Habitat World March 2011

engage &

empower
To mark the 100th anniversary of International
Women’s Day, Habitat World explores why
Habitat works for women — and why so many
women choose to work with Habitat.

IN THIS ISSUE:
A view from the Everest Build in Nepal
A look back at the six-site 2010 Carter Work Project
 Foundations
From Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford
Striving to Make Life Better
T
his issue of Habitat World
celebrates the amazing
contributions that women
make to the ministry of
Habitat for Humanity and
the incredible stories of
women who hold their
families together all around the world.
I was born into a family of strong wom-
en. My grandmother, Millicent Fenwick,
was a New Jersey congresswoman who was
widely known for her commitment to jus-
tice issues. She drafted the legislation that
resulted in the formation of the Helsinki
Commission to monitor compliance with
the Helsinki Accord on human rights. She
challenged me at an early age to “be useful”
to those in need in our world.
nicky sering
I sometimes marvel at her life. She was
born in 1910 — the same year that Clara
Zetkin of Germany proposed the first Inter-
national Women’s Day and 10 years before
the 19th Amendment was passed in the
U.S., giving women the right to vote.
She lived during an era that changed the
lives of women dramatically in many parts
of the world, so much so that it is hard to
fathom the conditions under which many
women live today. Too frequently, land
2 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
tenure for women — many of whom have
no assets, no resources and no power — is
almost entirely dependent on the men with
whom they are associated. A widowed,
separated or divorced woman in many lo-
cations is left homeless because she has no
rights to the land on which she lives.
Yet in Habitat’s work, we see the power-
ful spirit of women who can overcome the
most difficult of circumstances to make life
better for their children. In Asia, women
organize savings groups that support hous-
ing opportunities for each member family.
When new housing designs in Brazil re-
sulted in women no longer having to spend
much of each day collecting water, the la-
dies developed an income-producing busi-
ness. And a recent Women Build project in
Africa drew great support to help orphans
and vulnerable children.
I will always be grateful for the influence
my grandmother had upon my life. Every
time I saw her, she would recite Micah 6:8
from the Bible, a verse that explains clearly
our call to be just and merciful and to walk
humbly with God. Often identified as the
inspiration for Doonesbury’s Lacey Dav-
enport character, Grandma was a colorful
family icon who demonstrated bold deter-
mination in taking up the cause of those
who need an advocate to make their lives
better. May we all be so bold in our efforts
to reach out a hand to those in need of af-
fordable housing.
Jonathan T.M. Reckford
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity International
HabitatWorld The Publication of
Habitat for Humanity International
executive editor
MANAGING EDITOr
Jennifer Lindsey
Shala Carlson
Assistant Editor Rebekah Daniel
Phillip Jordan
Photo editor Bob Jacob
Print Supervisor Mike Chapman
DESIGn Journey Group, Inc.
W h o We A r e
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, Christian
housing ministry that works both to eliminate
poverty housing around the world and to make
adequate housing a matter of conscience and
action. Habitat welcomes to the table partners
from any faith — or from no faith — who are
willing to pick up a hammer to help improve the
lives of families needing decent shelter.
W h a t We D o
Habitat for Humanity organizations build,
renovate and repair houses in partnership
with people in need of adequate housing.
Homeowners are selected locally by Habitat
organizations based on their need for housing,
ability to repay a no-profit loan and willingness
to partner with Habitat. Loan repayments
contribute to help build and repair additional
houses. Because Habitat’s loans are no-profit,
they are affordable for low-income partners.
s tat e m e n t o f p u r p o s e
Habitat World magazine is the educational, infor-
mational and outreach publication of Habitat for
Humanity International. Its purpose is to further
Habitat’s goal of eliminating inadequate and pov-
erty housing as a demonstration of the gospel
of Jesus Christ, and to raise awareness of the
issues involved in this work throughout the orga-
nization and the world community. Habitat World
is free to anyone who wishes to receive it.
Le t u s h e a r f r o m y o u
Habitat World, 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA
31709-3498, habitatworld@habitat.org,
(800) HABITAT, (229) 924-6935
fax (229) 931-9629
for subscription changes
Call the number above or e-mail
publicinfo@habitat.org.
Habitat World can be read online at
habitat.org and is available on request in Braille.
Circulation: 1,043,768 (estimated)
Copyright ©2011
Printed on 100 percent
recycled paper
Habitat World (ISSN: 0890–958X) is published
quarterly by Habitat for Humanity® International,
121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709–3498.
Vol. 28, No. 1. March 2011.
 Blueprints
p Your content guide to Habitat World

One of thousands of women who are

march 2011
engaged around the world with Habitat’s
mission, AmeriCorps member Madiha
Ahmad helped build a Habitat house in
Birmingham, Ala., during the 2010 Jimmy
& Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

