18 April 2009: Dextrans' community project in South Ville, Victoria Village Philippines

18 April 2009: Dextrans' community project in South Ville, Victoria Village Philippines

In President Barack Obama's inaugural speech, he said "Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]." For many of us in Dextrans, this common danger is the fear of uncertainty in the current world trading conditions. But for certain group of people in Philippines, it is the danger of hunger or inability to break the poverty circle through education.

Rising up to this challenge, Mr Jeffrey Heng personally flew down to Philippines recently to kick off Dextrans' participation in Gawad Kalinga (GK) project (which means "to give care"). GK's vision for the Philippines is a slum-free, squatter-free nation through a simple strategy of providing land for the landless, homes for the homeless, food for the hungry and as a result providing dignity and peace for every Filipino. 

In the last few years, Mr Anthony Yu, President of Dextrans Philippines has been faithfully serving this group of under privilege people together with his wife and fellow colleagues. As the GK project was in line with Dextrans' vision of contributing to the community in the countries where Dextrans operate in, the Dextrans team's mission apart from contributing to the annual financial cause for teaching programs, it also includes eventually bringing in resource to build an integrated teaching curriculum and also the eventual setting up of a library for the village. This place which used to be a slum but has now been steadily converted into beautiful homes will have proper educational facilities and programs in the months ahead. In all we had about 150 people at the party organized for the people in South Ville Victoria Village that includes food, fund and games.

Jeffrey with the children...

Jeffrey presenting a cheque to fund the two teachers that will be teaching the children there for one year.

Jeffrey and Dextrans Philippines team receiving a certificate of appreciation from GK.