TRENDS (24 May 2010)

Gawad Kalinga goes green

Key officers from Gawad Kalinga (GK) and Xavier University (XU)-Ateneo de Cagayan (the host school) attended the Regional Green Kalinga Summit held at the XU Little Theater on May 22, 2010.

The program kicked off with a message from Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ, and XU President. He expressed his hope for GK and other groups to come together in support for the Green Kalinga program.

Green Kalinga is GK’s environment program which incorporates environmental considerations in choosing sites and development, design of community infrastructures and heightens environmental awareness by way of educating and values formation. It aims to focus on bringing the green movement to the poor through all GK communities. Thus, it seeks to assure sustainability of GK communities.

The program’s objective is creating green communities in building a sustainable world,” said Dr. Elisea “Bebet” Gozun, Program Director of Green Kalinga.

She also expounded on the salient features of the program which include proper siting, improved ventilation, ecological solid waste management, greening and agroforestry, rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment.

Dr. Gozun added, “GK believes that the intervention we need to lift the poor is not the environment alone. We need to have a comprehensive program.” She stressed as well that one must agree to form organizations since poverty reduction can’t be done alone.

GK also recently launched a food sufficiency program called “Bayan Anihan” which intends to eradicate hunger among poor families in our country.

Other programs of GK in providing sustainable development to communities are community infrastructure, child and youth development (education), Gawad Kalusugan (community health), productivity and Mabuhay (culture and tourism), Kapitbahayan (community empowerment). (Janinah Jimmin M. Molina-XU DevCom / PIA)