EMPOWERING THE YOUTH: SM CITY BAGUIO HOST 17-CITY GLOBAL YOUTH SUMMIT CHAMPIONING ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTAL GOAL

August 17, 2024 Community Billboard

As part of their efforts to inspire the youth to become catalysts for change, SM Cares and Global Peace Foundation (GPF) recently completed the Baguio leg of the 2024 Global Youth Summit (GYS) last August 03, 2024 at SM City Baguio, one of the host cities for this year’s 17-leg event aimed at representing all 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The GYS is an annual event that provides the youth with an avenue where they can
share their ideas and work together to create long-term and sustainable solutions to the most pressing problems and challenges affecting them today.

For the Baguio leg, GYS focused on SDG 1: No Poverty, which aims to promote for the end of poverty in all forms. A total of 763 students and youth leaders joined the Baguio leg of GYS to participate in a daylong event filled with numerous activities, seminars, and workshops revolving around SDG 1. Several experts and key opinion leaders who are knowledgeable on topics related to SDG 1 joined the Baguio leg as speakers: Mr. Ingil Ra, Regional President of Global Peace Foundation Asia Pacific, talked about SDG 17:

Partnerships for the Goals; Ms. Lucia B. Ruiz, University of the Philippines Professor and one of the Baguio Outstanding Women Leader of Baguio City for Indigenous People’s Education, talked about SDG 1: No Poverty, which focused on Innovative Community-Led Approaches to Indigenous Poverty Reduction; Engr. Basilio C. Munar Jr., Quality Control/Assurance Chief Water Quality Laboratory and Treatment, talked about SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, Community Health and Sanitation Access in Baguio; and Ms. Shanerisse Tamondong, National Youth Coordinator for the Philippines Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Network, talked about SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

In his speech, Mr. Royston Cabunag, SM Cares Program Director shared, “By working together,we can make a positive impact. We can make a brighter and sustainable work together. Youth can do it!” The GYS is one of SM Cares’ numerous Programs on Children and Youth, supporting all 17 UN SDGs. Others include The Book Nook, a free library and community hub where parents and children can bond over books, workshops and activities; and supporting UNICEF’s Programs for Education of Children. Aside from its Programs on Children and Youth, SM Cares also has programs on the environment, women and breastfeeding mothers, senior citizens, and persons with
disabilities.