A. What is Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm?

The Gawad Kalinga Enchanted farm is a platform to raise social

entrepreneurs, help the local farmers and create wealth in the rural areas.
It was founded by Antonio Meloto in 2003. It was during his assignment as
the Country Coordinator for Australia that he felt the call to start the work with the
poor through a youth development program for gang members and juvenile
delinquents in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City. Since then, the program has now
evolved to become Gawad Kalinga, a global movement that builds integrated,
holistic and sustainable community in slum areas. It has become a concrete
manifestation of the healing relationships in the Philippines, bridging the gap
between the rich and poor, government and private sector by simply bringing back
what is uniquely Filipino — the spirit of “bayanihan”. It sparks hope in the dream
for a poverty free world — one family, one community, and one country at a time.
The Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm is fused with different concepts
namely, The Village University for Sustainable Community Development, Silicon
Valley for Social Entrepreneurship, and Disneyland for Social Tourism.
The Village University for Sustainable Community Development is where
classrooms are connected to communities. In this concept, students learn how to
start social enterprises. Children in the village experience the natural environment,
while their elders are exposed to social entrepreneurship.
The Silicon Valley for Social Entrepreneurship is where young
entrepreneurs are provided with an enabling environment to help them bring their
ideas to life and challenge them to aspire for greater social impact.
Disneyland for Social Tourism is where Filipino and foreign visitors can have
a first-hand experience of the Gawad Kalinga community, and gain insight into the
social problems millions of Filipinos are currently facing.
Products of Gawad Kalinga:
a. Bayani Brew
Its story starts from the farmers in the land, who had knowledge
about the nutritional benefits of the plants in their area. Learning that the
farmers and locals used kamote leaves to fight off dengue, the founders
decided to brew the leaves and make it into delicious naturally flavored and
nutritious tea.

b. Plush and Play

Plush and play are fruits and vegetable stuffed toys made by the
farmers in the GK Enchanted Farm. These stuffed toys are named after
Philippine celebrities like Anne Kamatis, Jessica Saging, Manny Pakwan,
and Buko Martin.

c. Gourmet Keso
Gourmet Keso or Kesong Puti is made by the farmers of the GK
Enchanted Farm using carabao milk as it is locally acquired in the
Philippines instead of cow milk.

d. First Harvest
First Harvest is a peanut spread that is made by the mothers in GK
Enchanted Farm. This product is made with absolutely no extenders; you
get to taste the rich flavor of roasted earthy peanuts. Its unique homemade
recipe dons a thicker texture and honey-sweetened blend that is sure to
delight the palate. What makes it special is that, its most important
ingredient is the mother’s love pinched in every bottle.

e. Karabella Dairy
Karabella is an ice cream made with 100% carabao’s milk to nourish
the calcium that needs of your family and the families of the farmers behind
this product. It has a variety of flavors namely tablea chocolate, salted egg
 caramel, turon with langka, and ube. Its structure is just like any other ice
cream but you can taste the natural ingredients specifically the carabao’s
milk.

f. Enchanted Nuts
Enchanted Nuts are organic peanut brittle made by Tita Tess, a
social entrepreneur in GK Enchanted Farm. This product is made in her
humble home with ingredients she grows in her garden and some of it in the
farm. Enchanted Nuts has a variety of healthy flavors like malunggay, sweet
basil, turmeric, and chili.

Target Market
The Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm’s target market are locals and tourists.
It does not only promote the products itself, but spreads social awareness about
the people behind the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm.
The kind of products that the GK Enchanted Farm sell are very common
and can be seen in the different places in the Philippines, but what makes it special
from others is the process of how these products were made. It defines and reflects
the advocacy of Gawad Kalinga to promote the Philippines through their products
but also to help and sustain the people or the community behind the Gawad
Kalinga Enchanted Farm.