WWEE Conducts Leadership Workshop with Eco-Warriors

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – The Eco Kolek team, composed of Eco-Warriors and Project Zacchaeus (PZC) management staff, recently participated in a leadership development workshop facilitated by Women in Waste’s Economic Empowerment (WWEE) program under USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) initiative.

The workshop aimed to build the participants’ capacity in leadership, teamwork, and self-awareness—skills deemed essential in their growing role as community leaders and environmental advocates. The sessions encouraged Eco-Warriors to recognize not only their individual strengths but also the diversity within the team, showing how these differences can serve as a foundation for collaboration and collective problem-solving.

Through interactive activities, discussions, and guided reflections, the Eco-Warriors explored how leadership is not confined to titles or positions but is instead rooted in the ability to inspire others, communicate effectively, and work together towards shared goals.

“This activity taught us that leadership comes in many forms. Each of us has a role to play in making the Eco Kolek project successful, and our teamwork is what will truly make the difference,” shared one Eco-Warrior participant during the closing session.

WWEE mentors emphasized that empowering grassroots leaders, particularly in the waste sector, is a key step toward sustainable community-driven solutions to solid waste management. By equipping Eco-Warriors with leadership skills, the program envisions them not only as waste collectors but as champions of change who can influence households, local communities, and even future generations to care for the environment.

For Project Zacchaeus, the workshop represents another milestone in its mission to transform informal waste collectors into empowered Eco-Warriors—individuals who are valued not only for their hard work but also for their voices, perspectives, and leadership potential.

“This kind of training builds confidence and instills pride among our Eco-Warriors,” said Brian Agustin, Eco Kolek’s Operations Officer. “It shows them that their work has value, and that they themselves are leaders in protecting the environment.”

The leadership workshop is part of an ongoing series of capacity-building activities supported by CCBO, PZC, and its partners to professionalize waste collection, promote teamwork, and foster a sense of dignity and purpose among informal waste workers in Puerto Princesa City.

As Eco Kolek moves closer to full operation, activities like this strengthen the backbone of the initiative—its people—ensuring that every Eco-Warrior not only has the technical skills for waste collection but also the confidence and leadership ability to inspire change at the grassroots level.