In March and July 2011, inspired by UNAWE and in collaboration with the Building Alliances and Leaders for Understanding and Development (BALUD) project and the Philippine Astronomical Society, an international group of teachers led by Rogel Mari Sese, from the University of the Philippines Los Banõs, started astronomy education activities for students and teachers in the Eastern Visayas, Philippines.
Due to the low number of trained astronomers in the Philippines, the group embraced the idea that empowering science educators is important for more effective and sustainable astronomy development.
They started the project with a series of astronomy seminars for educators, in order to train them in the concepts needed to use astronomy effectively. Workshops and observations for students were performed in primary schools. Their approach to activities was simple enough to avoid being seen as too technical and expensive and a barrier to entry for astronomy in rural areas.
In the future, UNAWE will team up with this group to develop astronomy further in the Eastern Visayas. The main goal will be to implement a model of astronomy education projects in an effective, practical, feasible and sustainable way in the long run.
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