A group of students and young professionals in Cagayan de Oro has launched a project that aims to help communities struck by calamities, protect the environment, and feed animals abandoned on the streets.

The group, Andam Higala, launched Santa Higala Project as their way of giving back to the community and express their gratitude for the good things they receive this Christmas.

More than 500 seedlings were planted by the group in Barangay Pagatpat.

“Actually, as an environmental advocate, aside from being a women advocate, masaya and nakaka-feel ng contentment sa sarili…. it’s because hindi lang ako ang makakapag-benefit, hindi lang ang environment, kundi yung mga future children,” participant, Kathleen Paid, said.

Together with the non-government organization Love and Paws, the group also went around the downtown area and fed at least 50 dogs and cats on the streets.

“I feel so happy kasi po imagine we are youth na nagse-serve sa community… even the animals we can cater kasi po, hindi lang po kami nagfo-focus on people… animals also need help, too,” another participant, Desiree Rose Valmoria, said.

The group also gave school supplies to children and provided assistance to the beneficiaries of the Santa Higala project in five communities.

“That’s our way of giving back to the communities that we promised… parang to give back to children because when we started Santa Higala, we are a group of scholars in the city so this is our way… even before, we were giving back to children in many other ways,” Andama Higala Inc. Executive Director, Herna Tano, said.

“Youth really has the power to start the change in our communities and this like a message of hope for everyone who is watching… I believe it is never too young to lead, never too young to bring in change and start the change in our community,” Tano added.