“GKparasaGK” stands for Gawang Kulasa Para sa Gawad Kalinga which was an outreach activity organized by the fourth year Mass Communication minor in Broadcast Journalism students last March 1 & 5, 2006.  Gawad Kalinga (GK), a movement that envisions building 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in 7 years, is in need of volunteers to share their time and help build houses on GK sites.  St. Scholastica’s College, Manila has its own GK site situated in Onyx, Sta. Ana, Manila.
 

Gawad Kalinga spokesperson Mr. Dylan Wilk

Instead of the usual year-end parties, the organizers decided to share their time, talents and resources for a worthy, meaningful and lasting cause.  The two-day event started with an inspirational talk given by Mr. Dylan Wilk on March 1 at the Maryville Study Hall.  Mr. Wilk was hailed in 2002 as the 8th Richest Man Under 25 Years Old in the United Kingdom who was valiant enough to sell his properties to help build decent homes for poor Filipinos.  His story inspired many people to continuously support the cause of the project.   To set the mood for the occasion, Ms. Patricia Mendoza and Ms. Josielou Mendoza, 4MCBJ students, gave a heartwarming rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Hero.”  Prizes were given away to thank the attendees.  For the second day, Mr. Dolphy Lanuza and Mr. Jun Aloro of GK Onyx oriented the volunteer students on the guidelines to be followed while they are on the site. 
 

As a culminating activity, the volunteer students visited the SSC GK site at Onyx.  They carried out community building and rehabilitation activities such as painting houses, cleaning up the surroundings and planting trees. 

 It is with linkages with similar organizations that SSC aims to ignite among its students the fire of volunteerism and love for the country and the poor.  It is the school’s thrust to encourage students to act and become involved in social transformation. n