USTP CDO students secure LEaP Grant for AgriCare Project
By Zebeth A.Miranda, USTP System STRATCOMM
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Three (3) City Scholars from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Cagayan de Oro (USTP CDO) and active members of the 4-H Club have secured a Php 35,000 grant for their youth-led initiative AgriCare through the Learning to Earning Pathways (LEaP) program. Guided by the USTP Center for Human Development (CHD), under center head Angelie Azcuna Collera EnP, this achievement showcases their commitment to sustainable, innovative, and socially responsive solutions.
Photo courtesy: Official FB Page of Cagayan de Oro City Information Office
The grant was officially awarded on April 21, 2025, by the LEaP Programme Community, confirming that their proposal had been formally accepted for the LEaP Programme Financial Grant. The implementation of their project is scheduled for May 2025 and the first week of June 2025. The team attended capacity development and building training at N Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City from April 28 until May 1, 2025.
AgriCare, led by John Lloyd D. Canoy, Project Leader, and 4-H Club President; Kathleen Grace S. Gultiano, Director of Advocacy and Social Media Manager; and Francis Adrian G. Esteban, Associate Project Head, aims to redefine agriculture as a viable and dignified career path for youth by addressing stigma and lack of awareness. Agricare supports 25 financially challenged students by equipping them with agricultural training and providing them access to school-based sweet potato farming. Harvested crops will be purchased by the 4-H Club, processed into sweet potato chips with chocolate dip, and sold on campus — creating a sustainable cycle of income and support.
Photo courtesy: Sandy Obsioma, 4H Club Federation
They are also student-leaders from the USTP CDO College of Information Technology and Computing (CITC), with all three—John Lloyd taking up Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and Kathleen and Francis both taking up Bachelor of Science in Computer Science — currently in their second year. On the right side of the photo are John Lloyd, Kathleen, and Francis, shown with members of the 4-H Club Federation of CDO. Notably, they are the pioneers of the 4-H Club at USTP CDO, having organized and introduced the club on campus as City Scholars. Their leadership and initiative laid the foundation for establishing 4-H Club CDO, bringing this newly formed organization into the LEaP Programme.
The LEaP Programme of UNICEF Philippines, in partnership with the Ateneo Learning and Teaching Excellence Center (ALTEC) and Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU), empowers marginalized youth through training, capacity-building, and project-based grants. Under its campaign #LEaPForward: Championing Young People, One LEaP at a Time, selected youth organizations receive intensive training on Positive Youth Development (PYD), Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and Child Rights, among others.
The USTP community proudly congratulates these young changemakers for championing youth empowerment and agricultural innovation.
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