By: Delaila Irma T. Calindas, Project Technical Staff II

As part of its month-long celebration of Higher Education Week, the Commission on Higher Education – Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED-CAR), through its UniFAST Unit, successfully conducted the first episode of the SEEDLING Project 2026 Series on May 28, 2026, via an online platform. The episode, titled “Impact Beyond Grant: Leading Change in Your Community,” gathered 234 participants.

The session featured Dr. Sheridan Athena Gajete, Presidential Staff Officer IV of the National Youth Commission, as the resource speaker. In her address, she emphasized the vital role of youth participation as a cornerstone of effective leadership, highlighting that meaningful engagement empowers young people to drive change in their communities.

Dr. Gajete’s message to the youth was captured through the “BEYOND” principle: building solutions, confidence, and communities; empowering fellow youth through action and leadership; yielding positive impact through service and participation; opening opportunities for collaboration and growth; nurturing advocacies, compassion, and social responsibility; and developing sustainable change and future leaders.

The SEEDLING Project—Skills Enhancement, Engagement, and Development: A Learning Intervention to Nurture Grantees—is one of the flagship initiatives of the UniFAST Unit. It offers free learning and development opportunities to student-grantees under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA), reinforcing the agency’s commitment to empowering learners beyond financial assistance.