GKA Volunteers assist in Paskuhan repacking for Gawad Kalinga Partner Communities

Gawad Kalinga - Ateneo Volunteers (GKAV) ended recruitment for its first batch of 200+ undergraduate volunteers through a General Assembly held last 28 November 2023 and a simple repacking initiative last 30 November 30 and 7 December 2023 for the Paskuhan program of Gawad Kalinga - Ateneo (GK) partner communities. GKAV hopes to hold more initiatives with and for GK communities while involving more and more units of the Ateneo de Manila in the coming years.

GKAV was officially launched when it opened sign-ups to undergraduate students last 8 November 2023. Coming from the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a need for a revival of the student volunteer arm of Gawad Kalinga - Ateneo; a need that would now be filled by the 200+ new volunteers who signed up. 

The first batch of volunteers were welcomed at a hybrid General Assembly last 28 November. Members were introduced to the ins and outs of the organization, emphasizing the importance of building long-term initiatives for the communities that would allow even alumni to contribute past their stay in the organization and in Ateneo. 

Volunteers joined in the 30 November and 7 December repacking initiatives of the GK-Ateneo office for the annual Paskuhan programs of the eight (8) GK communities in Payatas, Quezon City, Nueva Ecija, and Cavite. A total of 1,170 food packs containing spaghetti sets and canned goods were packed and sent on their way to the communities. 

Below is the breakdown of the distributed food packs per community:

Representatives from GKAV were able to assist the GK-Ateneo office in hand-delivering some of the food packs to GK Payatas Trese. They were joined by former Ateneo de Manila University President and Gawad Kalinga-Ateneo founder Fr. Ben Nebres, S.J., Members of the community leadership warmly greeted and received the packages and all were brought together by food, memories, and the Christmas spirit.

Sign ups for administrative positions within the organization are currently ongoing. Various initiatives will be done in different forms such as community visits, house building and projects within the Ateneo community.

GKAV functions under the department of Partnership and Volunteer Management, an integral part of the Gawad Kalinga - Ateneo Office (GKA). Led by Director Ms. Noi Quesada, and Admin Assistant Joane Promeda, Community Development Coordinators Ms. Pevee Carandang and Irene Nillos, Volunteer Management Coordinator Sir Paolo Inting, and Program Development and Research Coordinators Mark Cruz and Clarice Enriquez. The team's combined expertise guides GKAV's continued operation across both internal and external initiatives.

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

Photos courtesy of GK-Ateneo and the Gawad Kalinga - Ateneo Volunteers (GKAV).