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Handmaids
of the
Lord
Canada Village
provides an example of GK’s great strides
GK profiles
the HOLD Canada Village in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City
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view PowerPoint
Toronto, ON – April 12,
2007 – Gawad Kalinga (GK) gives care to the poor in the Philippines
through the generous efforts and sponsorship by ministries like the
Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD). HOLD Canada, which is a family ministry
of Couples for Christ (CFC), endeavors to provide a supportive
environment for women – specifically those who are single, separated,
divorced, widows, single parents and more. These women frequently
endure familial and societal complexities alone, and despite their own
financial burdens, provide sizable contributions to GK in order to aid
the poverty-stricken and bring them hope for a better life.
The HOLD Canada GK
Village is located in Baranga Pasong Tamo, Quezon City and is currently
comprised of 45 completed homes with another 14 in construction. The
HOLD Canada Village’s Kapitbahayan, or neighborhood association,
includes 120 members and significantly institutes a sense of sustainable
development for those living in the village. It incorporates the
community in spreading values of stewardship, accountability and
cooperation to establish unity and steps to building a brighter future
for themselves.
In addition, the
children of the HOLD Canada Village can partake in educational
opportunities beginning with the pre-school aged children (Sibol) as
well as older children from 7-13 yr-old (Sagip) and those with the
aptitude for higher learning (Siga). With 24 children in Sibol and 23
children in Sagip, the HOLD Canada Village began summer school courses
at the end of March and introduced Adult Classes in the evenings
conducted by Kaptibahayan member Professor Marion Santiago from the De
La Salle University College of Medicine.
“The HOLD Canada
Village is funded by HOLD members who are living their lives here in
Canada on their own taking care of the financial, spiritual, emotional
needs of their families,” said Ricky Cuenca, president and CEO of ANCOP
International Canada. “Though they may struggle with their own
financial situations, they sacrifice a lot to help those who are in need
and make a difference in their lives.”
To find out more about
HOLD, visit
www.cfcglobal.org.ph and under the tab ‘Family Ministries’ you will
find a link for Handmaids of the Lord.
About GK: ANCOP International Canada is a registered non-profit charity organization
operating as the official international representative for the Gawad Kalinga
program. Gawad Kalinga, or GK, translated into English means ‘to give care’. It is a charitable initiative created to improve the lives of the poor in the Philippines and abroad by transforming their qualities of life and communities.
Started by the Couples for Christ (CFC), GK builds homes for the poor and equips them with education and livelihood to sustain their communities as well as spiritual support and hope for a more positive future. GK’s development program includes four key components: Shelter—transforming shanties into decent 200-250 sq ft homes; Education – giving street children a chance to go to school; Health – access to
medical assistance and health education; and Livelihood – setting people up to be productive members of society. Each GK Village is composed of a cluster of 50 to 100 homes, with access to clean water, electricity and a landscaped environment. A GK home is a modest
dwelling equates to the size of a typical Canadian garage, but to many poor people it
becomes the foundation for their renewed hope.
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