PZC and CCBO Hold Curriculum Development Writeshop for Eco-Warriors

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – Project Zacchaeus (PZC), through its Eco Kolek initiative, has taken another step forward in professionalizing its community-based waste collection system by conducting a curriculum development writeshop in partnership with USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) program.

The activity focused on developing a comprehensive curriculum on Interpersonal Communication (IPC), a vital component of PZC’s social and behavioral change (SBC) strategies. Once finalized, the step-by-step manual will serve as a guide for trainers to effectively conduct IPC sessions for Eco-Warriors—informal waste collectors who have been formally organized and empowered under the Eco Kolek Project.

The curriculum is designed to enhance the Eco-Warriors’ communication skills, improve their confidence, and equip them with practical tools for engaging households, businesses, and communities during recyclable collection activities. Organizers emphasized that building strong communication skills is essential not only for efficiency in waste collection but also in fostering respect and dignity for the Eco-Warriors’ vital role in solid waste management.

Beyond PZC, the manual also aims to serve as a model resource for other community-based organizations and social enterprises in the Philippines that are working to empower informal waste collectors. By providing a replicable and practical guide, PZC hopes to inspire more initiatives that position waste pickers as leaders and grassroots partners in addressing the growing challenges of solid waste and plastic pollution.

The writeshop reflects PZC’s ongoing efforts to combine technical training with community empowerment, ensuring that Eco-Warriors are not only equipped with the tools for their work but also with the confidence to represent themselves as advocates for sustainability.