Jean Coper

 

On October 10, 2024, 350 Pilipinas, in collaboration with the KNHS YES-O Club, organized a student-led forum titled “Creating Change: A Student-Led Forum on Innovative Renewable Energy Solutions” at Kalayaan National High School, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City. The forum brought together students from grades 7 to 10, teachers, and administrative staff to address the urgent threat of climate change, focusing on renewable energy as a key solution for a sustainable future. The project, along with recent engagements with schools are part of the initiative to advocate for Clean Energy Campuses.

 

For me, however, this forum symbolized something far more personal. As someone responsible for organizing school forums, the opportunity to speak before a large audience has always been both exciting and terrifying because public speaking is not something that has come naturally to me. I knew this event wasn’t just about discussing renewable energy solutions—it was a call to action.

 

 

The urgency of the climate crisis demanded that we all step up, and I realized that if I was asking these young students to find their voice and stand up for climate justice, I needed to do the same. This was about more than just organizing an event; it was about embodying the spirit of change I wanted to see in the world. 

 

On the day of the forum, standing before over 200 students, faculty, and administrators felt daunting, but in that moment, I reminded myself why I was there. I wasn’t just talking about renewable energy that day—I was advocating for a future where these students and their communities are no longer vulnerable to the devastating effects of climate change.

 

As the forum unfolded, I saw students actively engaging in discussions, exchanging ideas, and advocating renewable solutions. They weren’t just passive participants; they were stepping into roles of leadership and advocacy. Watching them transform into climate champions reaffirmed the importance of these efforts.

 

This was the heart of Creating Change, empowering young people to lead in the fight against climate change. The energy and creativity displayed by the students demonstrated that they are not just future leaders—they are leaders today, equipped with the tools and confidence to drive lasting change in their communities.

 

The forum was not just a one-time event—it was a stepping stone for the future. The students left with a renewed sense of purpose, equipped with the knowledge and tools to take action in their communities. I have no doubt that the seeds planted during the forum will grow into long-term initiatives to combat climate change and promote renewable energy solutions.

 

At the end of the forum, the students didn’t just leave with new knowledge—they also took a tangible step by signing the commitment wall, pledging to take action in the fight against climate change. It was a powerful moment, a shared acknowledgment that change begins with each of us, and this was their first step toward creating a more sustainable future.

 

As this event concluded, I hoped to inspire the students to find their voices as well. If I, someone who once feared public speaking, could stand up and advocate for change, then they could, too. As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”