JEDDAH, 16 October 2005 — GK-777, a Philippine program whose mission is to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in 7 seven years, has finally reached western Saudi Arabia.

A pre-launching meeting was held recently at Kaki Hotel in Jeddah to formally introduce GK-777 or Gawad Kalinga, the proponent of the program which is “in line with the vision of a new Philippines with no more slums.”

Manny Lector, project director of Gawad Kalinga in Saudi Arabia, said the project was initiated in Manila to build homes “for the poorest of the poor.”

“We are giving them hope, that there is something to really look up to, because a house is a basic necessity in our life,” he explained to Arab News.

With the help of community organizations and individuals in Jeddah, Lector hopes to generate funds to build homes in some of the Philippines’ poorest communities.

Donations from OFWs in Riyadh and Alkhobar have accumulated enough money to build at least 50 homes in a village devastated by floods last December in the town of Real in Quezon province, east of Manila. In honor of those who donated the funds, the village will be called KSA OFW GK Village.

Ric Dungo, the project coordinator in Jeddah, appealed for help from groups and individuals in Jeddah and other parts of the Western region to at least match what those in Riyadh and the Eastern Region have done.

“Your support is badly needed to reach this goal. Let’s share our love with our less fortunate countrymen,” he appealed.

Since its launch in 2002, GK-777 has so far funded the building of communities in Payatas, Quezon City and Smokey Mountain in Manila; Bacolod City, Talisay and Escalante in Negros Occidental and Cebu City in the Visayas; and in Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga in Mindanao.

Started by a Young Briton

The movement earned international exposure when young British millionaire Dylan Wilkes sold his BMW and donated the proceeds to Gawad Kalinga. The money from the sale was good enough for a village that was called BMW village, in honor of Wilkes. Wilkes now acts as the international spokesman of Gawad Kalinga.

During the official launching of Gawad Kalinga in Jeddah in Dec. 1, organizers will be presenting some video that underscores the struggle of the poorest of the poor in various parts of the Philippines, and how their lives have been blessed by Gawad Kalinga and its donors.

Entertainment numbers, speeches, and gifts to lucky attendees will spice up the presentation.

Community organizations or individuals who are interested to help in this endeavor can call Ric Dungo at 05015-20710 or 664-5782.