IN THE WORLD
1.3 billion people live in almost absolute poverty. They live on less than $1/day. Some 3 billion live on less than $2/day.

IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
1 out of 5 children is born with low birth weight. 500 children each day go blind for lack of Vitamin A. 1.45 billion people throughout the world have no access to health services. 1.33 billion people do not have access to safe water, and 2.25 billion do not have access to sanitation.

IN THE PHILIPPINES

  • 1997 census reported 240'000 Tuberculosis cases and 23'000 deaths for a curable disease. 75 DIE of TB everyday.
  • Around 30M are threatened with cholera.
  • The 1998 INFANT mortality rate stood at 35%, and the CHILD mortality rate at 14%.
  • 50'000-75'000 STREETCHILDREN in Metro Manila

  • In 2000, there were 14'416 barangay health stations and 2'950 government doctors for a population of 76.5M.
  • 15 out of 100 infants are born underweight.
  • 18M do not have sanitary toilets.
  • 60% of Filipino children drop out of school upon reaching Grade 2 due to poor brain development.
  • Some 2.82M youth (aged 15-24) are out of school.
  • POVERTY afflicts at least 50M Filipinos, where CORRUPTION and CRIMINALITY afflicts all 80M of us.
  • By October 2002, of the 47M labor force (15-64 years old), 5M were unemployed. There were also 4M child laborers.
  • In 2000, the average household size was 5 persons, and the average family income was PHP144'000 (PHP395/day, $7/day, AED25 = LESS than cost of a prepaid card!)

  • 5 million families live in ABJECT POVERTY.
  • 31.3M Filipinos (1 out of 5) live BELOW the poverty line.
  • 28M struggle to live on PHP50/day.

UPDATES > >

NEW GK SITES FOR THE MIDDLE EAST MISSION

  • Saranggani
  • Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat
    • Pook Islam
    • Tanawing Pag-Asa
  • Datu Paglas, Maguindanao
  • Bulu-an, South Cotabato
  • Mlang, North Cotabato
  • SK Pendatun, Maguindanao

GK IN GOA, INDIA

CFC Goa launched GK last July 13, 2003 at Anuz Village in Nuvem.

About 200 CFC members from Panjim, Margao, Chandor and Vasco Cluster attended the program.

This is just the beginning of a joint venture between CFC and the people of the village for its integrated development.

WHAT IS GAWAD KALINGA?


The ideals of Gawad Kalinga state that:

No one is TOO POOR that he cannot SHARE
and no one is TOO RICH that he cannot CARE

Gawad Kalinga starts with establishing caring relationships with those who are among the most USED, ABUSED and NEGLECTED by society...

...then moves quickly to RESTORE THE DIGNITY of the POOR and MARGINALIZED and REVITALIZE THEIR CAPACITY TO HOPE AND DREAM.

Gawad Kalinga symbolizes the revolution of love and the vision of total human liberation.

Gawad Kalinga begins with CFC leadership and membership through the PADUGO system - "bleeding for a cause" - which institutionalizes the giving of resources.

Gawad Kalinga defines resources as beyond the monetary to that which has value to LIFE and COMMUNITY. That is why Gawad Kalinga goes beyond the management of FUNDS to the the management of RELATIONSHIPS and the SHARING OF RESOURCES.

Gawad Kalinga - Filipino term for giving care and hope

  • ...not just a work with the poor, but also a work of nation-building
  • ...from simple but daring Couples for Christ initiative to a growing multi-sectoral partnership driven by the same spirit and vision
  • ...people-empowering activities moving towards building integrated, holistic and sustainable communities focusing first and foremost on depressed areas
  • ...priority to dismantle the pattern of despair and feeling of abandonment


Why the Philippines?

GK is already building communities in India, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor and we will continue growing into other third world countries. However, it has become clear to us that simple acts of charity and bite-sized communities will never be enough to transform entire nations and end global poverty. Because of this, we intend to focus most of our efforts on countries that are capable of long-term change. Today the Philippines is the only country with the potential to rapidly rise out of poverty because it is so far the only country that is successfully mobilizing enough people to help across all sectors of society.

Working with the government, the United Nations, private organizations and generous individuals all over the world, TOGETHER, we can pull out the Philippines out of poverty WITHIN 7 YEARS.

[copyright 2003]