ZAMBOANGA CITY- In the midst of kidnapping crises in Mindanao, the Gawad Kalinga (GK) foundation launched the Bayanihan Challenge on Monday, which aims to construct houses for poor and displaced families affected by the ongoing conflict between rebels and government troops.

"It is precisely that Mindanao has been constricted with problems and conflict nowadays that GK should be here in Mindanao even more," said Anthony Swanson, an American GK volunteer in Zamboanga City.

Joe Tale, Gawad Kalinga chairman said their organization has an international platform which solicits funds from donors all over the world.

Deo Maranga, Gawad Kalinga Coordinator for Bayanihan Challenge in Zamboanga City, said that their solicitations have made possible the construction of at least 62 houses for Zamboanga City, which should be completed on Friday this week, and 30 more in Sulu.

"When you say challenge, it does not necessarily mean a competition, but a challenge to the Filipino community and other participants to live up to the famous Filipino custom and tradition of 'bayanihan', [or] helping one another," Maranga said.

The challenge attracted nearly a thousand volunteers from civic organizations, business groups, religious and government sectors who gathered in Barangay Tulungatong on the western coast of Zamboanga City.

"I am not Filipino, but it feels exciting building houses for the homeless. You're not basically just putting up structures; the structures eventually turn out to be homes for people," said Jonathan Wittig, another American volunteer. Report from DYBORRHAE JEWEL M. REYES, ABS-CBN Zamboanga.