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View 10 min. video of GEMS (Created 2008)
Micro Enterprise Business Report
Spotlight on GEMS Heart Outreach
Development
(An
Outreach Asia
partner and coordinator of the proposed
water
system, children’s center and fence projects)
When a hungry and out-of-school
seven-year-old boy begged her for a piece of bread to eat, Corazon Buenasflores knew she had to do something. That’s
what prompted Corazon, a social worker and former employee of the Christian Children’s Fund in the Philippines, to start a non-profit agency dedicated to helping
some of her country’s poorest children and families. GEMS Heart Outreach Development Inc. was born in July 2006 with
the following vision: “Empowering children, families and communities in transforming lives and building total human
development.” Corazon chose the name GEMS because she believes all people should be treated like a gemstone.
Like its partner Outreach Asia Inc., GEMS focuses on sustainable programs
that build capacity rather than simply provide one-time handouts. With funding from sponsorships, donations and grants, GEMS
president Buenasflores and her two staff members (also long-time former CCF employees) target the following areas: sustainable
health, nutrition and environmental sanitation; early child care and development; family life development; and educational
support. Other programs and services will be developed as needs are identified by the community, target clients and other
stakeholders. This process is conducted with a participatory approach.
GEMS’ target areas are the regions of Cavite
(Bacoor, Imus, etc.) and Distrist 1 (Igbaras, Leon,
Tubungan, etc.). These two regions share a common theme – severe poverty. In the Cavite
neighborhood where GEMS has its offices, about 2,000 families live in a filthy, unsanitary 18-hectare area. Many families
live in houses made from recycled GI sheets, lumber and worn-out plywood, often with dirt and mud floors. Diseases are common
and easily spread in the area, which has no waste disposal, drainage, clean water or garbage disposal. Most of the children
are sickly and malnourished and many don’t attend school. Mothers are underweight, giving birth to malnourished children,
while fathers struggle to earn whatever they can as drivers and construction workers (if they are lucky) or else vendors or
garbage collectors/scavengers. Vices (gambling, drinking) are common because so many are idle.
The situation is similar in rural District 1, where 92% of elementary-aged
children and 76% of pre-school children are malnourished. Poor housing and sanitary conditions pervade the area, where most
of the family heads are farm laborers or tenant farmers. The farms are rain-fed and the harvest is minimal, which means families
rarely get enough to eat. The only drinking water source is a deep well far from home, so significant time and energy must
be expended to obtain water.
GEMS is a duly-registered, non-stock, non-profit, non-sectarian and non-political
organization registered with the SEC on July 12, 2006. It has fulfilled all necessary legal requirements to work with the
local governments. GEMS’ strategies and approaches include community organizing, capacity building, advocacy and referrals,
networking and partnerships, and child and family sponsorships. Its target clients are: children up to 18 years old, families,
communities, the elderly and children with disabilities.
GEMS focus on the poorest of the poor in the Philippines, where one-third of the 80 million Filipinos are poor, according to
a 2004 national government survey. In most areas, household poverty has been identified as one of the root causes of malnutrition
and poor health. About six of 10 children live below the poverty line, in conditions that typically lack a source of drinking
water and proper sanitation.
Outreach Asia, Inc. is proud to partner with GEMS to support its life-changing
projects in Cavite and District 1. The Children’s Dream Center, deep well and fencing projects will help
empower the families of Cavite by serving as an education
and development center and a community hub, and by providing a safe and accessible source of drinking water.
Click toView GEMS Activities
Below: Outreach Asia's President, Mike Peck, meets with
GEMS's President Cora Buenaflores on November 1, 2006 at site of the new Children's Activity Center (subsequently completed
in May, 2007), Bacoor Cavite, Philippines. When we asked Cora Buenaflores, GEM'S founder, why she picked the name
GEMS, she replied, "Everyone in the world should be treated like a Gem"
| Cora and Mike discuss GEMS projects - Dec. 2008 |
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| GEMS CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY CENTER |
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| May 4, 2007 |
| CANAL REPAIR PROJECT COMPLETE - 2007 |
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| CANAL IN FRONT OF GEMS ACTIVITY CENTER |
| NEW COMMUNITY TOILETS |
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| Completed May - 2007 |
| Volunteers from Japan teaching GEMS Children |
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| May 2007 |
In 2008 we completed an addition to the center, allowing for more children to particpiate in activies.
| NEW ADDITION - 2008 |
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| GEMS'S Karen DeMesa |
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| Receiving eyeglasses from Lion's Foundation |
| GEMS VOLUNTEER JANINA VISITS A FAMILY |
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| Volunteers build new foot bridge at GEMS |
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| Two Gem's parents (left) Andy Sandilands (right) |
| New Foot Bridge over GEMS Canal |
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| Construction Completed March - 2008 |
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