Eco Kolek Partners with TESDA to Empower Trash Collectors Through Skills Training
For years, waste collectors have been at the frontline of protecting our environment, braving the streets and communities to ensure proper waste management. Yet, their work is often overlooked and undervalued. Through this partnership, we aim to equip them with new skills, professional recognition, and opportunities for personal growth, enabling them not only to do their jobs more efficiently but also to pursue new livelihood avenues for their families.
Our hearts are leaping with joy as we embark on a new partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Palawan, under the leadership of Director Richard Amparo and Emilyn Bonus. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our shared vision of empowering waste collectors—our Eco Warriors—through technical education and capacity building.
For years, waste collectors have been at the frontline of protecting our environment, braving the streets and communities to ensure proper waste management. Yet, their work is often overlooked and undervalued. Through this partnership, we aim to equip them with new skills, professional recognition, and opportunities for personal growth, enabling them not only to do their jobs more efficiently but also to pursue new livelihood avenues for their families.
With the support of TESDA and our Eco Kolek Project (a proud USAID Clean Cities, Blue Ocean grantee), we envision transforming garbage collection into an innovative, collaborative, and dignified sector. By providing technical training and certification, we are investing in the future of our Eco Warriors—helping them gain confidence, expand their capabilities, and strengthen their role as environmental stewards in Palawan.
This partnership is more than skills development—it’s about restoring dignity, recognizing contributions, and opening doors to brighter possibilities for those who have long been considered society’s unsung heroes. Together with TESDA, we believe this is the start of a movement that will inspire systemic change in how we view waste work and the people behind it.