Sharing THE Vision

Hot off the press!

THE Vision – THE One Internal Fanzine (Summer 2008) is now out for sale.

Here is my article about our Gawad Kalinga immersion in February.

My second article after 3 years.

Grab your copy for only 10AED.

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Less for Self, More for Others = Enough for All
By: Gracie Entereso - Graphics Coordinator

Last February, I spent two days at Gawad Kalinga International Village in Sitio San Martin, Tarlac (a province in the Philippines), as a Gawad Kalinga volunteer. I witnessed the lives of the Aetas - a tribe in the Philippines - together with 18 members of the CFC-Singles for Christ organisation from the Middle East (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iraq).

Gawad Kalinga (GK) started in 1995 with the aim of tackling the blatant problem of poverty, not just in the Philippines but in the world. GK translated in English means ‘to give care’. Its vision for the Philippines is a slum-free, squatter-free nation through a simple strategy of providing land for the landless, homes for the homeless, food for the hungry and as a result, providing dignity for every Filipino. GK’s goal is to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years (2003-2010).

We spent time with the GK beneficiaries, helping them to rebuild their homes, while restoring dignity to their lives. I experienced mixing sand and cement using a shovel, laying hollow blocks and cutting steel with a saw under the scorching sun. As we passed the piles of sand and the hollow blocks used for building the houses, we also passed around the love and care we have for one another. GK beneficiary Kuya Rod, a 21-year-old father of two, helped us during construction. Often the children surrounded us to watch us work, while their parents were out in the fields harvesting fruits and vegetables or tending to livestock. We also organised street games for the kids and I really had fun playing with them because it reminded me of the games I used to play when I was a child. There was a segment in the programme where the children presented a tribe dance, but to RnB music - it was so amazing. Despite their conditions, the children are very positive and wonderful. They are full of affection and sincerity. We ended the day with a feeding programme for 300 people.

Personally, GK paved the way for me to express my love for the poor. Despite the uncomfortable situations, I bravely went out of my comfort zone and experienced moments filled with passion, joy, endurance, friendship and love. Doing GK Build was very inspiring because all the volunteers do it out of love - love for God, His people and for our home, the Philippines. It was such an overwhelming and humbling experience to have families happily welcoming us into their homes and lives.

Being a GK volunteer has made me aware of the social issues facing the Aetas. It has helped me to learn and understand their culture and way of life. The Aetas have lived in scarcity with people paying little or no attention to their conditions for a long time. However, today things have changed. Aeta families in this town now live in brightly coloured, decent, sturdy and clean homes and they are willing to improve their lifestyles.

I am happy to announce that CFC-SFC Middle East has pledged a total of 14 GK houses in San Martin - 10 from Qatar, one from Iraq, one from Bahrain and two from the UAE. Gawad Kalinga is more than about building houses for the poorest of the poor, it’s about providing a proper home as well as transforming the people and their community. GK has given them the chance to live in a respectable neighbourhood with beautiful and colourful homes, which is what each human deserves.