A diverse group of graduates from Olongapo City and San Marcelino Zambales celebrated the successful completion of the SM Foundation Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Sustainable Agriculture Program. The graduation ceremony and harvest festival held on August 24 and 25 at SM City Olongapo Central and Mateo’s Farm, San Marcelino, Zambales respectively brought together seniors, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and the young generation, showcasing their shared dedication to fostering sustainable farming practices.
As the graduates received their NCII and SM KSK certificates, the event marked not only a culmination but also a beginning. The KSK graduation ceremony was a testament to the power of diversity and collaboration in driving sustainable change. The seniors’ wisdom, the PWDs’ resilience, and the young generation’s innovation collectively underscored the program’s overarching mission—to cultivate a community of farmers committed to sustainable and inclusive agriculture.
Virginia Madarang, a senior graduate from Batch 250 of Olongapo City expressed, “Ang programang ito ay nagbigay-buhay muli sa aking paraan ng pagsasaka. Ito ay isang kamangha-manghang pagkakasama ng tradisyon at inobasyon. “
Danilo Alvero, a PWD graduate, from Batch 250 Olongapo City stated, ” Ako’y mayroong pagmamalaki na ipakita na hindi tayo sinusukat ng mga kapansanan. Sa tamang mga oportunidad, maari tayong mag ambag nang may kabuluhan.”
Ashlee Ramos, a 19-year old graduate, from Batch 252, San Marcelino Zambales shared, ” Excited ako na maibahagi at magamit ang mga bagong kaalaman sa pagtatanim. Ako din po ay nag aaral ng kursong Agrikultura at nag papasalamat ako sa oportunidad na ito dahil maliban sa Certificate na binigay ng SM ay nakakuha din kami ng NCII Certificate.”
The Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan, a collaborative effort between SM Foundation, Inc., the Department of Agriculture, DTI, DSWD, TESDA, DOST, DOT, the local government of Olongapo, the Municipal government of San Marcelino Zambales, D’ Planners Training Center, SM Markets, and SM Supermalls was launched with a clear vision: to equip farmers with the tools and techniques needed to foster sustainable agricultural practices.
Ms. Cristie Angeles, assistant vice president of SM Foundation, Outreach Program extended her appreciation to the participants and the team for their unwavering dedication and enthusiasm. The graduates’ hard work and passion are the driving forces behind the success, they are not only transforming individual livelihoods but also contributing to the broader goal of food security and rural development.
