Nourishing the mission, strengthening community: GKA conducts magpakain training in Jamindan, Capiz

Last 15-16 August 2024, Gawad Kalinga–Ateneo (GKA) conducted a two-day Magpakain Training in Jamindan, Capiz to strengthen the local implementation of the Kusina ng Kalinga (KnK) program. The training was held in partnership with the Gawad Kalinga Institute (GKI), the Local Government Unit of Jamindan (LGU Jamindan), the GK Western Visayas Team, and the GK Capiz Provincial Management Team (PMT). A total of 41 participants joined the training, including parent volunteers from partner schools, representatives from the Capiz PMT, the GK Western Visayas Operations Team, and the Jamindan Municipal Hub.

The training opened with a session on the importance of achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #2: Zero Hunger and the journey of Gawad Kalinga and GKA in responding to this call since 2014. This was followed by a session on volunteer management, recognizing that volunteers as the heart of the program. From there, the sessions focused on the operational standards of KnK, from food preparation to health and safety protocols, all geared toward ensuring quality, consistency and care in every meal served. 

The partnership between GK and the LGU of Jamindan was built on a shared conviction. It began when Mayor Mac Artur Valdemar attended the Zero Hunger Summit in Capiz organized by the Zero Hunger Alliance in April 2023. Moved by the mission, the mayor invited GK to present the KnK program, and within weeks, a partnership was formed. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on 15 August 2023, and just a year later, KnK Jamindan officially launched its kitchen on 21 August  2024.

In the months that followed, the program operated for 130 feeding days, reaching over 300 children from Pasol-o Elementary School, North Lucero Primary School, and Lucero Elementary School. Volunteers from the community, including both parents from participating schools and members of the Capiz PMT, served nutritious meals with joy and dedication.  

The impact was clearly observed both in the classroom and in the kitchen. Teachers shared that students became more active and consistent in attending school. Children who once brought packed meals of dried or frozen food began to eat, and even enjoy, vegetables served during the feeding. Many students who used to leave school by midday, now stayed for the full day, energized by the meals and the care that came with them.

For the volunteers, the kitchen became more than a place of service; it became a space of friendship, laughter, and healing. Many found joy and stress relief in the daily rhythm of cooking together. Even those who had to travel two hours from Roxas City showed up week after week with full hearts and unwavering commitment. The experience built not just meals, but a stronger sense of community.

On 11 April 2025, a culmination event was held to honor the volunteers and celebrate the impact of the program. In Jamindan, the Kusina ng Kalinga became more than just a feeding program; it became a place of empowerment, compassion, and solidarity. And at the heart of it all were the volunteers-– are proof that #HungerEndsWhereCaringBegins. 

GKA welcomes partnerships with individuals, institutions, and communities who share  the same mission. We are open to facilitating Magpakain Trainings and sharing the materials, tools, and insights we’ve developed through the years. Together, we can nourish not just children, but also the spirit of bayanihan that fuels lasting change. 

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

For more photos courtesy of GK-Ateneo, click here.