FEATURES 11
ezra millstein

I n E v e r y I ss u e
8 C a r t e r wo r k p r o j e c t r e c a p
The 2010 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work FO U NDAT I ON S : Habitat for
Humanity International CEO Jonathan
Project was the cornerstone of Habitat’s
Reckford celebrates the contributions that
World Habitat Day observances.
women make to the ministry. P a g e 2

11 WO M EN AT WO R K
• Women from all walks of life explain why they
HA B I TAT L A S : Building with displaced
ON THE CO V E R families in Colombia; Habitat Haiti marks
work with Habitat. P a g e 1 2 On the Washington, D.C., one year of post-earthquake recovery work.
build site of the 2010
• International programs provide opportunities Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter
Pa g e 4
for improved housing and better lives. P a g e 1 8 Work Project, veteran

• A volunteer house leader and a construction Women Build house leader F I E L D NOTE S : Celebrating the
Holly Eaton instructs
manager trade build-site stories. P a g e 2 2 Olympic silver medalist
Neighborhood Stabilization Program with
a house dedication in Miami; Habitat
24
Kerry Weiland as the two
women work together on a World launches a blog on habitat.org.
B I G P I CT U R E S house rehab.
Pa g e 2 9
As we launch the 2011 Habitat World photo Photo by Steffan Hacker

contest, last year’s winner Neil Reid shares CO M I N G HO M E : A family in El

images and observations from his Global Salvador breathes easier after a Habitat
Village trip to Nepal. renovation project. P a g e 3 1

march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 3

Habitatlas
International news

Hungary-based
Europe and Central
Asia Housing
Habitat Taos
undertakes rehab
8 Forum raises
awareness
of century-old
6 Post-earthquake Volunteers
adobe house
building and
5 improve the
1 planning
continues in Haiti 2
Habitat helps
improve home
homes of elderly
families in China
insulation in
Macedonia

Habitat Fiji
Habitat Colombia
creates 3 Photo auction Habitat Kenya
partners to 7
community
with displaced
helps fund a
Habitat house in
9 4 recognized for
providing affordable
upgrade water
and sanitation
facilities
families South Africa housing

Numbers on the map above correspond to numbers in the text about the specified country.

 abitat continues
H1
rebuilding efforts in Haiti

M
ore than a shelter kits assembled and distributed and rebuilding efforts. In 2011, the 28th an-
year after a 2,000 structural damage assessments con- nual Carter Work Project will take place in
devastating ducted. In addition, more than 500 Haitians Haiti’s central plateau, which received an
earthquake hit have been trained in earthquake-resistant influx of earthquake survivors, straining
Haiti, Habitat construction techniques and more than already limited resources in communities
for Humanity 200 Haitians have been hired to help in that exist mainly from small-scale subsis-
continues construction activities. In a nation with an tence farming. The project will build houses
rebuilding activities to support its goal unemployment rate of 60 percent, job op- with internally displaced families as well
of serving 50,000 families by providing a portunities are a crucial part of rebuilding. as existing communities already living well
pathway to permanent housing. Because of the immense need and below the poverty line.
More than 1,000 families received tran- Habitat’s long-term strategy, the Jimmy & Habitat is implementing its recovery
sitional or upgradable shelters by December Rosalynn Carter Work Project will be in project through community-based Habitat
2010, with a total of 2,000 scheduled to be Haiti in both 2011 and 2012, leveraging Resource Centers. HRCs provide a range
completed by the end of January 2011. This the attention the project receives to bring of services, including damage assessments,
on top of more than 21,000 emergency renewed focus and funds to the massive repairs and retrofits, assistance in securing

