The annual Habitat for Humanity (HFH) project led by former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn kicked off on October 30 with more than 2,000 volunteers from North and South America, Europe, Asia and from across India lending a hand in building homes for poor families from the Lonavala area near Pune, Maharashtra.
"We've realized that people across the globe have the same basic needs, dreams and aspirations," said Carter at a press conference from the build site. "Habitat's program depends on finding families who cannot otherwise afford housing."
He also spoke about Habitat's Jimmy Carter Work Projects (JCWP) publicizing the basic "right to sleep" in a decent shelter.
"Habitat for Humanity volunteers are following the Carters' example of neighbors helping neighbors," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "Every person who is part of this project will be enriched…by working with Habitat partner families who are helping to improve their lives and the lives of others in the community."
The Habitat homes in India are being built in partnership with low–income families who currently live in dilapidated and temporary housing. The need for housing in India is dire since nearly a quarter of its 1.1 billion population live on less than $ 1 per day. Habitat for Humanity has been at work in India since 1983 building and renovating nearly 12,000 homes plus providing an additional 1,700 homes in tsunami–affected areas, making it one of the homebuilding organization's largest country programs.
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, Georgia, in 1976, by Millar Fuller and his wife Linda, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people.
The HFH builds houses in partnership with homeowners through non–profit loans. What is unique is that the homeowner has to invest hundreds of hours of his or her own labour, known as 'sweat equity,' into building their own houses and those of others. Each house costs around Rs. 350,000 ($ 7780).
"Costs are kept low by using locally available materials and volunteer labour. Habitat chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the programme and their ability to repay the non–interest loans," said Reckford.
Habitat's work comes under the HFH's 'India Builds,' a five–year strategic initiative to create decent homes for the poor in India, said Reckford.
"Launched in October 2005, India Builds aims to provide decent homes for 250,000 poor individuals by 2010," he said.
Carter and his wife Rosalynn have been long–time Habitat supporters and volunteers who help bring national and international attention to the organisation's house–building work, explained Reckford.
Ministries
Jimmy Carter Project builds homes and hopes
By: Jacob Chaterjee
Friday, 17 November 2006, 7:13 (IST)
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