Can you still remember your most treasured toy?

Maybe it’s a shiny car that you shared with your siblings, a hand-me-down doll from your mom that you played dress-up with, or a board game that you enjoyed with your cousins.

For the kids of GK NTC Pinag-isang Palad in Commonwealth, Quezon City, they met their new favorite playtime buddies through Human Nature’s Donate a Toy, Pass on the Joy.

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GK NTC Pinag-isang Palad is one of the Gawad Kalinga communities that Human Nature is working with. Last June 2016, Human Nature teamed up with David’s Salon to provide free haircuts for the school children of the community.

Community Transformation

GK NTC Pinag-isang Palad used to be an informal settler community. “Nangarap kami na balang-araw ay mabili namin ang lupa. Nakipag-negotiate kami sa may-ari pero ayaw nilang maniwala sa amin dahil wala raw kaming pera [We dreamed of owning the land. We negotiated with the land owners but they didn’t believe that we wanted to buy the land because we don’t have the money],” Willy Dacles of GK NTC Pinag-isang Palad shared.

After years of negotiating, they were able to buy the land which sold for P3,000 per square meter. In 2011, the community became a part of Gawad Kalinga’s network.

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Dacles shared that becoming a GK community helped build peace and unity in their community. “Ramdam ko na hindi man lahat, karamihan ay nagkaroon ng tiwala, pang-unawa, at pagmamahal sa isa’t isa [I can feel that most of us, if not all, experienced trust, understanding, and love for each other.]”.

Fights have lessened and understanding grew, creating a friendlier atmosphere among the village. The 2,700 square meter village now houses 91 families. 50 houses have been built while 36 more are awaiting completion.

New Playmates

Human Nature’s Flagship Store collected over 200 toys from dealers, customers, and employees with GK NTC Pinag-isang Palad as its beneficiary. In an intimate turnover ceremony held in February, 35 kids from ages three to six years old took home new toys and enjoyed taho from our Training and Development Manager, Anna Esperanza.

More than just a fun playtime, these new toys are important for unstructured play. Having ample time for unstructured play helps children develop their imagination, decision-making skills, and discover their own interests so they can grow confident and smart.