“IMAGINATION is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.”—George Bernard Shaw, playwright
COME October 2, let your imagination take you to a different course, one that will not only change lives but also perspectives. Let the music of the original Spirit of ’67 become an instrument of an awakening that will greatly impact communities and the economy.
Happening at the Pavillion AB of Wack Wack Golf and Country Club is a benefit concert for Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm. Aptly titled “Imagine”, the show aims to generate awareness of the farm’s ongoing development programs and to introduce the School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development, otherwise known as SEED Philippines.
Touted as the first farm village university in the world, SEED Philippines is the first school for social entrepreneurship in the country to provide an innovative, education-based solution to rural development through education and hands-on learning.
The event also aims to encourage individuals and/or companies to donate a classroom, a dormitory, or sponsor a scholarship to deserving students.
“The show is about building a Filipino dream,” says Tony Meloto, founder of Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc. (GK), a Philippine-based movement that aims to end poverty for 5 million families by first restoring the dignity of the poor.
He adds, “Can you imagine the Philippines as the hub for social entrepreneurs in Asia? Can you imagine the country rising from poverty by creating inclusive wealth? Can you imagine the country with no social divide because the best educated Filipinos are using their genius to bring out the genius of the poor? Can you imagine a Philippines without poverty simply because its citizens would no longer allow it? That’s what this whole concert is all about. Not just imagining — it’s actually doing, making it happen.”
A first of its kind, GK Enchanted Farm is part of the organization’s new phase in innovation that integrates sustainability in the rural communities through agriculture and the emerging field of social businesses. Its first prototype is found in Angat, Bulacan.
“Our ambition is simple: in 10 years time, many children of the poor will become successful business owners, not laborers. The basic problem of education is we are educated not to become producers but as consumers. We are educated to be job-seekers, not job-givers. GK Enchanted Farm addresses the root of the problem, which is the lack of development in the rural countryside, in partnership with the Philippine government and the private sector, and with strong linkages with universities in the country and abroad. The organization intends to raise 500,000 social entrepreneurs by the year 2024 to create inclusive businesses with a big social relevance and a focus on agri-business,” Moleto adds.
While GK Enchanted Farm has established an inclusive platform for creating social businesses, the organization also believes that there is a need to invest in the education of children from poor families, mostly coming from the farmers, to create even more opportunities in the rural countryside.
SEED Philippines provides full student scholarships to high potential and talented public school students who, otherwise, will not be able to afford to pursue higher learning. It prepares students to create social enterprises that will develop rural areas through job and wealth creation. Introduced last year, SEED Philippines provides a two-year certificate, while seeking accreditation to expand into a four-year Bachelors degree program. It is delivered in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. GK is also currently in talks with the Commission on Higher Education for accreditation, with plans to expand its reach to 24 GK Enchanted Farm sites, 122 universities and colleges, and other partner organizations to provide quality education to thousands of students in rural communities across the country.
Joining the featured band at the benefit concert are the GK Enchanted Farm student choir and the former street children of Tatalon, a slum area along Araneta Avenue, Quezon City, where a GK Village is also present. These kids are now college students and graduates, and have formed a chorale group that has toured Singapore twice.
Other activities lined up for the show are exhibit installations for the different advocacies of GK, with tour guides explaining details of the different sections. There will also be product booths to drive sales for the GK artisans.
Meloto concludes, “This concert is about Filipinos dreaming together. It’s about miracles of solidarity. Our generation joins today’s generation in building a society where no one is left behind to remain poor. I imagine a country where the streets will be safe for our children because there will be less slums, there will be less informal settlers, there will be less homeless people.”
For more information on tickets, call (02) 886-4950 or e-mail adcentralevents@gmail.com. For inquiries on donations to Gawad Kalinga, contact Angela Monique Angelo at ambangelo@gawadkalinga.com.