Teaching the Poor to Fish: a Call for Help
By Young Jin Kim
Contributing Writer
Choi Jin-young, a volunteer with the organization Gawad Kalinga (GK), once asked a group of mothers how much they were earning through their work making rugs. One replied $2.50 a day, which was barely enough to provide a meal for her family of six.
When Choi first heard about GK's goals of building communities by providing shelters, pre-school services, clinics, job training and community activities, she decided to travel to Manila to spend five weeks volunteering with the organization.
She soon learned all about GK's mission to increase the dignity and confidence of the poor through a holistic process of transformation.
During her stay, Choi visited villages whose colorfully painted houses presented a striking contrast to the slums surrounding them. And certainly, the financial difficulties of GK's clients weren't nearly as rosy as the vibrant colors of the buildings.
``Beneficiaries of GK may now live in better houses, but they are as poor as ever.'' Jessica Yu, a GK volunteer, explained to Choi. ``It is easy to find donors for houses because they can put their names on the buildings, but it is extremely difficult to find support for education and livelihood.''
In order to realize the organization's vision, its clients need to be able to earn sufficient income to feed and educate their children.
Choi began to ponder how such people could earn more given their limitations.
They aren't equipped with professional skills, they can't leave their children home alone, and they don't have the capital required to buy the expensive equipment and raw materials needed to start new businesses.
Choi realized that it is vital for such people to able to produce high-value items that can provide them with a steady source of income.
After much thought, she came up with two ideas to help out in the fight against poverty: equipping the poor with the means and know-how to make and sell their own greeting cards, and the promotion of ``volunteer tourism.''
Greeting Cards
Greeting cards made from recycled materials are highly marketable products, and with the right training and materials, their production can be a highly empowering way to make a living.
In order to help the people she is serving do just that, Choi has proposed a program in which Korean artists would be chosen through a national design competition to teach the craft of card making to participants in the Philippines.
She is currently seeking donors to help this project get underway.
Volunteer Tourism
GK welcomes individuals and groups that are willing to contribute their ideas, time, effort and resources to its goals of providing the poor with the means to earn extra income; improving community infrastructure; and enhancing education, hygiene and sanitation programs in the Philippines.
Volunteers with the organization participate in such activities as teaching, building and painting houses, planting trees, and helping out with medical missions.
GK is an ideal place for volunteer tourism ― travel focused on getting involved in a charitable cause. On just $10 a day, one can get simple but clean lodging, three meals and a meaningful experience.
Choi, who left a career in the corporate sector to pursue her passion for development work, says her life of service gives her the satisfaction of living a more meaningful life. My GK experience ``has validated that I am indeed content having a positive impact on the lives of the poor
.
``Other volunteers, too, can experience the joy of sharing and be rewarded with the smiles of the people they help.''
GK is an NGO that supports the multi-faceted needs of the poor by providing them with shelter, education, health care, and work opportunities.
GK was founded in October 2003 and has since built 2,000 communities and provided homes for 34,200 families in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
With the help of GK, families in areas hit by poverty can become house owners by putting in 2,000 hours of construction work and participating in training sessions.
To learn more about GK, visit the organization's Web site at https://www.gk1world.com/. For information on volunteer tourism at GK villages, visit https://livelihood4gk.wetpaint.com/.
Support the greeting card business by sending your donations to Woori Bank 1002-029-813721.
Choi Jin-young can be contacted at