Creating a Poverty-Free Tomorrow

Founded in the mid-1990s as an offshoot of a youth development program in Metro Manila, Gawad Kalinga (GK) is a Philippine-based non-profit organization that aims to end poverty by building sustainable communities for the poor. Meaning “to give care” in Tagalog, Gawad Kalinga was started by Antonio Meloto during his tenure as a full-time Mission Worker for Couples for Christ (CFC), an international Roman Catholic lay ecclesial movement.

Gawad Kalinga believes that poverty is a mindset, not an economic problem caused by a lack of resources. Since poverty takes away dignity, which is strongly linked to an individual's environment, the organization works to restore what was lost by creating communities that make people feel empowered, productive, and hopeful.

Slum environments breed ignorance and insecurity, and thus lead to crime and violence. Gawad Kalinga's long-term goal is to bring five million underprivileged families out of the vicious cycle of poverty by the year 2024.

Aside from building homes and communities for the disadvantaged, Gawad Kalinga also runs several other programs, including:

• GK Child & Youth Development, which helps the young residents of GK communities fulfill their potential by nurturing their natural abilities;
• Bayan-Anihan (“community harvest”), which promotes sustainable farming practices;
• and GK Environment, which teaches environmental awareness through seminars and eco-friendly projects.

In addition to the Philippines, Gawad Kalinga's influence has expanded overseas to other countries such as Indonesia, Cambodia, and Papua New Guinea, where GK communities have been constructed as well. Furthermore, volunteers from Australia, Canada, and Ireland, among others, contribute to the cause by participating in GK projects and fundraisers.

With a firm belief that poverty can be ended if each person cared more for others and become their brother's keeper, Gawad Kalinga hopes to create a future free of poverty that will benefit one and all.