 |
FCCY: Helping Transform Baseco through GK
The Filipino-Chinese Catholic Youth (FCCY) of St. Jude is proud to have sent the first-ever Judenite delegation to the Gawad Kalinga Baseco site last September 17, 2005. A total of twenty-five FCCYers from different highschool levels, including HS unit moderator Ms. Faith Quieng and college unit coordinator Krizia Leal, a De La Salle University GK volunteer, went to the GK community in Baseco Compound, Tondo, Manila.
We were there as early as 8:00 a.m. and were warmly welcomed by some GK volunteers from DLSU. They gave us a background of what Baseco Compound was before. "Two years ago it was very dangerous just to walk past here. There were numerous snatchers and holduppers. But now, because of GK's projects, it's safe for you to even live here." These were the words of GK DLSU Head Greg Mercado, who discussed the GK vision with our group. There was a major fire incident that happened a couple of years ago. Crime rates increased and not only were families left homeless, they also lost their children. Gawad Kalinga came to Baseco shortly after to rebuild the community through their long-term project, "GK 777". With GK's initiatives, the residents there learned to dream big again. They even helped build houses in the village in line with the GK project. With this transformation, there came a time when zero percent crime rate was achieved!
But wait, never heard of GK before? Let me give you a brief background of what GK is all about.
Gawad Kalinga was started by Couples for Christ about five years ago here in the Philippines. They had a vision of a whole new Philippines and that is "no more slums". They wanted to improve the quality of life and solve the number one problem of our country -- poverty. Little by little, they transformed slums into colorful homes for the less fortunate. Seeing their success, they decided to open GK to other religions also. They thought that offering a hand to others regardless of who you are or what religion you came from brings out the true meaning of helping.
GK came out with programs that include providing not only durable houses for the poor but also other physical structures like libraries, basketball courts, clinics and livelihood centers to name a few. They also provide value-based education for children and art workshops and tutorials. Other programs include organizing livelihood projects and promoting community empowerment.
And there is a promise to achieve more with their recent project, "GK 777", which was launched October 2003. This is a nationwide building project which aims to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in 7 years. Just the sound of the numbers is already astounding! What more if some of us actually helped out in this project?
Going back, after GK volunteers gave us a brief introduction, it was time to do the actual work. Some of us shoveled sand into sacks and some of us transferred these sacks from that place to a building site. Several of us even made friends with the residents there. They were really friendly! As I helped, I saw adults who opened mini sari-sari stores in their little homes. In there eyes I saw a light full of hope. They are not the type who depend on donations for their food and clothing. They want to lead a simple life and they work for money that is enough to meet their everyday needs. That is what I like about them. They know how to be thankful by making use of what was given to them. By the way, they don't actually have to pay for their houses; they just use their labor in building new GK houses for others in return for a home.
We did the shoveling and transferring until about 11:00 am. Kuya Greg gathered us again and let us share our experiences and insights that morning. One common thing in most of us was that we wanted to go back there and help. It's a different feeling when you're there. Imagine in a time soon to come when you can say, "Hey, I helped build that house!" Finally, Kuya Greg gave us an inspirational talk and these words of his kept ringing in my ears, "You're part of history in the making by being involved in GK's nation building project and that's something you can look back at twenty years from now and be proud of!"
It was a tiring morning. And considering we fourth years still had to take the DLSU College Entrance Test the next day, I didn't think I could make it to test without a sore muscle in my arm! But I didn't care anyway. We did a fulfilling job and that was all that mattered!
GK 777:
700,000 homes
7,000 communities
7 years
Be part of it.
|
|
