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.
At San Pablo Elementary School, gardening has become more than a simple activity—it’s a source of nourishment and learning for both students and their families.
When Acted first visited the school, the headmaster immediately reached out for assistance. The school was grappling with a shortage of restrooms for its 157 students, and while a comfort room was eventually built, sanitation challenges persisted. Acted looked for another way to address the school’s needs—one that would foster long-term impact.
That opportunity came through the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP), a gardening initiative encouraged by the Department of Education. Acted stepped in to provide vital support, making the program more feasible for the school by helping create a productive school garden. Acted’s assistance enabled the students and parents to start planting vegetables that not only fed the children but also fostered a sense of community and shared responsibility.
The garden began to thrive, parents came together to cultivate the garden, planting seeds and working through the challenges of extreme heat, which dried out some of the crops. The fresh vegetables harvested were brought into the school kitchen, where teachers cooked nutritious meals for the students, many of whom didn’t have regular access to the school feeding program. For San Pablo Elementary, the garden became a vital source of health and learning, and the nutritious food they harvested helped reduce illnesses and absenteeism.
The impact didn’t stop at nutrition. Acted’s involvement empowered the children to take ownership of the garden. They now actively care for the crops, sharing their newfound knowledge with their families and inspiring them to plant gardens of their own. What started as a school initiative has blossomed into a wider community effort, with families now growing their own vegetables at home.
Though 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.