US-based NGO bridges cultural gap in Manila visit

Disabled and abandoned children from the Kaibigan Ermita Outreach Foundation center were delighted to see a group of foreign nationals sing and dance for them one rainy afternoon.

The children welcomed the participants of Up with People (UWP) as they shared stories and made the visitors feel they were part of the family.

UWP is an international non-profit organization based in the United States whose vision is to build bridges of understanding among people of different races, cultures, and backgrounds.

Here in Manila since Nov. 13 for their last stop, UWP’s 68 international volunteers visited various non-government organizations like Gawad Kalinga, Habitat for Humanity and Virlanie Foundation, among others. UWP students have also conducted lectures on values formation, child and youth development, building self-esteem, arts and performing arts.

“We are here to bring people from different cultures, background and languages, together and have them interact and collaborate with each other while working towards a shared purpose,” says Luis Petzhold, UWP community relations coordinator.

“The organization exists to transmit a message that is positive and also act as a positive role model to people around the world that countries can work together despite different, beliefs, values and cultures.”

This year’s participants like Steve Wirtz from Germany, Jeff Li of Taiwan, Luis Felipe Valle of Panama, Tyrell Norwood and Blaine Scheideman of the US said they had a grand time visiting homes for abandoned children, squatter areas and most importantly, participated in the construction of homes for the poor, particularly the beneficiaries of GK Project Laura in Quezon City and Habitat for Humanity.

“Poverty is something that you notice if you take a taxi ride. But with programs like Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity, there will be less people in the slums and more people with houses,” says Amanda Ferry from the US who has been working with GK Ateneo Project.

Petzhold and the students said their close interaction with the poor in Manila have been a very meaningful and rewarding experience.

 Sponsored by Zest-O Corporation in cooperation with RC Cola, the students’ activities will culminate with two main shows featuring the UWP Cast at the Meralco Theater today, Dec. 2.  

The show was performed in all the major capitals around the world, to large and small audiences, including several times in conjunction with the Pope.