4 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
ezra millstein
The Louis family — Natasha, her husband Barthol and their 2-year-old son Barnavens — sit
inside their upgradable Habitat transitional shelter in Leogane.
land and tenure, loans of tools and equip-
ment, materials fabrication, water and sani-
tary solutions, transitional shelter, shelter
upgrades, and permanent houses. As the
recovery progresses, housing microfinance
will be introduced so that families can con-
tinue to manage home improvements and
additions.
To learn more and to view photos and
videos about Habitat’s efforts in Haiti, visit
habitat.org/disaster/active_programs/
haiti_earthquake.aspx.
MACEDONIA During the 1970s
2 and 1980s, a mass urbanization pol-
icy in Macedonia called for faster construc-
tion of houses, often meaning that little
attention was paid to the quality and energy
features of building materials. As a result,
monthly energy bills can be the most costly
item for many households. And according
to official data, household heating accounts
for up to 40 percent of Macedonia’s total
energy consumption.
In an effort to help improve the situ-
ation, Habitat Macedonia has initiated
a pilot project around the capital city of
Skopje and in the northern city of
Kumanovo to finance the replacement
of old windows and doors in dilapidated
apartment buildings, helping to better in-
sulate the homes of low-income families. A
planned expansion will eventually upgrade
24 buildings and create a revolving loan
fund with the help of investors and local
governments to finance efficiency-related
renovations.
COLOMBIA Throughout Colom-
3 bia’s history, the Sucre region has suf-
fered the consequences of numerous armed
conflicts, often leading to forced evictions
for many families.
Displaced families have concentrated
in neighborhoods in the city of Sincelejo,
often crowding into houses in barrios like
Altos de Rosario and 17 de Septiembre.
Habitat Colombia — along with part-
ners Acción Social, Comfasucre and the
government of the Balearic Islands of Spain
— is building houses with a group of 33
of these families. International volunteers
have helped with construction, pouring
foundations and laying brick.
In addition to creating housing oppor-
tunities, the project provides education in
conflict resolution and citizen coexistence.
“It was an experience that left important
teachings with everyone in the community
about integrating and participating in the
construction of their own homes,” says new
Habitat homeowner Julian Carmona.
KENYA Habitat Kenya was among
4 key housing stakeholders participat-
ing in a 2010 exhibition organized by the na-
tional Ministry of Housing to showcase best
practices in the area of human settlement.
During the exhibition, participants called
on the government to improve infrastruc-
ture, a move that could trigger development
and help reduce the cost of housing con-
struction. Awards were given to the best five
performing exhibitors, and Habitat Kenya
was among those recognized for its exem-
plary role in providing decent and affordable
houses to more than 4,500 families in Kenya.
CHINA Habitat China is launching
5 its first project within the Shanghai
metropolis to improve the living conditions of
elderly people living in China’s largest city.
Shanghai has been described as the first
“aging city” in China. By the end of 2009,
more than 3 million of the city’s residents were
march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 5
Habitatlas Habitat World is also published online at
habitat.org/hw
with additional coverage of Habitat’s work.

older than 60. These elderly residents often live Volunteers

in aging public apartments not suited to the participate in
special needs of the elderly or disabled. a special one-
Similar to a previous Habitat China project day build on
in Hong Kong, volunteers will renovate or the outskirts
repair the homes of 20 elderly families in the of Shanghai,
initial phase of the “Shanghai Age-Friendly sponsored
Housing Renovation Project.” by Liverpool
In addition, at the end of 2010, Habitat

habitat south korea

Football Club.
China marked another first when business
leaders and volunteers took part in a special
one-day build funded by Liverpool Football
Club in Pinghu county on the outskirts of
Shanghai.

UNITED STATES Habitat Taos
6 has facilitated a major rehab of a
100-year-old adobe house to preserve the
historic structure and provide Margaret
Fernandez a safe and warm place to live.
With a fixed income and rheumatoid
arthritis, Fernandez was unable to keep up
with her home’s maintenance needs. The
adobe and wood features of the house —
built in 1913 by Fernandez’s grandparents
— had deteriorated substantially, and the
roof had begun to leak.
Compiling grants and resources from
HUD’s Home Improvement Partnership
Program, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Rural Housing Services and
area housing support agencies, Habitat
pulled together enough funding to replace
the roof and replaster the house, pour a new
bond beam to stabilize the structure, and
update the kitchen and bathroom.
The memories Fernandez cherishes of
growing up in the house and absorbing
“spiritual nurture, respect for people and
habitat a/p
appreciation for the gifts of our Creator” 200 low-income families living on the main
are as important to her as the physical island of Viti Levu.
structure. “Always the house, the home, was
a magnet to come back to,” she says. “Now HUNGARY Habitat — in
that it is refurbished, it’s going to be a place
8 partnership with the International
where family can gather again, and friends.” Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies and the United Nations — will draw
FIJI Habitat Fiji has launched a proj- attention to regional housing issues in April
7 ect with funding from UNICEF to by holding an inaugural regional housing
refurbish water and sanitation facilities at four forum in Budapest.
boarding schools that will also serve as evacu- Housing challenges in Europe and Central
ation centers in the event of a disaster. The Asia are diverse, from dilapidated housing
improvements will not only benefit students stock to large vulnerable groups with no ac-
but also the surrounding communities that cess to housing finance. And with a scarcity of
will be more prepared if a disaster strikes. The regional natural resources, energy efficiency
schools are located on the island of Taveuni, has become a primary concern.
one of the main islands among the 300 that The aim of the first Europe and Central
make up Fiji. Asia Housing Forum is to examine housing
Separately, Habitat Fiji has received issues in the region to find action-based solu-
more than US$47,000 from the Japanese tions and ideas. The ambition of the forum
embassy in Fiji to design and build three is to become an agenda-setting event, while
community water systems for more than providing a platform for exchange and con-

