Assumption College Batch 87 Gives Back to the Community |
[Date Created: September 14, 2013]
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by Joyce Uy
In the crowded streets of Malaria, Caloocan, a tight-knit community of GK Malaria better known as GK Silver Heights can be found. This community is composed of 76 families who have suffered the tragedy of losing their homes through a monstrous fire two years ago. Today, they wait in hope to finally move in to their new homes built through the help of many GK partners; amongst them is Assumption College Batch 87.
AC 87 Ladies
Last August 3, 2013, AC 87 together with their families spent their Saturday morning in GK Silver Heights to help build houses and also bond with the community. Good thing they were greeted by a bright sunny day just like how the community welcomes visitors. When AC 87 arrived, the Mabuhay Ladies along with the community were already lined up on the street ever ready with their flashing smiles to welcome them.
Lala Dy, representative from AC 87 and Tito Bart Hangdaan, KB President of GK Malaria
To kick-off the program, a prayer by one of the Kapitbahayans (residents) was offered followed by singing the National Anthem. The KB president, Bart Hangdaan, gave a short orientation about his community and called one of the representatives of AC 87, Lala Dy, to give their message to the community. Performances from the Mabuhay Ladies and the SAGIP kids added more color and life to the already happy morning.
Dance performance of the Mabuhay Ladies
Dance and Song numbers of the Sagip Kids
After all these, it was time to build and get dirty! Most of AC87 volunteers were composed of teenage girls and mothers so a lot of them engaged themselves in painting the units instead. However, there were some who were in it to really get down and dirty by signing up for the shoveling of cement and gravel. Aside from the build, part of the group also prepared a story-telling and arts & crafts activity with the SAGIP kids where the children learned how to paint using real leaves to make a piece of artwork inspired by nature.
Kids and teens applying the first coat of paint
Shoveling and digging
Arts & crafts with the Sibol Kids
Finished product of the art activity
While all these were happening, some of the younger kids mingled with the other kids in the community and played a game of basketball. Watching them just made my heart melt as it reminded me how kids have such pure and innocent minds that and didn’t matter who they were playing with, as long as they had fun. Finally, it was time for lunch. The group brought packed lunch to be shared to the community and one of the members of the group also shared home-made baked cupcakes to celebrate his birthday with the community.
Kids from AC 87 playing basketball with the kids in the community
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Gawad Kalinga is not a charity, rather, it's an organization that aims to end poverty by building sustainable communities. This would not be possible without the partners who have journeyed with us in changing the lives of others. You too can be a hero to the poorest of the poor and partner with us in building sustainable and holistic GK communities! To build a community like this one, click here.