De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) emerged as the winner of the 2022 International Green Gown Awards’ Benefitting Society Category (Small Organisation), July 6, 2022. 

The International Green Gown Awards, in association with Allianz Global Investors, unveiled the winners in a live-streamed awarding ceremony via its official website. The announcement was part of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. 

The objective of the awards is to encourage organizations around the world to make a sustainable investment for the future by combatting climate change, protecting the environment, fostering biodiversity, and promoting ways to make this vital transition without leaving anyone behind. 

Shared Humanity in Action

With the entry themed “Embracing Our Shared Humanity: Championing indigenous adopted community (Mangyan Tribe)”, De La Salle Lipa shared its engagement with the Mangyans through the establishment of the Hanunuo Mangyan Livelihood & Consumers Cooperative (HAMALICON) at Sitio Bailan and Sitio Umabang of Brgy. Benli, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, as well as the PAMANA KA (Paaralang Mangyan na Angkop sa Kulturang Aalagaan) – DLSL IPEd Partnership, an educational teacher-mentoring partnership program for the PAMANA KA School teachers aimed at optimizing culture-based curriculum for its learners. 

According to the judges, “This was an excellent project that connects and supports staff, students and local indigenous people. Clear aims, outputs, and links to the SDGs evidenced a high and beneficial level of impact.”

Communion in Mission

Such an award is a testament to the school’s consistency in carrying out the ideals of the United Nations in fostering a sense of community and encouraging sustainability in the community. “It proves that the institution’s work is a ‘communion in mission’ with the rest of the world to effect positive change,” Ms. Dfezie Tipan, Chief Strategic Services Officer, stated. 

The DLSL community hopes that the award, and most especially its efforts, serve as an inspiration to other organizations all over the world. DLSL has proven that it is committed to raising the bar on creating sustainable solutions on climate change, as well as protecting the biodiversity crisis by championing the marginalized. When heart and soul align with a higher sense of purpose, it institutes a better understanding and purveys a deeper sense of gratitude for everyone involved. 

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The United Nations Environment Programme, along with The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), L’Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), and International Association of Universities (IAU), endorsed and supported the prestigious International Green Gown Awards.

Read more: De La Salle Lipa | 2022 International Green Gown Awards Page