ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

Forward this issue to a friend

One highlight of the 2007 World Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was the inspiring plenary presentation of Tony Meloto, Executive Director of Gawad Kalinga Community Foundation. In his remarks, Meloto emphasized that "the problem of poverty is huge but not without end. Since it is man-made, it can also be man-unmade. In a world where there is enough resources for all, but not enough sharing for all, our motto is 'less for self, more for others, enough for all.'"

The goal of Gawad Kalinga is to construct 700,000 homes for people currently living in slums in 7 years (2003-2010). They are well on their way, constructing new communities at a pace of one per month. In building new communities, these are the values that guide the work of the foundation:

“Bayanihan” �" Becoming a Hero to Each Other
Everything we do begins with stewardship and moves towards community empowerment. The crucial starting point is the appointment of a caretaker team �" a group of volunteers committed to visit the community to educate and train, but more importantly to build relationships with the residents and learn with them. The hand-holding stage of relationship-building, values formation, and skills training is absolutely necessary to help the community become independent and sustainable. GK addresses the root cause of poverty �" not simply the absence of money, but an absence of shared values, sense of community, and higher purpose.

Massive Mobilization: GK Partners & Volunteers
GK begins with ‘padugo’ �" or ‘to bleed for the cause.’ This means devoting one’s own time and resources to initiate work within the community without expecting outside funding or support. Architects and engineers design houses, doctors and nurses attend to community health care, teachers share knowledge to the young, and business leaders become mentors for economic enterprises. Rich and poor, Christians and Muslims, government and private sector, first world and third world nations can work together to uplift the quality of life of the poor, contribute to prosperity and peace to the larger society. Funds will help upscale and expand the work, but our starting point is the heart, not the pocket.

Patriotism in Action
Gawad Kalinga is not just a work with the poor but more importantly a work of nation building from a simple but daring CFC initiative to a growing multi-sectoral partnership driven by the same spirit and vision �" a new Philippines with NO MORE SLUMS.

To learn more about the work of Gawad Kalinga, go to http://www.gawadkalinga.org/. In the coming weeks, reports will be posted on the World Forum web site on the presentations that were made and the work that was accomplished at the 2007 World Forum. To follow these reports, go to www.WorldForumFoundation.org.

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.