Your generous donation shall contribute to the establishment of SIBAT's Institute for Sustainable Development...

Your support now spells lesser burden and a lighter yoke to future generations and the environment for Filipinos!

SIBAT aims to establish a formal training institute to produce development workers and professionals to meet the critical demand for a sustainable development force in the country. It aims to develop individuals imbued with the skills, knowledge and attitude for sustainable development work. The Institute for Sustainable Development aims to catalyze change in urban and rural poor areas through effective and grounded trainings of individuals.

Specifically, we would like to:

1. Promote sustainable development theories and practices in the fields of appropriate technology, environmental management, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, gender concerns, indigenous knowledge, climate change and green architecture.
2. Train the youth, farmers, community development workers, students, professionals, advocates - on sustainable development; and ensure the effective application of their training through:
   • to educate the youth to prepare them for sustainable development work in communities,
   • to develop the capabilities of farmers on sustainable agriculture and their capability to address climate change challenges in their specific farming conditions,
   • to enhance the capabilities of development workers in rendering all-rounded work in project areas,
   • to educate professionals to enable them to link their expertise to sustainable development, and
   • to enhance the knowledge of advocates to become more effective in their advocacy and policy work
3. Closely link classroom training with community outreach or the direct development service to/work in communities.

This institute will promote the values of genuine service to the people, insatiable learning, objective criticism, independent and critical thinking, and those that will equip the students with an adequate mind frame in confronting development issues and situations. Practical academic work will include immersion in community development processes, exposure in PO and NGO development work, practicum in projects, conduct of participatory research, and other forms that will be weighted with the student's classroom performance. Hence, the training program will combine schoolroom with strong practical components.

Methodology

The Institute for Sustainable Development will build upon existing curricula and programs for each of the 8 study areas, but will draw out from the wide content of sustainable development practices produced by developmental organizations.

Specialized courses on the 8 modules will be offered for diploma and certification.

1. Appropriate technology development
2. Environmental management
3. Sustainable agriculture
4. Renewable energy
5. Gender concerns
6. Indigenous knowledge
7. Climate change adaptation
8. Green architecture

The Institute will provide subsidy for farmers and those in need of assistance, and will tap the pool of practitioners and trainers on sustainable development - from civil society, NGOs, POs and the academe. It will give importance to development workers and experts who are products of on-the-ground development experience. Farmer-trainers will be given honorary recognition in this institute. The Institute will be registered with the SEC. The training program will be formally accredited under Philippine rules and regulations on academic institutional accreditation, initial accreditation will be sought from either CHED or TESDA.

The proposed site of the training institute will be in MacArthur Highway, Brgy. Estrada in the municipality of Capas in Tarlac. The proposed building shall showcase green architecture that will include modest dormitory facilities, library/resource center, canteen and administration office. The energy required will be designed and provided by renewable energy sources (solar, wind) to be supplemented by the grid. The training capability will be supported by SIBAT's 1.5 hectare organic Mangarita farm and a renewable energy demonstration site conveniently located in Brgy. Manga, Capas, Tarlac.