Handmaids of the Lord Canada Village provides an example of GK’s great strides

GK profiles the HOLD Canada Village in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City

Toronto, ON – April 23, 2007 – Gawad Kalinga (GK) gives care to the poor in the Philippines through the generous efforts and sponsorship by ministries like the Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD). HOLD Canada, which is a family ministry of Couples for Christ (CFC), endeavors to provide a supportive environment for women – specifically those who are single, separated, divorced, widows, single parents and more. These women frequently endure familial and societal complexities alone, and despite their own financial burdens, provide sizable contributions to GK in order to aid the poverty-stricken and bring them hope for a better life.

The HOLD Canada GK Village is located in Baranga Pasong Tamo, Quezon City and is currently comprised of 45 completed homes with another 14 in construction. The HOLD Canada Village’s Kapitbahayan, or neighborhood association, includes 120 members and significantly institutes a sense of sustainable development for those living in the village. It incorporates the community in spreading values of stewardship, accountability and cooperation to establish unity and steps to building a brighter future for themselves.

In addition, the children of the HOLD Canada Village can partake in educational opportunities beginning with the pre-school aged children (Sibol) as well as older children from 7-13 yr-old (Sagip) and those with the aptitude for higher learning (Siga). With 24 children in Sibol and 23 children in Sagip, the HOLD Canada Village began summer school courses at the end of March and introduced Adult Classes in the evenings conducted by Kaptibahayan member Professor Marion Santiago from the De La Salle University College of Medicine.

“The HOLD Canada Village is funded by HOLD members who are living their lives here in Canada on their own taking care of the financial, spiritual, emotional needs of their families,” said Ricky Cuenca, president and CEO of ANCOP International Canada. “Though they may struggle with their own financial situations, they sacrifice a lot to help those who are in need and make a difference in their lives.”

To find out more about HOLD, visit www.cfcglobal.org.ph and under the tab ‘Family Ministries’ you will find a link for Handmaids of the Lord.

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About GK: ANCOP International Canada is a registered non-profit charity organization in Canada involved with a project called Gawad Kalinga. Gawad Kalinga, or GK, translated into English means ‘to give care’. It is a charitable initiative created to improve the lives of the poor in the Philippines and abroad by transforming their qualities of life and communities. GK builds the impoverished homes and equips them with education and livelihood to sustain their communities as well as offers them spiritual support and hope for a more positive future. GK’s development program includes four key components: Shelter—transforming shanties into decent 200 sq ft homes; Education – giving street children a chance to go to school; Health – access to cure and sickness prevention; and Livelihood – setting people up to be productive members of society. Each GK Village is composed of a cluster of 50 to 100 homes, with access to clean water, electricity and a landscaped environment. A GK home is a modest and equates to the size of a typical Canadian garage, but to many poor people it is a step change in living comfort, and a gift of hope. For more information, lease visit www.gawadkalinga.org and www.ancopcanada.org or call the offices in Mississauga, Ontario at 905-564-8539.

For more information: ANCOP International Canada Offices and GK @ 905-564-8539
7025 Tomken Rd.,Suite 271, Mississauga,ON, Canada L5S 1R6
pro.ancopcanada@rogers.com

This release was published on openPR.