Shared ground, shared care

A collaboration with the Youth Council of Barangay Bacungan exploring youth-led initiatives through shared learning, environmental stewardship, culture, and participation in village life.

The saying, "It takes a village to raise a child," reminds us that people grow through the relationships, knowledge, and care found within their families and communities. Yet this relationship is reciprocal. As children become adolescents and young adults, they increasingly shape the places that have shaped them. Through curiosity, practical skills, collaboration, and a growing sense of responsibility, young people contribute to the wellbeing of their communities in meaningful ways. Whether restoring local environments, sharing knowledge across generations, supporting community initiatives, or developing new responses to local challenges, they become active participants in the life of their village rather than passive recipients of its care. Youth collaborations recognise this reciprocity: communities provide the conditions for young people to grow, while young people bring energy, creativity, and commitment that help communities adapt, renew, and flourish. In this way, learning is not only about personal development but also about cultivating an enduring relationship with the places and people to which we belong.

Youth Partnerships

The Youth Council serves as a platform through which the young people of Barangay Bacungan can participate in the social and civic life of their community. It provides opportunities for youth to contribute their perspectives, develop practical skills, and take part in initiatives that respond to the needs and aspirations of the barangay. While communities play an essential role in supporting the growth of young people, that relationship is reciprocal. As children become adolescents and young adults, they also begin to shape the places that have shaped them—through their ideas, creativity, care, and willingness to participate in community life.

In June 2026, Maia Earth began a partnership with the Youth Council of Barangay Bacungan, the largest barangay in Palawan, to co-develop cultural, environmental, and wellbeing activities for children, adolescents, and young adults. Rather than delivering programs to the community, this collaboration is built on working with local youth to create opportunities for learning, participation, and shared responsibility. Together, we hope to foster spaces where knowledge is exchanged across generations, local initiatives are strengthened, and young people can take an active role in the ongoing life of their community.

Future initiatives:

Basura Mo, I-print Ko!

Recognising the important role that young people play in mobilising their communities, this partnership promotes environmental stewardship, civic responsibility, and practical action through an Ecobrick Barter Program. Students are invited to transform non-recyclable plastic into ecobricks, which can then be exchanged for printing materials to support their educational needs. Alongside the barter program, Maia Earth will facilitate hands-on workshops introducing participants to the principles of ecobricks, their history and development in the Philippines, and the role they can play within broader community waste management strategies.

Movie Screenings

Throughout the month of August, Maia Earth and the Youth Council will coordinate a series of open-air movie screenings across eight puroks in Barangay Bacungan. More than an opportunity to watch films together, these evenings are intended to create spaces where neighbours can gather, share conversations, and reflect on themes that are relevant to everyday life. Each screening will explore topics related to community, culture, wellbeing, or the environment, followed by opportunities for dialogue and informal discussion. By bringing people together in familiar community spaces, the initiative seeks to strengthen local connections while encouraging learning through shared experiences.

Harmonies Within

A wellbeing initiative for teenagers and young adults experiencing anxiety, stress, emotional distress, or the many uncertainties that accompany adolescence and early adulthood. While academic and economic pressures are often visible, many young people also navigate challenges that affect their emotional wellbeing, relationships, and capacity to learn and participate in daily life. The program introduces sound as a medium for self-awareness, reflection, and relaxation through guided listening experiences, mindfulness practices, creative activities, and group discussions. Rather than offering therapy, Harmonies Within provides opportunities for participants to better understand their own experiences, explore practical approaches to self-regulation, and reflect on the relationship between sound, attention, emotion, and wellbeing. By creating a supportive and welcoming environment, the initiative also encourages connection among participants and helps strengthen a sense of belonging within the community.

The partnership with the Youth Council continues to grow through the interests, ideas, and participation of young people in Bacungan. From environmental initiatives and cultural activities to spaces for wellbeing and gathering, each project offers another opportunity to learn from one another and to contribute to village life. Rather than following a fixed program, Maia Earth hopes to keep building this relationship slowly, allowing new ideas and possibilities to emerge from the people who are already part of the place.