SPUQC - CDC Announces Partnership with Gawad Kalinga

The Community Development Center announces the partnership of St. Paul University Quezon City with Gawad Kalinga (GK) to build a community where there will be land for the landless, home for the homeless, and hope for the hopeless. This charitable initiative is reflective of the vision-mission of the Paulinian education and inspired by the charism and mission of the Sisters of the St. Paul of Chartres to make a difference in the lives of the poor by transforming their quality of life and communities. To concretize this vision, the University launched its CES 515 Program to build 50 houses, 1 multi-purpose hall in 5 years at Sitio Ruby in Fairview, Quezon City. The community, called St. Paul Village, is a manifestation of the University's all out support to GK's ultimate goal for GK777: the vision of building 700,0000 homes in 7,000 communities in 7 years.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the village was held last November 22, 2007, highlighted with a holy mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Elpidio de Perlata Jr. Key administrators of the University led by Sr. Nintha Lucilla Baldado, SPC, President, and GK representatives led by Mr. Antonio P. Meloto spearheaded the whole day activity which the participation of the concerned groups and the residents of Sitio Ruby. The ceremony marks the beginning of a lasting and beneficial partnership in which continuous support from the SPUQC community is indispensable.

The program, moving towards its full implementation, hopes to build at least 10 modest homes before the end of the school year. Simultaneously embarked with the housing initiative are other GK developmental programs in education, health, and livelihood. On education, trainers training on values formation, catechism, and community organizing will be conducted. On health, orientation on barangay sanitation particularly waste management, urban gardening, and environmental stewardship will be carried out. On livelihood, training on repair and maintenance, management and accounting systems, and conflict transformation will also be offered to the beneficiaries. Providing the beneficiaries with relevant education and livelihood can sustain the community as well as give spiritual support and hope fro a more positive future.

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