Youth and Oceans: Filipino Civic Engagement for Marine Conservation
On the occasion of the United Nations’ 2026 International Year of Volunteers, the “Youth and Oceans” project, supported by the Fonds Équipe France (FEF) under the Franco-Philippine Blue Nations cooperation framework, highlights the country’s contribution to the launch of this year dedicated to civic engagement.
Reciprocity in action: Filipino volunteers for Mediterranean ecosystems
Spearheaded by France Volontaires Philippines in partnership with the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia, the “Youth and Oceans” project first took the form of international reciprocal Civic Service assignments in France, involving the deployment of two Filipino volunteers to France, before expanding locally through ocean advocacy initiatives led by young people within their communities. It thus illustrates the role of volunteering as a concrete driver for ocean conservation, intercultural dialogue, and civic engagement.
Riel Oronico completed a 7-month mission at the Centre de Découverte Mer et Montagne in Nice, contributing to environmental education, public awareness, and outreach on Mediterranean marine conservation. Her mission also allowed her to take part in side events of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, highlighting the role of youth in ocean protection.
Sophia Javier carried out her Service Civique at Tour du Valat in the Camargue, where she supported biodiversity monitoring and research on Mediterranean wetlands, including field studies on birds, bats, and the critically endangered European eel.
While a third volunteer had initially been planned, logistical constraints prevented the deployment. The remaining budget was therefore redirected toward impactful youth engagement activities in the Philippines.
International Women’s Day: Eco-feminism and ocean protection
Under the same FEF project, an event held on March 6, 2026 at the Alliance Française de Manille, entitled “SHE-roes for the Planet: Building a Sustainable Future through Eco-Feminism,” brought together the themes of gender, volunteering, and environmental protection.
The session opened with an inspiring address by Mathilde Séjourné, Cooperation and Cultural Affairs Counsellor at the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia.
Riel Oronico, alongside environmental advocates and representatives from the NGOs Curma, Forest Foundation Philippines, and the Philippine Permaculture Association, then shared their experiences, highlighting the connection between women’s leadership, civic engagement, and the preservation of marine ecosystems.
The discussions concluded with a synthesis by Alysa Aquino, Scientific Research Technician at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), followed by closing remarks from Nanette Repalpa, National Representative of France Volontaires Philippines.
The event brought together 53 participants from NGOs, institutions, the volunteer network, and the general public.
Sea the Future: A 4-day Ocean Advocacy Workshop for Filipino Youth Volunteers
The core of the local implementation was Sea the Future, a four-day immersive Ocean Advocacy Workshop held in Puerto Galera in partnership with the National Youth Volunteers Coalition (NYVC) and the Stairway Foundation.
32 young delegates from the country’s three main island groups—Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao—were trained to design practical ocean advocacy projects tailored to the realities of their own communities.
Through field exposure (mangroves, snorkeling, biodiversity observation), technical training sessions, and structured mentorship provided by marine conservation organizations such as Oceanus Conservation and Curma, as well as insights shared through a testimonial by Riel Oronico, participants significantly strengthened both their knowledge base and practical skill set.
Grouped by province, the delegates co-developed 17 local action proposals, which they subsequently presented in simulated pitch sessions to funders and decision-makers, mirroring a real institutional setting.
Re-echo sessions with concrete local impact
To ensure sustainability, three re-echo sessions were organized in Mindanao and the Visayas, led by the youth delegates themselves:
- In San Isidro, Davao Oriental, 210 participants gathered as youth presented a mangrove planting and coral rehabilitation project supported by the local Vice Mayor.
- In Marawi, 150 participants attended a session that led to the introduction of a proposed regional marine protection bill within BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao).
- In Cabantuan, Iloilo, 200 participants joined the launch of a Youth Coastal Guardians Network promoting coastal stewardship.
These sessions demonstrated how youth-led volunteer initiatives can directly influence local governance, environmental policy, and community engagement.
Nationwide reach through volunteerism
Through this FEF-OSC project, FV Philippines was able to extend its reach to Mindanao — a region where volunteer deployment is usually not possible due to security constraints — achieving nationwide impact across the three main regions of the country.
From reciprocity missions in Mediterranean ecosystems to youth-led marine advocacy in Filipino communities, the “Youth and Oceans” initiative illustrates how international volunteerism can bridge continents while empowering young people to become concrete actors of environmental change.