Women’s Journey in Promoting Sustainable Resource Management in the Coral Triangle
Part 4 | Commitments Moving Forward: Women From The Coral Triangle
After the lively cultural night, participants arrived the next morning with mixed emotions. The sense of closeness built over the past two days was about to give way to farewell, marking the end of their shared journey. Yet, this feeling did not dampen their enthusiasm for the morning session, which featured speakers from WWF-Philippines and Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN), who shared insights from gender analyses in each country that were recently conducted as part of the project. The session reaffirmed the vital role women play in everyday life and explored how the concept of gender equality can be meaningfully realized within conservation programs.
Read: B.A.S.I.C Program – Youth in Nature Conservation
The mamas grew increasingly at ease and confident in asking questions, sharing their perspectives, and exchanging experiences. This positive dynamic marked an important step in building a shared learning network among them. The initial sense of awkwardness gradually faded, replaced by smiles and growing self-assurance. It was truly heartening to see the sense of closeness and connection that had formed.
Before their visit to the Bogor Botanical Gardens, the mamas took turns sharing what they had learned over the past three days and what they planned to implement once they returned to their respective villages. Among their key commitments was the intention to share stories and lessons from the learning exchange with their community groups back home. Topics they emphasized included ecotourism, village savings and loan cooperatives, sound financial management, and gender equality—highlighting the importance of both men and women working together to protect and sustain the environment.
When they revisited the drawings of their villages and the futures they envisioned, the mamas added new insights and details—shaped by what they had learned during this shared learning journey. One particularly compelling theme that emerged was the role of young people. As the next generation, there is strong hope that youth will also be actively involved in the protection and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources in their communities.
It was truly moving during the reflection session to hear some of the participants say that three days of learning together did not feel long enough—they wished the learning exchange could have lasted even longer. To us, this felt like a very positive sign. What do you think?
As the mamas receieved their certficates commenerating all that they had achieved that week, compliments that they had written to each other the night before were read out. The mamas were able to see in each other different strengths that they had not necessarily seen in themselves before this week and it helped everyone in the room feel more connected to, and appreciated by, each other.
As the rain began to fall once more, gently soaking the place where we stood, it felt as though nature itself was shedding tears as it saw the mamas return home to their countries and villages. Yet, with a strong commitment to stay connected and to continue supporting the success of conservation programs in their respective regions, we embraced one another tightly, bound by a renewed sense of sisterhood.
Wishing everyone continued success, and until we meet again!
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