MANILA, Philippines - Fernando Capones and his family used to live in a very small house in Pook Masagana, Quezon City, worrying about being homeless as the land where their tiny house stood is not theirs.
Together with 41 other families, Fernando and his family now have a home of their own at the TELUS GK Village.
“Early this year, we were living on a day-to-day basis. We lived in a dangerous neighborhood and our safety was constantly in jeopardy. Today, we live in a peaceful community and stay in a home we can call our own,” Fernando said in Filipino.
TELUS International Philippines Inc. (TIP), a leading Philippine-based provider of contact center and offline business process outsourcing solutions, has partnered with Gawad Kalinga (GK) for this project, the Pook Masagana community called Kapitbahayan.
Another homeowner, Simon Dula said, “Our lives have changed dramatically since we moved here. We no longer face the threat of being evicted. I am extremely grateful to TELUS and Gawad Kalinga for giving us the opportunity to have a decent life.”
Every weekend, team members of TIP go to the TELUS GK Village to build the remaining houses. Different groups conduct a variety of activities like tutoring kids, teaching mothers livelihood options, basic medical check up and even the simple act of cleaning the surroundings and decorating it with plants.
“Volunteering for GK has always been a very fulfilling and enriching activity. Being in the village is something we always look forward to,” shares Bryan Sasson, a TELUS team member.
Recently, TIP and GK held the ceremonial ground breaking for the community center, future site of the village’s day care center, clinic and recreational hall. TIP is also working with other non-government organizations to create livelihood opportunities for members of the community.
“When I was asked to come up with a community engagement initiative for TIP, choosing to partner with GK was top priority. It’s not just about building homes and improving the lives of the poor in the Philippines, but more importantly, it is about empowering the poor to sustain themselves and provide them the dignity they deserve. The homeowners at TELUS GK Village are testament to that,” said Cris Rosenthal, VP for Human Resources.
SVP for Contact Center Operations Paul Egger added: “We are so proud partnering with GK and seeing these families start new lives in their new homes. I am so honored to be a part of an organization which employs the best and the brightest in this country and never forgets to shared with the disadvantaged members of the society. I am extremely delighted to see our team members live by our community engagement philosophy of giving where we live.”