Friday night Zumba Classes

Friday night Zumba Classes

Friday night Zumba classes have started in the village, to not only encourage everyone to get fit, but a fun way to bring the community together.

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Any signs of stress from the week were quickly released as the families all danced to the music. One of our mothers said, “It’s was fast, upbeat and contagious –  and you can’t help but keep on moving!” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mothers enjoy time team building.

The Mothers enjoy time team building.

It is coming up to two months since the beneficiaries moved into their new homes in the GSF Village.  The mothers in the village have spent some ‘fun’ time getting to know each other to build up camaraderie.  

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Some team work was involved for this game, “Building a structure out of straws”. The competitive streak certainly came out of a few of them and many had not played like this since they were children themselves. A lot of laughter could be heard around the village! 

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So many of these ladies lived very solitary lives when their husbands went off to work and they stayed behind in their previous homes looking after the children. It’s so lovely to see the mothers here now, making friends and living in this fantastic community – all together. 

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“MOVIE NIGHT” in the GSF Village.

“MOVIE NIGHT” in the GSF Village.

Our lovely families have built up such a wonderful community spirit living in the village. They have all come together to watch movies under the stars! 

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On Wednesday night the children, mothers and fathers sat and watched, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” on the big screen, that DR set up for them outside the GSF office. 

They were all so excited that the GSF team have decided to hold Movie Night every Wednesday.  The families do not have TV’s so it is heart-warming to hear the children giggling, the parents laughing and everyone so happy.

 

The Greg Secker Foundation Homeowners Association visit Barangay Hall, Capiniahnan.

The Greg Secker Foundation Homeowners Association visit Barangay Hall, Capiniahnan.

 

We have 36 officers from the Greg Secker Foundation Homeowners Association, who were voted in by the beneficiaries of the village. This association will oversee various aspects of the village, and day to day life. 

Last week, the officers visited the Barangay Hall to be recognised as official residents of Barangay, Capiniahnan. During the visit, the officers introduced themselves and talked about their future plans in the village.  The GSF Association is made up of a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, and an Auditor. Then there are the committee members who will oversee the maintenance of the houses, events held in the village, law and order, health (one of our officers/beneficiaries works as a Barangay Health worker – so naturally they are the main contact!) and each block of houses will have a block leader who will daily check the roads, canals and all surrounding areas for any problems. 

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Dorotia Toga is responsible for peace and order. 

The government official confirmed that all programmes and services will be available to our beneficiaries which will build networking for our families. 

This is fantastic for our families, helping them build up relationships in the surrounding areas which will in turn open the door for further work opportunities. 

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Mr Reyanaldo Sanico, the Barangay Captain and Mr Roberto Nonato Jr, the President of GSF Homeowners Association. 

 

 

 

“Registration Certificate and Licence to Operate”

“Registration Certificate and Licence to Operate”

We are delighted to announce that we are now licensed with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to operate as a community based Social Service provider.

With this License we can work with our beneficiaries legally and are recognised by the Department. This license is vital for us to lobby social cases with the Department and other Government Agencies and means we are officially part of the legal working Non Government Organizations of Region 6 in the Philippines.

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Alya, Ms Glo Templanza (Licensing Division Officer) and DR. 

Metro Iloilo Water District donate 100 Water tanks to the Village.

Metro Iloilo Water District donate 100 Water tanks to the Village.

Mr Teddy Robles, the President of Central Philippines University who is on the board of Iloilo Water District attended the Opening Ceremony in January. Whilst walking around the village he noted that the beneficiaries would really benefit from a water tank at each house to help them save water during the hot dry summer months.

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On his return to Iloilo he wrote a letter to Metro Iloilo Water Supply asking if they could help. As part of the Company CSR and giving back to the community they have kindly donated 100 water tanks to the village. 

Sir Al Orbista from Metro Iloilo Water came to the village last week to hand over the water containers to each family.  He talked about how his Company filter the water from source to the consumers making sure it is clean. The containers normally cost 1,500 pesos so this donation is extremely generous. 

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Thank you very much to Mr Teddy Robles, Sr Levy Delos Santos and Sir Al Orbista for your continued support to our families.  

February Newsletter – read all about the Opening Ceremony.