where we work

Habitat for Humanity started in the United States in 1976, and today its work reaches around the world. Currently, Habitat is at work in all 50 states of the United States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Territory of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other countries around the globe, including: Afghanistan | Argentina | Armenia Australia
Bangladesh | Bermuda | Bolivia | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Botswana | Brazil | Bulgaria | Cambodia | Cameroon | Canada | Chile | China | Colombia | Costa Rica | Cote d’Ivoire
Dominican Republic | Egypt | El Salvador | Ethiopia | Fiji | France | Germany | Ghana | Great Britain | Guatemala | Guyana | Haiti | Honduras | Hungary | India | Indonesia | Jamaica | Japan
Jordan | Kenya | Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Lebanon | Lesotho | Macedonia | Madagascar | Malawi | Malaysia | Mexico | Mongolia | Mozambique | Myanmar | Nepal | Netherlands | New Zealand
Nicaragua | Northern Ireland | Paraguay | Peru | Philippines | Poland | Portugal | Republic of Ireland | Romania | Russia | Senegal | Singapore | Slovakia | South Africa | South Korea | Sri Lanka
Tajikistan | Tanzania | Thailand | Timor-Leste | Trinidad and Tobago | Turkey | Uganda | Ukraine | Vietnam | Zambia

6 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
 Windows on the Work
glimpses inside habitat happenings

1 Engaging middle schoolers in Louisville, Ky.

Last fall, Habitat Louisville celebrated its 25th anniversary with a
gala event named “Hammers, Hardhats & Hope.” Some of the
sensus-building among people committed to
hard hats in that equation were the result of an art project at
the cause of sustainable and resilient housing
Highland Middle School. The idea of a school staff member
for all. To learn more, visit www.ecahousing-
who also serves on the Habitat board, the project invited
forum.eu.
students in the eighth grade to decorate a series of hard
hats, which were then auctioned at the anniversary event
SOUTH AFRICA The sale of a
9 photograph recently contributed to to raise money in support of the affiliate.

providing one South African family with a

decent home. 2 Conserving energy in Evansville, Ind.
Habitat Evansville is one of four winners of the
In October, French photographer Amelie
$100,000 Community Conservation Challenge, a
Debray’s exhibition “Footprints” opened at
statewide competition to fund programs that will
the Wessel Snyman Creative Gallery in Cape
reduce energy consumption. The affiliate partnered
Town. The exhibition showcased her collec-
with Glenwood Neighborhood Association,
tion of photographs of the bare feet of people
Crossroads Christian Church and Vectren Corp.
who have left indelible footprints on South
to design a program to assist 100 households in
African society and culture.
reducing their annual residential utility cost through weatherization
The highlight of the opening was the auc-
products and services.
tion of a print of her Archbishop Emeritus
Desmond Tutu photograph. The gavel was
hit at 10,000 rand (nearly US$1,400) with the 3 Setting up shop in Reading, Pa.
Looking for a way to do even more, Habitat Berks County volunteers
buyer bidding on behalf of the gallery itself and
have started a wood shop in the affiliate’s headquarters. The
announcing a matching donation to Habitat
group builds items such as shelves and is restoring donated
South Africa. “For our organization, the
furniture, all to offer for sale in their ReStore outlet. The
10,000 rand represents in excess of 10 percent
woodworkers also hope to provide certain elements like banisters
toward taking a family out of a poverty dwell-
and railings for the four houses the affiliate will build this year.
ing and moving them into a simple, decent
home. We are very grateful,” says Peter Francis,
Habitat South Africa’s national resource devel- 4 Helping to create a safe haven in Gliwice, Poland
Habitat supporters in Gliwice, Poland, have teamed up with Foundation
opment and communications manager.
INTEGRO, an organization that specializes in care for vulnerable women,
Archbishop Emeritus Tutu is a patron of
to renovate a former state orphanage. Once repaired, the building will
Habitat South Africa. In 2004, he was in-
house up to 45 women in need of housing due to family conflict
strumental in securing the Kenneth Kaunda
or crisis. Habitat will create the new home design and perform the
Work Project which resulted in 27 houses
repairs with the assistance of local and international volunteers.
being built in Mamelodi Pretoria. And in
2007, Tutu visited a Habitat build site in Want to open a window on Habitat’s work in your community?
Mfuleni to thank more than 100 interna- E-mail news suggestions to habitatworld@habitat.org.
tional volunteers who had gathered to build
a dozen homes as part of the Desmond Tutu
Community Build.

