ISST, IIRR forge development partnership

The International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) recently opened its new training center at the 52-hectare integrated farmland of James Yen Center of the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Silang, Cavite.

Under a recent memorandum of agreement, both institutions can collaborate with each other’s expertise in earth-friendly agriculture, sustainable tourism, community development and other common avenues of cooperation.

The campus, which has the United Nations World Tourism Organization as a benefactor, has two classrooms, four executive meeting rooms and a learning resource center, a boardroom, and can host over 100 students. Meanwhile, the IIRR is a United States-based 501 private voluntary organization with strong anti-poverty programs in eight countries in Southeast Asia, eastern and Southern Africa, and works in collaboration with more than 125 local development partners.

It implements integrated and holistic programs on education for marginalized communities, food security and resilient livelihoods, community-driven and managed disaster-risk reduction, and building collaborative leadership through global learning and sharing.

Its opening was attended by civic leader Sonia Roco, ISST President Dr. Mina Gabor, Tourism Promotions Board COO Marie Venus Tan, IIRR executive Director Philip Usi, IIRR Board Member Dr. John Batten and ISST Business Development head Mark Tinao, ISST Senior Vice President Joselito Bernardo and IIRR Senior Global Adviser Dr. Julian Gonsalvez.