Grade VI student Marie Jamiela Carriedo of La Carlota South Elementary School II, under the Schools Division Office of La Carlota City in Negros Occidental, was the regional winner in the recent search for Gawad Siklab 2021 awards.
The annual prestigious event recognizes outstanding teachers and student leaders in every schools division of the Department of Education. Regional winners are automatically nominated for the national competition, a press release said.
Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, Carriedo leads by example that even young girls can do great. Her project, “Face Shield Mo, Himo Ko”, had encouraged individuals to be resourceful and environment friendly.
Her improvised face shields were made out of plastic bottles of used soft drinks and distilled water. These were transformed into personal protective equipment now used by some frontliners and those who cannot afford commercialized face shields, especially residents in far-flung areas.
Carriedo succeeded in showcasing her talent, and was previously among the top 10 of the 400 nominees in the Leadership Excellence Award for Girls, sponsored by the Renaissance Youth Leaders Forum, the partner-organization of the Austrian Embassy in Manila and the Philippine Commission on Women, during the International Day of the Girl 2020 in November.
She also initiated a school pantry, on the theme “Papel Mo sa Pag Eskwela Ko”, and encouraged fellow officers of the Supreme Pupil Government to distribute flyers and information education materials on the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and the anti-rape law, and discussed drugs and its ill effects to LCSES teachers, personnel, and parents.
She also remained as an excellent academic performing student of her school, the press release added.*