HFHI W o r l d w i d e A r e a O f f i ce s

Africa/Middle East PO Box 11179, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa. United States 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709. Tel. (800) 422-4828,
Tel. 27-12-430-9200, AME@habitat.org (229) 924-6935, publicinfo@habitat.org
Asia/Pacific Q. House, 38 Convent Road, 8th Floor, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Office of Government Relations and Advocacy 1000 Vermont Ave. N.W., Suite 1100,
Thailand. Tel. 66-0-2632-0415, ap_info@habitat.org Washington, DC 20005. Tel. (202) 628-9171
Europe/Central Asia Zochova 6-8, 811 03 Bratislava, Slovakia, ECA@habitat.org Canada 40 Albert St., Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3S2. Tel. (519) 885-4565,
Latin America/Caribbean PO Box 1513-1200 Pavas, San José, Costa Rica. habitat@habitat.ca
Tel. (506) 296-8120, LAC@habitat.org

march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 7

 ezra millstein
5 Days
6 Cities
86 Homes
ezra millstein

A
s t he y hav e for 27 years, former U.S. Pres-
ident Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, once
again joined fellow Habitat volunteers in 2010 for a
week of work creating affordable housing.
In October, the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project
engaged volunteers in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and An-
napolis, Md.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Birming-
ham, Ala. In each location, the Carters joined volunteers as
they renovated and rehabilitated existing homes and also
built new houses.
Build activities began on Oct. 4, World Habitat Day. As
part of its awareness-raising emphasis, Habitat expanded its
2010 World Habitat Day into weeklong events. People around
the world joined together to advocate for and take action on
affordable housing in a variety of meaningful ways.
At the end of the week, it was announced that the 2011
and 2012 Carter Work Projects will both occur in Haiti, as
Habitat works to help build — and rebuild — decent housing
in the hard-hit nation. “I think Habitat has a chance to have
one of its most exciting adventures — and most successful
adventures — with this very needed project in Haiti,” Presi-
dent Carter said.
To read more about the six locations of the 2010 Carter
Work Project, visit habitat.org/cwp/2010. To stay updated on
steffan hacker

plans for the Haiti projects as they develop, visit habitat.org/

how/default_jcwp.aspx.

8 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
 2010 Jimmy &
Rosalynn Carter
Work Project
Steffan Hacker

george hipple

CLOCKWISE: Singer Garth Brooks lent a hand in Birmingham.

For volunteers like him, Brooks says, Habitat “reminds us of
the kind of people we can be. Habitat reminds me I can be
something better than I see in the mirror.” / As always, an
army of friends came out to help Habitat during the week,
including U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Shaun Donovan (center). / President Carter worked alongside
his former vice president, Walter Mondale, to help rehabilitate
a house in Minneapolis. / On World Habitat Day, a gala event
at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium honored President and Mrs.
Carter for their dedicated Habitat service and their lifetime
commitment to strengthening democracy and alleviating
poverty. President Carter joined the Blind Boys of Alabama on
stage as they performed the final song “If I Had a Hammer.”

march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 9

 staffan hacker

Similar to the time they’ve spent on Habitat build sites around the world, President and Mrs. Carter worked
side by side in Baltimore and during their visits to the other 2010 CWP cities. In nearby Annapolis, pictured
above, volunteers worked on 10 new houses built in the Clay Street neighborhood. The building kicked off on
steffan hacker

World Habiatat Day, marked each year on the first Monday on October.

a Greater Des Moines Habitat celebrated the cul-

mination of its “Habitat 20/10” project — the affiliate
In Nazareth, Lesotho, Habitat hosted a family-
friendly day of service at six completed Habitat

glance
built 10 homes in a previously abandoned field houses, with more than 200 volunteers painting,
in 20 days and dedicated them during the week of plastering and gardening.

around
World Habitat Day.
Habitat Romania’s Big Build 2010 brought 150
Pulaski
During the Arkansas State Fair, Habitat volunteers from Northern Ireland to the city of Beius

the County built a house on site at the fairgrounds,

then moved it to a lot in North Little Rock.
to help build 12 homes.

globe The Habitat for Humanity City College of

New York campus chapter held a housing
conference educating students and locals
about issues surrounding rent stabilization and
affordable housing
encouraging participation in
campaigns. Habitat New York City’s director
Here’s a sampling of how of advocacy joined the panel discussion, which
Habitat Bay-Waveland Area in Hancock
County, Miss., distributed copies of If I Had a
Hammer: Stories of Building Homes and Hope with
Habitat for Humanity to church libraries and
prepared nearly 1,400 church bulletin inserts
bearing World Habitat Day information.
Trinidad and Tobago hosted the “Hunger
Habitat

other Habitat affiliates included representatives from other area housing Banquet,” an evening event to heighten awareness
and nonprofit organizations. of ongoing activities in the alleviation of poverty
and national programs housing and homelessness in the two-island nation.

marked World Habitat At a large shopping mall in Kowloon Bay, Hong

China organized the two-day
Kong, Habitat
Day 2010. public awareness event “Building Homes,
Building Hopes.” Activities included the assembly
of model stilt houses representing Habitat China’s
Tai O fishing village restoration project and painting
volunteer gloves and hard hats.
In addition to also marking its 25th anniversary,
Habitat Durham observed World Habitat Day with a
petition — whose signers included nearly 30 Youth
United members — encouraging Durham decision-
makers to take concrete action to ensure “the
stability, the security and the dignity of a decent,
affordable home.”

