11 November 2013 - Gawad Kalinga founder Antonio “Tony” Meloto was back in Paris on November 5 and 6 to continue his school tours by visiting the Lycée de Notre Dame du Grand Champ and the ISC Business School in Paris.

Addressing a packed auditorium of over 200 ISC students, Tony Meloto invited the students to help him achieve the goal of lifting five million Filipino families out of poverty by 2024.

“I see France as my home in Europe. I hope the Philippines can be your home in Asia,” Tony Meloto repeated.

The ISC Business School in Paris has been sending French students to GK villages since 2010. These students spend two to six months in the Philippines as part of their academic program.

In 2014, a new batch of 40 ISC students is expected to leave for the Philippines. During their internships in GK, the students apply their business theories and concepts in GK’s social business incubators intended to create livelihood opportunities for GK communities.

With 21 partner universities in France, GK receives over 150 French volunteers in various GK villages all over the country each year.

GK has the full support of the Philippine Embassy in Paris. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Rapunzel Acop accompanied Tony Meloto in his school visits in order to answer questions on visa matters for the students and facilitate their departure and arrival in the Philippines. END