HARI Foundation, Inc. (HFI), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc., (HARI), in partnership with HARIBON Foundation, unveiled its fully-customized classroom-on-wheels dubbed the “HARI Ecovan” last December 16, 2013 at the Hyundai Headquarters in Makati City in Hyundai’s continued effort to promote environmental awareness and biodiversity among students in the Philippines.

Leading the HARI Ecovan turnover ceremony were HFI President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo and HARIBON Trustee Atty. Teodulo San Juan, Jr. Also showing full support in the event were HARI Legal Adviser Atty. Lilia De Guzman; Haribon Officer-in-Charge Maria Belinda de la Paz; and Acer Philippines HR Officer Grace Napi.

The HARI Ecovan is the country’s first-ever, custom-built, mobile classroom geared towards educating the youth on environmental sustainability. Specially configured by Centro Manufacturing Corporation, this personalized Hyundai H-100 van features a closed compartment that can be opened on the side to reveal a small library, complete with a wide-screen TV, a built-in audio system, several reading materials, and learning toolkits.

“Educating people, especially the youth, on the role everyone must play as stewards of the planet is key to environmental sustainability,” explained Ms. Agudo. “These HARI Ecovans follow through HARI Foundation’s environmental education advocacies, which centralize on learning and interactive activities that aim to raise responsible eco-citizens as well as future Filipino climate scientists and innovators who can help mitigate the problems caused by climate change.”

While the first two HARI Ecovans were assigned to Luzon and Visayas, this third green classroom-on-wheels will be deployed to Mindanao schools to transport Haribon’s Training and Education teachers to conduct biodiversity learning sessions. Hyundai college scholars will also be joining as eco-teachers in an effort to expand the reach of HARI Foundation and Haribon’s green advocacy.

In photo are: HARI Foundation, Inc. and Haribon Foundation unveiled the third HARI Ecovan, a fully-customized mobile library built to promote biodiversity. At the turnover ceremony held December 16, 2013 in Makati City were (L-R) Hyundai VP for Legal Lilia De Guzman; HARI Foundation President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo; Haribon Trustee Atty. Teodulo Antonio G. San Juan, Jr.; Haribon Officer-in-Charge Maria Belinda de la Paz; and Acer Philippines HR Officer Grace Napi.