GK-Ateneo delivers session on hunger and malnutrition during First Zero Hunger Summit for Eastern Visayas

The first Zero Hunger Summit for Eastern Visayas was held at the Northwest Samar State University in Calbayog City. The Summit led to the establishment of at least seven (7) Zero Hunger Communities in the region that will address hunger and malnutrition for at least 2,100 children. The event was attended by over 60 participants from various local government units, local business, academic institutions, and civic groups from Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar. GK-Ateneo, represented by Mark Lawrence Cruz, Coordinator for Research and Capacity Building, organized and delivered a session on hunger and malnutrition.

The Summit also introduced the 5M Approach to Zero Hunger that is being championed by the Zero Hunger Alliance which is a nationwide network of implementers, donors, volunteers, and researchers committed to achieving SDG 2 for the Philippines. The vision of the 5M Approach is to organize institutions and individuals (Magtulungan) to implement feeding (Magpakain), health and nutrition workshops (Magpakalusog), and community food farming (Magtanim) in specific communities in their localities. The various efforts across the country will be consolidated through a shared database and reporting platform and social media channels (Mag-connect).  This approach is currently being piloted by GK-Ateneo in 4 partner communities in Quezon City, Cavite, and Nueva Ecija.

Ateneo de Manila has partnered with Gawad Kalinga in their zero hunger efforts since 2014. Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga (GK-KNK) was modelled after Ateneo’s Blue Plate for Better Learning and has since been scaled up and replicated across 1,000 communities nationwide. Ateneo de Manila has also hosted several national Zero Hunger Summits throughout the years and is poised to further collaborate with Gawad Kalinga as it prepares to roll out a series of summits in 2023. GK-Ateneo is also paving the way for Ateneo de Manila to be a major stakeholder in the Zero Hunger Alliance as it aspires to play a major role in research and get involved in implementing certain programs through the various social involvement and formation programs of the university.