PURPOSE DRIVEN LIVES

Founding sustainable initiatives, steering non-profits, and ultimately sending up weary and anxious calls for social change, these fine young women and men are right on target with issues and speak of these with fire, logic, and full involvement. Social entrepreneurship is on the rise. And young advocates are fronting the intersection of good business sense and social, cultural, and environmental volunteerism. The time when social responsibility rested on the shoulders of those who founded and supported causes upon retirement has passed. The new generation of advocates has edged out the notion that professional and financial maturity built over a lifetime career is the baseline of giving back. These days, we don’t fear the full steam of youth.

CHERRIE ATILANO

One of AGREA’s main pillars is the eradication of hunger by upholding an ecology of dignity; that is, promoting the well-being of farmers as they work towards food security in their provinces

Founding farmer and CEO of AGREA International, Cherrie De Erit Atilano, 33, has been teaching farmers best practices since she was 12. She grew up among sugarcane farmers in Negros Occidental, who could not collect income in the off-seasons and would eat rice with only soy sauce for nourishment.