Latest update from the GK Jose Rizal Village

We've received the latest updates from our contacts on the ground.  12 of the homes in the GK Jose Rizal site's newly constructed Sandersfeld/St.Francis/Team Evergreen GK Village were directly sponsored by TEW.  Here are pictures of the site showing the completed structures.

Notice how the structures are very basic.

The village is in its very early stages of development - not all residents have moved in but those who'v done so have already made efforts to beautify the space.

That's Ed, one of our contacts on the ground 

In case you're wondering how all this came about - basically, GK has been doing this for almost a decade now, providing communities for people whose lives are trapped in the shackles of poverty.  The program is not merely a handout - potential beneficiaries are strictly screened and are required to attend values formation classes and seminars and must agree to a strict set of requirements before they are even approved to receive a home in one of these villages.  By the time a beneficiary walks into their GK unit, they would have already logged an equivalent of 1000 hours of work towards OTHER GK villages and or homes.  Once moved in, they become responsible for beautifying their facades with plants and basic landscaping.  If you've seen other established villages, you'll note that this task comes easy to residents after they have spent months working towards the community.

If you need more information about how the program works, browse the links to Gawad Kalinga's main site or shoot us an email. Supporters of Team Evergreen Washington are directly responsible for changing the future of the 12 families who now live in a community of caring and sharing. We would love for you to be a part of that work.

This is the view from the back of the two rows of houses.

GK workers and the village representative take a tour

Newly painted homes still awaiting
windows before
beneficiaries can move in

This row of houses is already occupied

Some of the eager residents have
already started to plant some
basic landscaping

Shown here is the community area, where residents will gather
for community meetings, seminars, celebrations.

Oh what joy - this baby was actually born a few weeks after the
family moved in to this unit - can you imagine what this baby's
future would have been like if he was born on the
streets homeless?