About UP Gawad Kalinga - Los Baños

The University of the Philippines Gawad Kalinga - Los Baños (UPGK-LB), a duly recognized organization in the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, was founded on July 13, 2006. It was established to promote the vision of Gawad Kalinga to the members of the UPLB community, which is to create a Philippines that is “free of slums, violence and poverty.”

In its first year of existence, the UPGK-LB has made several accomplishments. The group sent a team to the GK Bayani Challenge in Camarines Sur on April 2007. The group also organized their own GK Bayani Challenge at GK Los Baños Ville in Brgy. Putho-Tuntungin, Los Baños. This was participated by several organizations from UPLB and from other neighboring schools and was the first-ever Bayani Challenge to be held in the whole of Laguna. The group conducted a GK Forum in Trace College which was participated by over 400 high school students from Laguna for the awareness of the goals, vision and the accomplishments of Gawad Kalinga. Aside from being the caretaker team of the GK Los Baños Ville in Brgy. Putho-Tuntungin, the group also builds in different GK sites in Laguna.Many organizations, faculty and staff have also participated in different GK activities through UPGK-LB.

Currently, the UPGK-LB is composed of 120 members. The organization is not solely composed of UPLB students, but faculty members and even foreign exchange students as well. Students from the Michigan State University get to experience Gawad Kalinga through the collaboration with UPGK-LB. The group will be having bigger build events and GK forums in the future.

    Gawad Kalinga: A National Movement

Gawad Kalinga (GK), translated in English means “to give care,” and it is an alternative solution to the blatant problem of poverty not just in the Philippines but the world. Its approach is integrated, holistic and sustainable – a concrete action plan to rebuild this nation by harnessing the best of the Filipino – our faith and our patriotism. What started barely five years ago in the Philippines as a simple but daring initiative by Couples for Christ has now become a growing multi-sectoral partnership driven by a vision of a new Philippines with NO MORE SLUMS.

Together with its partners, Gawad Kalinga is now in the process of transforming poverty-stricken areas, many of them now empowered to further improve their quality of life! And the heart-work of GK volunteers is evident in the beautiful colors of the GK homes that have been built for and with the poorest of the poor Filipino families nationwide. The transformation is astounding. Slums are disappearing. Rich and poor, Muslims and Christians, government and the private sector are building communities together. The poor are re-discovering their dreams, and are being empowered to build a better future for their families. The stories of how not only the poor but also the donors have been transformed continue to grow.

Gawad Kalinga’s achievements are a reflection of the sharing among different classes in society, and the partnership involving all sectors of society – bridging the gaps that divide us as a people. We are also building International Villages, showing that poverty can be addressed if rich and poor nations learn to share resources to create a better world for all.

For more information, visit Gawad Kalinga (National) Website (http://www.gawadkalinga.org)

    Official Roster of Members

not yet available