THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
newsletter M A R C H
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Our License To Help Children’s Day It's All About Hydroponics
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION
newsletter BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
MARCH 2018
Welcome to the March Newsletter The beneficiaries have been in their new homes for two months now and every day since then has been a busy one in the village. Alya and Dzen our two social workers have been working closely with the families to ensure that although they have a home now, that they get the best possible guidance and support for the future.
The GSF Village has moved on from being a construction site, to a village that is all about the future: Work opportunities have arisen, Education Literacy classes have begun, Social gatherings are in place, Movie nights on a Wednesday, Zumba Fitness classes on a Friday, and lastly three beautiful babies were born! It’s been a busy month!
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A WATER TANK FOR EVERY FAMILY ILOILO WATER DISTRICT DONATED 100 WATER TANKS.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
Read on to hear what we have been up to: The Official Opening Ceremony Day has had a profound effect on a lot of people all wanting to help. A lot of these people were guests on the day and the impact that it has had on them to do something for others is very apparent..
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LICENSE TO HELP
CHILDREN’S DAY
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE NOW LICENSED TO OPERATE AS A COMMUNITY BASED SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER.
THE TEAM DECIDED TO HOLD A SPECIAL DAY IN FEBRUARY DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO CHILDREN.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
STEVIE TAJANLANGIT FULFILLS HIS PROMISE TO SIMO, ONE OF OUR BENEFICIARIES…
STEVIE TAJANLANGIT WHO OWNS MANY MICRO-BUSINESSES, HAS VISITED THE VILLAGE MORE THAN ONCE, AND IT WAS ON ONE OF THESE VISITS THAT HE MET ZOSIMO PERMEJO (KNOWN IN THE VILLAGE AS SIMO).
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imo was working on the building of the houses yet they both struck up a conversation about work, and what Simo would like to do in the future. Stevie promised Simo that once the village was complete, he would return to the village to help him.
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Roll on a few months to a completed village and the Opening Ceremony Day. Stevie is a guest on the day and makes a special effort to go and find Simo. On finding him, he did as he promised all those months ago, and gave him some money to buy some clippers so that Simo could become a Barber.
Simo was so thankful and immediately asked Alya who was travelling to Iloilo to buy him some clippers with the money. Simo is now the official village Barber and it is great to see that his skills are now bringing an income in and he is able to support his family in the future.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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THE LITERACY PROGRAMME
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very Tuesday for the next 10 months, 43 Pupils will be studying hard. They have enrolled in the Literacy Programme, which is an alternative learning system, meaning all ages are
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
welcome to join. A lot of the pupils (mainly mothers) stopped school at primary school and did not enter high school. They are so excited to have been given this second chance in gaining qualifications and
using these to help find work in the future. At the end of the 10 month course, every pupil will sit an exam and for those that pass (we are sure most will!) will attend a Graduation Ceremony.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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A WATER TANK FOR EVERY FAMILY ILOILO WATER DISTRICT DONATE 100 WATER TANKS ONE OF OUR GUESTS, MR. TEDDY ROBLES, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY AND ALSO ON THE BOARD OF ILOILO WATER DISTRICT SPENT TIME WALKING AROUND THE VILLAGE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY AND AN IDEA CAME TO HIM.
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he beneficiaries would really benefit from the water tanks – if every house had one, it would help to save water during the hot dry summer months. With this thought in his head, he returned back to Iloilo
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
and spoke to the board at Iloilo Water District about helping the beneficiaries. It was decided as part of the company’s CSR that they would donate 100 water tanks so that every family in the village had one. Sir Al Orbista came to
the village and talked to the beneficiaries about how his Company filters the water from the source to the consumers, making sure it is clean for consumption. He then officially handed over the 100 water tanks for them to use at their houses.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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LICENSE TO HELP WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE NOW LICENSED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT TO OPERATE AS A COMMUNITY BASED SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER.
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ith this license we can work with our beneficiaries legally and are recognised by the Department. The license is vital for us to lobby social cases with the Department and other Government agencies and means we are officially part of the legal working Non-Government organisations of Region 6 in the Philippines.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION WE HAVE 36 OFFICERS FROM THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, WHO WERE VOTED IN BY THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE VILLAGE. THIS ASSOCIATION WILL OVERSEE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE VILLAGE SUCH AS DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.
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he officers visited the Barangay Hall to be recognised as official residents of Barangay, Capiniahnan. During the visit, the officers introduced themselves and talked about their future plans in the
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
village. The GSF Association is made up of a President, a Vice President, A Treasurer, and an Auditor. Then there are the committee members who will oversee the maintenance of the houses, events held in the village, law and order and health
(one of our officers/beneficiaries works as a Barangay Health worker – so naturally they are the main contact!). Each block of houses will have a block leader who will check the roads and canals daily for any problems.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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THE MOTHERS ENJOY SOME TEAM BUILDING IT IS NOW TWO MONTHS SINCE THE BENEFICIARIES MOVED INTO THEIR NEW HOMES IN THE GSF VILLAGE. THE MOTHERS IN THE VILLAGE HAVE SPENT SOME “FUN” TIME GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND BUILD UP CAMARADERIE.
