Fifteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

T’boli, South Cotabato is a haven for small-scale gold miners where the use of mercury, which is a neuro-toxin and air sprays are rampant. Toxic chemicals contaminate the air, water and soil. The most vulnerable are the children and women. This case study focuses on the toxics-free school program with success established groups, activities, and linkages advocating a movement from a toxics-free school towards a toxics-free society. This co-yielded to the inception of the T’boli gold which is mercury-free, child-labor-free, environment-friendly uplifting the socio-cultural-economic condition of the stake-holders. The aim of this paper is to study the impact of the Toxics-free school program in a mining area, expand the program, and replicate the same in a non-mining area. The research engages combination of methods like narratives of the locals, ethnographic, and phenomenological process. The findings of the study will strengthen the expansion of the existing program on the design of the spin off program amongst the schools and communities outside of a mining area.