Building homes, building dreams, fostering communities: Ceremonial awarding of houses in German Village, Gawad Kalinga St. Joseph

27 April 2024 marked the ceremonial awarding of 60 houses funded by BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), Federal Republic of Germany. Ambassador Dr Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Philippines, graced the event as the esteemed guest of honor, introduced by Fr Ben Nebres, SJ, who provided a brief historical context of the village.

Fr Ben explained that these homes in the village were a gift from the German people, facilitated by Gawad Kalinga eV, led by Dr. Peter Scheid. The German village was established in 2013 with the first 20 houses donated by the members of GK eV. The addition of new houses increased the total to 144.

In his remarks to the families, Ambassador Pfaffernoschke emphasized that German cooperation policy aims to uplift people and alleviate poverty. He highlighted that the project was not solely about building houses but also about fostering communities, promoting mutual assistance among families, prioritizing education, and uplifting people out of poverty. He expressed his delight in witnessing the happiness and gratitude of the families for the positive changes in their lives.

The Ambassador also expressed gratitude for the collaboration with Ateneo de Manila University, which supported the families through Gawad Kalinga Ateneo. The university was represented at the event by Dr Benjie Tolosa, VP for Mission Integration, and Dr Leland Dela Cruz, Assistant VP for Social Development, Environment, and Community Engagement. The university played a pivotal role in the endeavor.

The presence of Hon Ramil Rivera, Mayor of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, together with Councilor Kevin Rivera and other local officials, underscored the collaborative efforts that were instrumental in the successful establishment of the village. The presence of Ms Noemi Sacgang, a Department of Education Superintendent, showed government support for the establishment of the high school in the community and the education of all children in the community, in the long term.

Moved by the stories shared by the family representatives, Ambassador Pfaffernoschke was deeply touched by the transformation experienced by the 142 families living in the village. He was inspired to hear about the positive changes in their lives since moving to the German village—a testament to the dreams of poor families to own homes, and their aspirations to provide a secure environment for their children and seize opportunities facilitated by collaborative efforts among families and partners.

The event culminated in the unveiling of the marker commemorating the 60 houses donated by the BMZ, Federal Republic of Germany,  Gawad Kalinga, eV. The efforts of The Gawad Kalinga team, GK South NE team led by Mr Lito Saturnino and Mr Lito Santiago, who patiently journeyed with the families, was also recognized at the event.

Photos courtesy of Gawad Kalinga-Ateneo