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ome teamwork was involved in this game, “Building a structure out of straws”. The competitive streak certainly came out of a few of them and many had not played games like this since they were children themselves! A lot of laughter could be heard around the village! So many of these ladies
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
lived very solitary lives when their husbands went off to work and they stayed behind in their previous homes looking after the children. Many of them did not have any neighbours at all! It is very rewarding to see the mothers here now, making friends and living together in this community.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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EVENING ENTERTAINMENT SUMMER IS WELL AND TRULY HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES IT'S HOT AND DRY AND A GREAT EXCUSE FOR EVERYONE TO MEET UNDER THE STARS.
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ovie night has become a Wednesday night fixture with DR setting up a big screen in the street and everyone gathering around to watch. The families do not have televisions so this is not only good for them to learn about other cultures but another way for them to learn English.
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The community spirit is just fantastic - every week they have their own private street party with everyone outside, under the stars laughing and giggling. Another fixture for the week is Friday night – “Zumba Classes” which are held in the street outside the GSF office. One of our
beneficiaries who loves to dance now holds Zumba classes to encourage everyone to get fit in a fun way. DR, on hearing the beat of music, can't help himself ....within a couple of minutes he is up in front of the class teaching everyone a few cool "DR" moves!
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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CHILDREN’S DAY AT THE OPENING CEREMONY IN JANUARY, MANY OF OUR WONDERFUL LEARN TO TRADE CLIENTS, FRIENDS AND GUESTS KINDLY BROUGHT PRESENTS TO THE VILLAGE FOR THE CHILDREN. THE DAY ITSELF WAS JUST SO BUSY THAT THE TEAM DECIDED TO HOLD A DAY IN FEBRUARY AND SURPRISE THE CHILDREN THEN.
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n February 3rd, the presents were laid out and there seemed to be so many! It was just so exciting for the children as they ran to look at them. To make the day even more exciting, games were played with the presents as
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
prizes. Dancing competitions and a raffle was held too. At the end of the day, to make sure it was fair, every child in the village received a toy, a book, a pen, some clothes and some educational material.
On behalf of everyone here at GSF, and the children of the village, thank you to everyone that kindly donated. The children were so happy and appreciative of everything that has been given to them.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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Babies born in February and March
GREG NIEL AURECENCIA – the first baby to be born in the village. Born: Feb 1st 2018 at 6:42pm Weight 2.7kg
LILIAN GRACE PANALIGAN, Born: March 3rd 2018 at 9:40am Weight: 3kgs
FRANCHEZKA HALEY SOBERANO Born: March 7th 2018 at 1:16am Weight: 3.2 kgs.
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THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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IT'S ALL ABOUT HYDROPONICS
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ow the beneficiaries are living in their homes it is very important that they really understand how to sustain themselves. Sir Ricardo Patricio a close friend of Rosario from their college days attended the Opening Ceremony in January, and mentioned then, that he would return to the village to teach the beneficiaries about sustainability and how important it is for them to thrive in the future. On February 3rd he conducted a seminar in the GSF village.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
The seminar was conducted on Moringa Production – processing and utilisation. Hydroponics, or soilless culture was shown to the beneficiaries, and how easy it is to grow even in the little land that they have around their houses. They were shown how to prepare the carbonised rice husk, how to drill holes in a Styrofoam box, line it with plastic, mix the appropriate amount of macronutrients and micronutrients with water, regulate the electrical conductivity using a nutrient meter, transplant the seedlings
SIR RICARDO PATRICIO TALKS TO THE BENEFICIARIES ABOUT HYDROPONICS. into the hydro pots and plug the seedlings into the drilled Styrofoam box. Each family was left two Moringa plants, which is endemic in the Philippines. The benefits of this plant are beneficial to the diet, in not only eating the vegetable, but also as a food supplement (powder, tea or in a capsule). This seminar is just the first in a series of follow up training and further seminars to ensure that the beneficiaries are not only food secure but will have a sustainable source too.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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LEARN TO TRADE FUNDRAISE FOR THE FOUNDATION L
earn to a Trade Australia, Learn to Trade Philippines and Learn to Trade UK have all held Tradeathon fundraising days already this year. All global teams have raised money for our Phase 2 – the construction of the Training Centre. Thank you to you all for your continued support and donations.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
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e celebrated International Women's Day this year with a video of all the hardworking women that are employed around the world. From the Greg Secker Foundation women, to the global Learn to Trade women and to our Beneficiary Women in the GSF Village in the Philippines. “Behind Every Successful Woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back”.
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
WATCH VIDEO
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2018
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