10 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
 As people the

Engage
world over mark
the 100th
anniversary of
International
Women’s Day
and celebrate the
achievements of
women, Habitat
World showcases

Empower
the many ways
that Habitat’s work
engages and
affects women.
ezra millstein

12 Women from all walks of

life explain why they work
with Habitat.
18 Habitat’s international
programs provide women
with opportunities for
22 A volunteer house
leader from Ohio and a
construction manager
improved housing, more from Michigan trade
security and better lives. build-site stories.

march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 11

 why i Women from

all walks of life

believe in come together

habitat
to help build and

renovate houses,

changing lives

in the process —

often, their own.

steffan hacker

12 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
steffan hacker
Emily Bergl
Actress and Carter Work Project volunteer
O n a purely selfish level, I get such a sense of accomplishment seeing
the houses go up. I work in a business where what I create is often fleeting and
amorphous, so it feels great to create something solid like a roof.
Before I went on a build, I could barely change a lightbulb on my own.
Now, if something needs to be fixed in my apartment, I don’t immediately call
the super any more; I have the confidence to solve the problem on my own. I
feel this has extended to other areas of my life as well. The biggest lesson I’ve
learned from Habitat builds is that there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
There’s never one “right” way to do something, even when you’re building a
house from very specific plans.
And — of course — measure twice, cut once!
I work in a business where what I create is
often fleeting and amorphous, so it feels
great to create something solid like a roof.”
— Emily Bergl
Anna Wilson
Singer/songwriter and Habitat volunteer
I wrote my song “A House, A Home”
after my first Habitat experience. If, when a
person listens, they are reminded that it’s about
creating a safe place where the people and the
love inside the home are the most important
thing — and not the stuff — then the connec-
tion I hoped to make will have been successful.
I hope it inspires and reminds them of what re-
ally matters at the end of the day — LOVE! If
there is love at home, then there will be love in
the world when we step out our front doors.
Despite my disbelief at first, I learned that by
the end of a build, an entire house is in fact go-
ing to be constructed by people, some of whom
have never even swung a hammer. From my
participation with Habitat, I have experienced
the impact of a person serving and being a part
of something larger than themselves.
march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 13

habitat greater LA
Jennifer Granholm
Former governor of Michigan and Habitat volunteer
I think it’s always important for leaders to walk
the talk. My husband Dan and I saw members of our
family helping with a Habitat build after Hurricane
Katrina. We decided to encourage our family and
our friends to build up the state they came from and
to foster a brighter future for Michiganians in need.
Our Michigan family build was a family reunion.
We went back to the neighborhood Dan’s mother
was from. This really gave people a chance to have
something very specific that they were focused on
habitat a/p
Kristina Guerrero
Entertainment journalist and Habitat volunteer
I support Habitat for Humanity because it allowed my mom
to fulfill her dream of owning her own home. She built it with
her own two hands and still to this day holds so much pride for
achieving this lifelong goal.
While I was growing up, there was a lot of love and support
no matter where we were living, but my family lived with my
grandma or in rented apartments — we never had a house to call
our own. It wasn’t until I left for college that my mom was given
the amazing opportunity to build her own home. I’m grateful
that while I never lived in this home, my younger siblings had a
house to grow up in.
To be on site is my way of paying it forward, and it’s such a
gratifying experience to know that in a small way I’m helping to
make other families’ dreams come true!
while reconnecting. I felt very fortunate to be able
to become the expert on the miter saw for the base-
boards and the molding.
It is an empowering thing to be able to build your
own home; it is an empowering thing to learn how
to pick up a hammer or use a miter saw or install a
sink or make sure that the landscaping is done well.
Allowing women to wear a tool belt and to demystify
the carpentry of their home gives them a huge sense steffan hacker
of not just ownership but power over the home itself.
Alex Eduque
Head of the Habitat Philippines Youth Council
M y Habitat e x perience has been extremely spe-
cial and life-changing for me, but I think what has been most
fulfilling was the induction of the youth council. It formally
marked the beginning of what will hopefully become a nation-
wide youth movement to get youth more involved, to allow
their voices to be heard and to shape them into future leaders
in the process.
The basic fundamentals of Habitat for Humanity are based
on the same values and morals I was raised and brought up
with. Step out of your comfort zone, and show the world that
we are all capable of helping, whether in big or small ways. This
is our chance to show girl power and our true strength — don
that hard hat, and build!
Ritu Sharma
President of Women Thrive Worldwide, a Habitat partner

Stable shelter is a basic building block for further em-

powerment. It is one of those very basic human needs that can
sometimes get overlooked when we’re so focused on health as
a basic human need, food as a basic human need. People may
have shelter, but old wooden boards and a tin roof, that’s not
adequate. For a lot of women who participate in microenterprise
programs, one of the first things they do with the money they
save up is improve their home.
One organization is not a movement. With one group you
might be able to get a temporary win, but it doesn’t stick unless
there’s a real constituency and a broad movement behind it. Our
approach is to build a big base of organizations — which has

courtesy ritu sharma

included Habitat for many, many years — as well as individual
Americans who will speak out and stay engaged with these is-
sues. We can’t do it alone.

