took up nursing to get a better paying job abroad to help his family.

His winning proposal was aimed at involving very young children in environmental education through environmental short story caravans inspired by CNN’s Hero of the Year awardee Efren Peñaflorida.

The caravan, that has already visited several municipalities in Iloilo City, stages puppet shows and reading of short stories on environmental protection that he has written.

“It (the award) is so unexpected,” Millora said in an interview after the award ceremonies held at the Bayer Arena here in Leverkusen.

He dedicates the award to the Filipino people, especially the volunteers of his caravan in Iloilo City. He plans to replicate the project to cover the entire country.

Aside from Millora, others who were named winners were Daniel Isfer Zardo of Brazil, Valibhav Baburao Tidke of India, and Thi Than Thai Nguyen of Vietnam.

Three other students from the Philippines, meanwhile, were chosen out of the 12 Bayer Young Environmental Envoys for 2010 to go on a week-long study tour of Germany.

They are: Jovic Maurice Yee of Bicol University who launched Radio Verde to promote and help replicate environmental initiatives and research in the region; Maria Angelica Reyes of De La Salle University in Lipa City who launched the “You and eARTh: Promoting Environmental Care through Media and Art;” and Elizabeth Valencia of West Visayas State University, an Aeta who organizes several camps and workshops for reforestation.

Bayer AG Communications head of public policy Dirk Frenzel, one of the judges, said the jury was impressed with Millora’s fascination and conviction in environmental protection and sustainable development.

“We (judges) were surprised in a way about his passion and fascination towards protecting the environment,” Frenzel said.

Bayer is the first company to enter into a long-term partnership with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) in the area of youth and the environment through the Young Environmental Envoy Program launched in 1998.

Since then, some 11,200 students have applied for the program and around 500 people have been invited to visit Germany.

Bayer provides a financial support of 1.2 million euros every year and additional non-cash benefits for the program. Participants in this year’s program include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

The study trip gives the envoys from different countries an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the principles and applications of modern environmental protection.

Bayer MaterialScience chairman Patrick Thomas said the envoy program creates a unique opportunity to share ideas and encourages the global exchange of experiences while underlying the company’s commitment to a sustainable environment.

“We are delighted to see so many young people generating so much creativity to finding practical solutions to many of the environmental challenges we face today,” Thomas said.

For his part, UNEP director for communications and public information Satinder Bindra said the program’s young envoys could help inspire world leaders in building a resource efficient, low carbon, and profitable green economy.

“Many young people around the world are committed to environmental protection in their communities. They are in a sense our guardians for building a sustainable future,” Bindra said.