Hands for the ‘Galing’ kids

This Napoles explosion really gave NGOs a bad name. Aside from carefully paying all my taxes, I am angry, too, because I am involved in NGOs and non-profit work that works with the poorest of the poor.

I am angry because a lot of the work we do is fundraise until it comes out of our ears just so our programs can continue. So we need to see through the scams, dirty linens, dishonest corrupt things happening in our society today, because there are good things happening, too, and honest people working to uplift lives.

Here’s one I would like to highlight. Hands On Manila (HOM) is a non-profit NGO that provides flexible opportunities for community service in Metro Manila. Its main focus is championing the spirit of volunteerism among private corporations and individuals. By creating programs to highlight volunteerism, people and corporations can reach out to share their talents, time and efforts through HOM’s many programs. This is also one organization that has focused on uplifting and inspiring young children. Under one of the Hands on Schools-Galing Mo Kid! (HOS-GMK)  program volunteer mentors share their time and talents to mentor high-achieving public school children specific in four subject areas: Science, Math, English and Civics. As well as programs that enhance leadership, creativity strongly supported by values formation.       

Yearly, 30 high achiever students are selected from the three pilot public schools: Nueve de Febrero Elementary School and Plainview Elementary School in Mandaluyong and Pembo Elementary School in Makati. More than 320 children have been beneficiaries of the program since 2007. The volunteers commit to sessions with specific focus on Grade 4 students learning about heroism, Grade 5’s theme is entrepreneurship and Grade 6 students being taught leadership and community service. Just 30 kids yearly — but these are the cream of the crop where you can bet your bottom peso that they would work hard and be inspired to achieve more.               

I remember how a whole group of Galing Kids came by our ECHOstore Sustainable Lifestyle in Serendra and what a joy it was for our store staff to share and talk about social enterprise. It’s really all about inspiring the young, and who knows, from that group, a dynamic entrepreneur would arise who would likewise push a business with a cause.

So this year, the HOM organizers went to a former “problem child” to ask if he would help raise funds. He said yes. Castrillo Hands On! is a special invitational auction, which nationalist sculptor Eduardo Castrillo agreed to do. Having been a juvenile delinquent in his youth, and having had a patron help him with a scholarship through part of his University, the sculptor knows how important education and inspiring the young is.  He says, “This is why my monument of culture and history are all over the country — it’s to inspire our youth and the next generation to stand tall as leaders, to be proud as Filipinos.” Aside from agreeing to several selected art pieces for auction, Castrillo also created a limited edition series of what he calls his “abstract movables” to support the continuous fundraising efforts. These are smaller and more affordable pieces that can be positioned any which way by the collector.

It’s a small yearly project, but there are many, many such as these endeavors that would rise all over the country to highlight that there are good NGOs working to put credit to the universe through their volunteerism and good works! And that the bad and rotten eggs that ride under the corrupt stream of greed will just get the karma they deserve.

(For those interested to help Hands On Manila, please call ND Bautista-Ambrosio at 843-7044, e-mail nd_kristine@yahoo.com and Andrea Naguiat of the EC-Art Management Company, the official business, management and marketing group of Castrillo at 893-5642 local 142  or e-mail ec.artmanagement@gmail.com.)