The Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) Foundation was one of five 2023 Galing Pook Citizenship Awards winners at rites held at the One Esplanade in Pasay City on Thursday, October 12.
Mel Senen Sarmiento, Galing Pook Foundation chairperson, handed the NVC’s trophy to its president Millie Kilayko.
There were 40 nominees from around the country and the number was narrowed down to 10 finalists.
Aside from NVC the four other winners were Espoir School of Life, Health Futures Foundation Inc., Lama Multi-purpose Cooperative, and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
“These organizations have actively promoted citizen empowerment and people’s participation in governance through their various efforts. The best innovations happen when citizens and government work together towards shared goals,” the award giving body said.
Galling Pook, in naming NVC a winner, said the foundation envisions a future where the Philippines is free from hunger and poverty.
NVC’s banner program is the “Mingo Meals Nutrition,” which addresses the critical issue of malnutrition and hunger among underprivileged children aged six months to five years old in various communities across the Philippines, it said.
“Mingo” is a nutritious instant complementary food mainly made from locally sourced rice, mongo (mung beans), and malunggay (moringa). Their community-based and participative approach empowers parents to sustain the gains from NVC’s program through proper training and support.
NVC forges partnerships with the health offices of local government units in their protocols, it also said.*