Surigao del Norte (SDN) is among the most climate-vulnerable provinces in the Philippines, with significant gaps in water, hygiene, and sanitation services across 17 municipalities. Many schools remain at 0-star status - a framework assessing schools on their compliance with minimum WASH requirement - lacking proper toilets, handwashing stations, and water access, both in Surigao City and Siargao Island. Nutrition must also improve nutrition in underserved communities.
To answer these urgent needs, Acted with the support of the EuroFins Foundation, conducted the 8.5-month "Strengthening Children's Health in Day-Care Centers and Schools through Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Support and Strengthening Health of Vulnerable Populations through Access to Sustainable Food Respectful of the Environment in Surigao Del Norte" project. The initiative focused on improving health by upgrading sanitation facilities in three schools and three day-care centres and promoting food security through gardening initiatives in three schools and support for 10 Indigenous women.
For Angelica and Ruby, two Indigenous Women, gardening has been a way of life since their teenage years. With the support of Eurofins Foundation, Acted provided seeds and essential tools and thus they have been able to strengthen their ability to provide for their families.
Through Acted’s training, Angelica and Ruby gained valuable new skills—learning how to properly prepare the soil, use organic insecticide sprayers, and adapt their gardening techniques to changing environmental conditions. These new skills have not only enhanced their harvests but also contributed to healthier diets, providing their families with fresh fruits and vegetables. This self-sufficiency has made a real difference in their daily lives, reducing their dependence on outside food sources and allowing them to meet basic needs more easily.
Now, Angelica and Ruby actively encourage others in their community to start backyard gardens, sharing how this practice can alleviate the pressures of food insecurity. “Backyard gardening helps minimize our daily expenses and ensures we have enough food to eat,” they explain.
However, climate change has posed new challenges. The unpredictable weather, with increasing heat and more frequent rains, has made gardening more difficult. In response, they have begun planting trees to provide shade and installing nets to protect their crops from the intense sun. Through Acted’s project, they’ve also learned the importance of selecting climate-resilient crops. “We recommend growing plants that are adapted to our climate, rather than crops like carrots that struggle in these conditions,” they share, focusing on local, sustainable gardening practices.
Thanks to Eurofins Foundation’s support, Angelica and Ruby have not only improved their own circumstances but also become advocates for sustainable agriculture in their community. By sharing their knowledge and experiences, they help others build resilience, one garden at a time.
Through this project, 990 people benefited directly and 10,406 community members were reached across seven barangays (small administrative division) : San Pablo, Mabuhay, Jugban, Diaz, Balite, Banbanon, and Ima.