[Partner] NVC Foundation, the Little Philippine-Based Foundation That Could
/The Early Days
Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) Foundation, Inc. is a non-stock non-profit organization based in Bacolod City, Negros, Philippines. It was established in August 2010 by a small group of private citizens who were inspired by Margaret Mead’s words: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Projects and Programs
NVC envisions a Philippines free from hunger and poverty. In order to work towards this vision, the group focuses on three key areas to help communities get on their feet and become more self-reliant. These are: Nutrition, Education and Livelihood.
Nutrition:
The flagship nutrition program of NVC is the Mingo Meals Nutrition Program. In partnership with the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Research Institute, NVC Foundation developed Mingo. an instant porridge made from locally-sourced rice, monggo (mung beans) and malunggay (moringa).
Mingo Meals Nutrition Program
Due to its nutritional value and ease of preparation, Mingo has gained popularity as food for emergency relief operations. It has been very effective as emergency food for children and adults affected by natural disasters, war or displacement for other reasons.
Education:
NVC has built over 200 classrooms, many in remote mountain villages. The foundation has also given nearly 11,000 students educational assistance, mainly in the form of school supplies.
Building classrooms
Livelihood:
The foundation has been helping various individuals and groups make a better living for themselves and their families. In many cases, people have the desire to work but lack the tools of the trade to start a profession. Through NVC’s different livelihood initiatives, Filipinos are given the tools (and, when needed, training or upskilling) to be able to earn a decent living. The livelihood projects of the foundation include: The Peter Project (fishing boats), Project Joseph (tools for other trades), Growing Hope (local farmers and urban farming), and the Artisans of Hope Livelihood Workshop (handicrafts).
The Peter Project
Garden of Hope
NVC Today
It’s been over twelve years since the small group of like-minded friends banded together to start NVC. Over the years, the foundation’s good track record has caught the attention of several prestigious institutions. A recent milestone for the foundation was when the Ateneo de Manila University conferred the Parangal Lingkod Sambayanan (Community Service Award) on the foundation during its Traditional University Awards ceremony in November 2022. The foundation shares this honor with other notable organizations and individuals such as Radyo Veritas and Fe del Mundo, MD.
Ateneo Traditional Awards NVC President Millie Kilayko (5th from left)
In the last 12 years, the supporters of NVC foundation have grown in numbers. From a handful of volunteers based in Bacolod to supporters all over the world.
From the U.S. with Love
Many US-based Filipinos have been sending gifts of love to the Philippines through NVC. James, a long-time NVC supporter based in California, first began helping NVC when he was just a teenager. In fact, he wrote about one of his experiences helping the foundation in an article for this site years ago: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/delivering-light-lit-up-my-life Another youngster, Ashley, used the prize money she got from winning the college-based competition Ms. P.I. to purchase school bags, school supplies and rain gear for students returning to face-to-face classes for the first time in two years. And the owner of Mamaloo’s, a successful Filipino bakeshop in Nevada, sponsored a new kitchen for a fellow-baker in her hometown in Negros. And many supporters celebrate milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries by starting GoFundMe campaigns to raise funds for NVC Projects.
Swiss students who donated Love Bags and wrote inspirational notes
The US is home to so many dedicated supporters of the foundation and a group of them even set up a US-based counterpart (www.nvcfoundation-us.org) to allow supporters to receive tax incentives when they donate to NVC projects. The US-based organization turns over every single dollar raised to NVC in the Philippines and does not take any commission.
