(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong City, Philippines, recently held Toyota Motor Philippines’ Hybrid Campus Tour to educate students on the benefits of electric vehicles. A total of 465 students from various fields participated in seminars on the advantages of electric vehicles, according to an article in Wheels.PH. The news article reports that this third leg of the tour delivered the highest recorded attendance.

The event gave faculty members and students within mechanical engineering, architecture, electronics and communications engineering, computer science, and aviation mechanical technology an opportunity to take a closer look at Toyota’s hybrid technology.

In addition to the seminars provided, technical experts provided test drives for students and faculty members, allowing them a chance to get behind the wheel of the new Corolla Altis hybrid variant and the Prius C. Attendees were also able to engage with interactive displays like a stationary bike charger and multimedia exhibits.

In an interview with WHEELS.PH, Cristina Arevalo, first vice president with Toyota Motors Philippines, said that the Hybrid Campus Tour is helping the company to support the Toyota Environment Challenge 2050, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent.

In the article, Arevalo explained, “We are trying to contribute to this not only by production plant initiatives but by also promoting the use of the hybrid technology through the introduction of our hybrid electric vehicles.”

She went on to say, “We see them (youth) as our future partners in meeting our global environmental challenge. By explaining the socio-economic benefits of hybrid electric vehicles, we are hoping that these students will start to appreciate and talk about it.”

Winston Dereje, director of engineering at Don Bosco Technical College, noted in the article that the partnership between Don Bosco and Toyota is an opportunity to educate students on the science behind hybrid technology and how it helps the environment through lowering society’s carbon footprint.

“We educate for life—this is the mission of all Don Bosco Educational Centers,” said Dereje in the Wheels.PH article. “It is truly a technology with a soul and an inspiration for the young to be lifelong learners.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Salesian missionaries, supported by funding from Salesian Missions, were at the forefront of disaster relief during reconstruction after the Nov. 8, 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) devastated the country. According to United Nations estimates, 11.5 million people were affected by Haiyan and close to 1 million were displaced. More than half a million were homeless and living in the streets among the debris. Salesian missionaries mobilized all resources and efforts to aid the victims of this and other disasters.

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Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Mandaluyong

Don Bosco Mandaluyong

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

Wheels.PH – Toyota Hybrid Campus Tour makes stop at Don Bosco Mandaluyong