Allowing women to demystify the

carpentry of their home gives them

a huge sense of not just ownership but

power over the home itself.

— Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Thandiwe Banda
First lady of Zambia and Habitat volunteer

T he reason I am involved with Habitat’s work is simple,

as we are witnessing here that Habitat Zambia builds homes
with the poor and marginalized, especially women and chil-
dren. When I see the joy that comes on their faces when they
have shelter, it all makes sense. As a result of decent shelter,
they are now able to send their children to school and look after
their children. If you don’t have a good home, I think it is very
hard for you to provide for your family and even to look after
yourself. So if you have a home, you have security.
habitat zambia

I want to say to all the women hope is there, we want every

Zambian to have a home. Do not lose hope.
 Amanda Bratcher
Habitat homeowner

I am a single mother of the most amazing 5-year-old daughter

Madeline. I had been living from day to day so long that a future be-
yond that seemed like a dream out of reach. When my friend told me
about being accepted to the Habitat for Humanity program, I wanted
to do it but was very scared. The day I went to help on her house, I
knew it was meant for me.
When I was accepted, I instantly found myself surrounded by the
most wonderful support system I could have asked for. When I lay
down next to my daughter at night, I finally felt we had a chance.
When I was told my house sponsor would be Women Build, it
was exactly what I had been waiting for. I come from a family of very
strong women that have shown me a great deal of support, but I soon
found out just how much greater my family would grow. It inspires me
to know the women who have helped make my and Maddie’s dream
come true with the simple goodness of their hearts.
With their help, I have been able to show Maddie that working
hard and putting in the effort will get her what she wants. This lesson
is something she can pass on, and I couldn’t have dreamed of a better
habitat greater la

group of people to help me teach her.

It inspires me to know the women who

have helped make my and Maddie’s

Pauley Perette
Actress and Habitat volunteer dream come true.” — Amanda Bratcher

The act of people getting together

to actually build a home for another fam-
ily is such a beautiful and amazing concept.
Homes built not only from the generosity
and donations of others, but with actual
hammering, roofing, painting and hands-
on work from people who care.
Being a part of a home build and then
seeing the structure finished and the family
moving in is an incredible experience. I had
one little girl take me by the hand and show
me every inch of her new house. She was
so proud, so happy. She showed me every
vent, door knob, every little thing, beaming
with pride.
All it takes to understand how inclusive
Habitat’s builds are is one day on a build
site. There is a job for everyone. You can
habitat evansville

bring your skill set with you or learn new

skills. Women and men, young and old, ev-
ery hand is lending a hand.

16 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
 Barb Bjarneson
Global Village trip leader and Habitat Canada volunteer

Habitat Global Village trips have
given me insight into different cultures and
made me aware of other people’s history in a
very personal way, much more than I could
ever read in a book. Every day on the work site,
I marvel at how well we execute our tasks; how
we interact with each other with kindness, gen-
courtesy barb bjarneson
I have found that Habitat gives women —
whether homeowners or team members —
new strengths, confidence and peace. We may
start out building a home, but we end up build-
ing people.
Habitat allows me to express my love in a
very constructive way. It allows me to share

uine interest and good-natured teasing; how myself, using my hands and my heart to build
we connect with the homeowners; and how a home for my neighbor — whether they live
we embrace every moment of our GV trip with next door or across an ocean.
grace, fun and a sense of adventure.

Trisha Yearwood
Recording artist and Habitat volunteer

A personal favorite Habitat memory

was working on my first house in New Orleans.
I had learned to build wall frames and had been
working all day long and — in addition to walls
— had built up some nice blisters on my hands.
One of the supervisors came over and gave me
a “real” hammer. It was so much easier to use! I
guess I had to prove myself on the girl hammer
first. It felt good to earn the big hammer!
My father basically built the house that
I grew up in. I was 6 when we moved in. The
whole summer before that, my dad would let
me and my sister “help” build the house. I got to
nail in floorboards and put doorknobs on cabi-
nets, etc. It gave me such a sense of pride, even
at that young age, to feel that I had a small part
in building the home I lived in up until I gradu-
gregg pachowski

ated high school. I think that’s my favorite part

of Habitat, encouraging people to work on their
own homes.
The best thing I can say to women is to jump
in with both feet and don’t be afraid to swing
a hammer! Even if you don’t think you can do GET INVOLVED
the physical labor, you just may surprise your- » Learn more about Women Build, Habitat’s volunteer program for women underwritten by Lowe’s,
self. Since working with Habitat, I have learned by visiting habitat.org/wb.
how to frame walls and windows, cut and hang
» Find local Habitat volunteer opportunities through habitat.org/cd/local.
siding, paint trim, and install weatherproofing.
I can’t wait to find out what’s next. » Read a longer conversation with Gov. Granholm about her Habitat experiences at habitat.org/hw.

