By Kim Varga

LOREGA, Cebu – Volunteers from prominent colleges and universities in Cebu in partnership with Gawad Kalinga converge at this “GK build” site to aid in the construction of a dwelling complex which would provide free housing for poverty- stricken residents of the community.

A heartwarming congregation of professionals and students mostly from the University of San Carlos, Saint Theresa’s College, Cebu Institute of Technology and our very own Velez College composed the building squad for this half- day activity, which began at 7:00 am and ended 12:00 noon on a Saturday, August 13, 2011.

The site located behind the old Sacred Heart Jesuit campus is in the heart of an evidently destitute section of the city. The ground originally served as a public cemetery prior to excavation. As it was found, residents of the area relieved the tombs of their coffins and inhabited the interment chambers for themselves.

The condition, nonetheless, called for a community outreach and Gawad Kalinga Cebu spearheaded the project. The two- storey complex, once established, will provide a home to twenty families in the area. Day to day construction supplemented with regular volunteer work from various individuals and groups organized together with core members of GK Cebu ensures the destitute inhabitants of this area the home they shall finally call their own.

[for more details on the project visit: GK Cebu on facebook]