GK Harvest 2009 - "Changing Each Other, Changing the World"
By AMINA YOUSSEF Date Posted: April 1, 2009
A journey, just like a Gawad Kalinga Great Adventure Tour (GK GAT) yields a harvest of wonderful memories. This year's GK Harvest centered on the theme "Changing Each Other, Changing the World" and was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall, Earlwood on the 15th of March, 2009. For many, this year's GK Harvest was regarded as one of the best so far. As one guest said, "The Parish Hall is filled with inspirational people and excitement, I feel inspired to be a member of GK and go on a GAT".
The hosts for the day were Cherylle Villanueva and Joe. The efforts of the Events, Video & Photography, News Bureau and Design teams of GKOM Australia was at the heart of the event and its success. The Parish hall was decorated with photos taken from various GAT's, a GK puzzle house (that all speakers took part in to build) and various GAT stalls. The day was filled with information about future GAT's, displays of previous GAT experiences and of course, personal sharings from the recently returned GAT participants. As part of the event, 2 fun skits were put together for everyone to enjoy, the first skit was the 'Bayanihan Line' (Bayanihan meaning being heroes for each other) where members of the audience formed a line to try to move water from one end of the hall to the other, GK style, and the second skit was the 'Sack Race' which reenacted the fun events of the Barrio Fiesta at GKY GAT 09. As part of the festivities for the Harvest, the audience was entertained with a hip hop dance routine performed by the YFC dance group.
The GKOM team produced artistically animated videos especially for the day, not only to showcase the various GAT's but also to introduce the inspiring speakers for the day. There were speakers from YFC (Youth for Christ), SFC (Singles for Christ), YO (Young Once) and GKY (GK Youth) GATs, where each speaker shared something special that they had experienced on their respective GAT's, whether it was a connection that they had made with the beneficiaries or something that they had learnt about themselves that they had not known before.
Joekarl Diaz and Josanne Musa, who both regularly take part in GAT's, spoke about two upcoming GAT's for the year; the first being the GK Bayani Challenge, scheduled for the 10-18 of April 2009, an event "Only for the Brave" and the second being PNG GAT (Papua New Guinea) scheduled for September 2009.
Not a dry eye was in the hall after Brooke Robson, a GKY GAT '09 participiant, shared her story with everyone, where she expressed how GK had made her a better person. Brooke, since being on GAT, now claims to be part Filipino at heart. For many, just like Brooke, their GAT experience allowed them to see things in the Philippines that they had never seen nor imagined. And with that experience, allowed them to return to Australia with the hope of changing their life, the lives of others and the world.
There were many GK members, family and friends of GK members, not mentioned specifically in this article who worked behind the scenes to make Harvest 2009 a great day for all. We thank everyone for their efforts and most of all for "Changing Each Other, Changing the World".
*** Please visit our GK VIDEOS page to watch the GK Harvest video ***