February Newsletter – read all about the Opening Ceremony.

Our February Newsletter is hot off the press. Read all about the Opening Ceremony here …..

 

https://issuu.com/gregseckerfoundation/docs/gsf-nl-february2018

 

Sir Ricardo Patricio talks to the beneficiaries about Hydroponics.

Sir Ricardo Patricio talks to the beneficiaries about Hydroponics.

With the homes complete and the village now up and running, it is very important that our beneficiaries really understand and learn more about sustainability.  

Sir Ricardo Patricio, owns a business called Unimax Power Asia, Inc.  Sir Ric is a close friend of Rosario from college days and attended the opening ceremony in January.  He mentioned then that he would be very interested in helping the beneficiaries to learn how to sustain themselves in the future.  This week he spent the day in the village teaching the beneficiaries all about Hydroponics. 

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Below, in his words are what Sir Ric said about his recent visit:

“FOOD SECURITY SEMINAR FOR THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION VILLAGE HOUSEHOLDS”

Yesterday, February 3, I conducted a seminar on Moringa Production, Processing, and Utilization as well as on Hydroponics or soilless culture for the recipients of the 100 houses constructed through the generosity of The Greg Secker Foundation (TGSF). Assisting me was Prof. Hope Patricio.

About 2.5 hours away from Iloilo City, the village is in Barangay Capiñahan, Lemery, Iloilo, Philippines. It was fulfilling to observe the positive responses from the participants who committed to translate into action what they learned from the seminar. Not only did they experience how to prepare the carbonized rice husk as growing medium but also saw how to drill holes in a styrofor box, line it with plastic, mix the appropriate amount of macronutients and micronutrients with water, regulate the electrical conductivity using a nutrient meter, transplant the seedlings into the hydropots, and plug the seedlings into the drilled stryrofor box.

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The seminar was made possible through the request from Ms. Rosario “Neneth” Sanico and DR June Sanico, program manager and project manager, respectively, and through the able backstopping by the resident staff of TGSF.

Some follow up trainings and seminars on other topics will be done at the village later on to ensure that the housing recipients are not only food secure but will have sustainable sources of livelihood.

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Like Typhoon Haiyan that destroyed their houses and stole their joy, the troubles in our lives are only temporary. Sometimes we don’t see the promise of a rainbow. The sun is covered by the clouds.

But Psalm 107 comforts and assures us with these verses: 28 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. 29 He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.

Through His mercy and grace, there are blessings after the storm.

Moringa is endemic in Philippines and Sir Ric has encouraged the seminar participants in the village to have at least two Moringa plants in their front or backyard for regular intake of Moringa as vegetable or as food supplement (powder, tea, or capsule) for better health and nutrition.

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We thank you Sir Ric and Professor Hope Patricio for your valuable time in teaching our beneficiaries these valuable lessons. 

“Children’s Day in the Village”

“Children’s Day in the Village”

Last Saturday, the children from the village all came together for a day of pure excitement. In their eyes it was Christmas all over again!  

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Our lovely Clients, Greg and Learn to Trade Staff had brought presents to the village when they were there for the opening ceremony in January. The day itself was packed full of excitement as it was, so it was felt that we should wait a month and then surprise the children with all these amazing gifts.  

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To make the day even more exciting, games were played with the presents as prizes, raffles were drawn and dance competitions held to showcase their talents.

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To make sure it was fair, every child received a toy, a book, a pen, educational material and some clothing.

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On behalf of us all here at GSF, and the Children, thank you to everyone that kindly donated.  The children were so happy and appreciative of everything that has been given to them. 

In this short clip, they are actually shouting, “Thank you!” 

The Literacy programme starts in the village.

The Literacy programme starts in the village.

On the 30th January and every Tuesday for the next 10 months, 43 mothers from the village will be studying hard. They have enrolled in a Literacy programme – an Alternative Learning system which means that all ages are welcome to join. A lot of our Mothers stopped school at primary level and did not enter high school so they are really excited to get this opportunity to learn again.  At the end of 10 months they will sit an exam and of course a Graduation Day will be held to hand out Diplomas for all those that pass. 

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An assessment exam was held this week to determine what level they will be in. There were a lot of very excited but nervous faces as they sat in silence doing their test!

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