AUN-QA visit to Gawad Kalinga Blue Eagle Village: A collaborative effort for social impact

Last 19 February 2025, the ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance Group (AUN-QA) visited the Gawad Kalinga Blue Eagle Village in Payatas Trese, Quezon City as part of the AUN institutional assessment of Ateneo de Manila University. They evaluated the collaborative efforts of Gawad Kalinga Ateneo, the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED), the Office for Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI), and the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) in Payatas Trese. The visit assessed the effectiveness of the partnership of various Ateneo units with Payatas Trese in creating sustainable and impactful social development programs. The AUN-QA team meticulously reviewed various aspects of the collaboration, including community engagement, educational initiatives through hunger mitigation, and healthcare services provided to the residents of Blue Eagle Village.

The AUN-QA team was composed of, Dr. Nguyen Huy Phuc from the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Asst. Prof. Dr. Supitcha Cheevapruk, from King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, and Prof. Dr. Rosemary Seva from De La Salle University. 

During the visit, GK Kapitbahayan Leaders welcomed the AUN party. They showed the community various social infrastructures including the GK office, the basketball court, the Homeowners’ Association (HOA) office, the Barangay Hall extension office, and the community health hub.

The team also visited the Raymundo Punongbayan Elementary School located inside the community. The school hosted the orientation, dialogue with the community leaders and members, the meeting with the beneficiaries of various programs, and the partners of the community. GK Ateneo shared the history of its community development initiatives in Payatas Trese since 2003. ACED discussed its food augmentation program. ASMPH presented its health programs, especially the operation of the health hub as an extension clinic of the Quezon CIty Health Office. The Office for Social Concern and Involvement presented various service learning initiatives undertaken in the area. The community members, youth members, and livelihood partners shared their stories and their testimonies of how the services impact themselves and the community.

Key figures in the community shared their personal stories of transformation, highlighting how Ateneo's various interventions have supported their growth over the years.  The residents’ active participation in various community-building activities significantly improved the quality of life in the area. They shared that the collaborative efforts of Ateneo units have empowered the residents and fostered a sense of ownership and responsibility among the community members.The story of Gawad Kalinga Blue Eagle Village is a powerful testament of what’s possible through collaboration. This thriving community, built through the partnership of Gawad Kalinga Ateneo, ACED, OSCI, and ASMPH, now stands as a model for others. It affirms the strength of collective action in driving sustainable development and improving lives.

To know more about and support Gawad Kalinga Ateneo’s work please email gka@ateneo.edu.

Photos courtesy of GK-Ateneo