GK Ateneo join Kusina ng Kalinga+ Bacnotan launch

Last January 12, 2023, Gawad Kalinga Ateneo and Fr. Ben Nebres attended the launching and ribbon cutting ceremony of Kusina ng Kalinga (KnK+) Bacnotan in La Union. Adopting the 5M Approach to Zero Hunger, KnK+ Bacnotan began their journey to end hunger in their municipality with MAGPAKAIN. Their community kitchen is set to feed at least 300 malnourished children ages 6 to 23 months old for the next 120 feeding days. These children were students from Brgy. Bacsil, Brgy. Baroro, Brgy. Lisqueb, Brgy. Cabarsican, and Brgy. Poblacion which all had high malnutrition rates.

This initiative was made possible by the partnership and bayanihan (MAGTULUNGAN) of various stakeholders including the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bacnotan led by Mayor Divine Fontanilla, Gawad Kalinga (GK) led by Dan Bercasio, GK-Ateneo led by Norlie Quesada, Barangay Captains of the initial partner barangays, LGU-hired Nutritionist-Dieticians, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), parent volunteers, and Fr Nebres, Gawad Kalinga trustee and former Ateneo de Manila president.

Kate Shaw, a close family friend of Fr Ben based in the US provided the funds to be used in implementing the program. Being Bacnotaneans themselves, Fr Nebres and Kate Shaw were the main champions who pushed for the establishment of KnK+ Bacnotan. Both wanted to bring the mission closer to home and respond to the problem of hunger and malnutrition faced by young children in their hometown.

In the coming days, KnK+ Bacnotan will begin their MAGPAKALUSOG, MAGTANIM and MAGCONNECT program to complete the 5M Approach to Zero Hunger and build a holistic ecosystem where it will be difficult for hunger and malnutrition to survive.

To know more about and support Gawad Kalinga’s work on feeding, please email gka@ateneo.edu.

Photos courtesy of LGU Bacnotan. Consent for the posting of images was obtained by LGU Bacnotan from the parents of the child participants.

See LGU Bacnotan’s post about the event here.