march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 17

 work
Internationally,

Habitat

programs

around the provide women

world
with the tools

and skills they

need to improve

their shelter and

living conditions.

kyrgyzstan

vietnam
ethiopia

bolivia

18 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
Kyrgyzstan
Empowering women in Central Asia
A fter her husband left her eight years
ago, Jumabubu coped as well as she could. She
raised three children on her own, including Izat
who has epilepsy and intellectual disabilities.
Jumabubu’s salary from Bishkek Water, a state-
run company in the Kyrgyz capital, didn’t go far, and
it was not enough to make much-needed repairs to
their two-room house. The roof began leaking. By
the time the family applied to partner with Habitat
Kyrgyzstan, it was concave. When it rained, water
poured into Izat’s room. The floor was ruined, and
there was mold.
Now, Jumabubu and her family live in a warm
and dry home. They were among the first families
to participate in a project that aims to keep disabled
people out of institutions and with their families.
Started in 2007 and funded by the Open Society
Institute, the “addressing physical barriers to social
vietnam
Building a house, building a business
I n V ietnam , it is traditionally a man’s job to
build or to repair a house. But Thanh Thuy has
renovated her house and made a home out of it all
by herself.
It has not been an easy life. For many years, Thanh
Thuy and her two daughters lived on the US$2 a day
generated by their work with a small sewing ma-
chine. The three women shared a house made of
dry palm leaves, with a dirt floor that quickly turned
to mud during the rainy season. There were times,
Thanh Thuy says, when she felt powerless against
nature. “When it rained heavily, we ladled the water
into an empty bucket and poured it outside, but by
the time we came back inside, the house was already
flooded,” she recalls. Worms would come out of the
mud floor, and snakes could enter under the door.
Sometimes, the family had to ask around for food
because the sewing machine was completely wet
from the rain, despite being indoors.
inclusion” project engages partners, including
Habitat, and is a chance to break the isolation of
people with special needs.
While a partner organization provides in-home
care, therapy and job training for participating
families, Habitat helps to renovate their houses. The
project is scheduled to engage a total of 65 families
over the next three years.
Through this type of home-improvement work
and other housing interventions that focus on
women-headed households like Jumabubu’s, Habi-
tat’s work is at the same time improving the status
of women in Central Asia, where they often face
education, health and rights obstacles. “It’s like I
began life with a blank leaf and with a positive and
good spirit,” says Habitat partner and single mom
Elmira Niazalieva.
Then, Thanh Thuy was told about Habitat
Vietnam. She applied for a three‐year loan that
allowed her to build proper sanitation facilities.
Managing to pay back that loan one year early,
she continued to partner with Habitat, borrow-
ing again to upgrade her floor. The new floor was
constructed at just the right time, as the opportu-
nity arose for her to open a tailoring business. She
hired local sewing professionals, who brought in
their own sewing machines to work at her house,
and now plans to invest in more machines of her
own. Sometime in the next three years, she would
also like to take out another loan to improve the
walls of her house.
“I never dreamed of having a business of my
own before. My house was in such a bad condi-
tion,” she says. “This project has helped poor fami-
lies like us, who can’t build a new house, to gradu-
ally upgrade our houses to final completion.”
march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 19
 ethiopia
Fighting for the health of families
According to the Ethiopian nongovernmental
organization Action Professionals’ Association for the
People, almost 80 percent of the population in cities
like Addis Ababa lives in slums that fail to meet ba-
sic sanitary benchmarks. Gadisee Mideksa and the 11
family members who share her home don’t realize that
they are part of this statistic.
There is a lot of life and love in Gadisee’s house. As
the 54-year-old widow brews coffee, 4-year-old grand-
daughter Hermela sings an alphabet song she has
learned in school this week. Great-grandmother Ayan-
tu laughs at the antics of the smiling, dancing child.
For Gadisee and the other members of their family
who call these couple of rooms home, their existence
is mirrored in every other family they know. Kebele
04/06 is one of the poorest slums in the city. Very few
people have access to proper sanitation facilities. The
walkways between homes are wet and muddy, and
there is no proper sewerage system.
For two years, Gadisee and her family didn’t have
a toilet. The previous one collapsed and couldn’t be
repaired. Gadisee feared for the health of her family.
“When our toilet collapsed, we had to use plastic sheets
that we would try and dispose of later,” she explains. “The
children became ill. It was a very problematic situation.
“I have tried to ask so many people for help. I have
knocked on so many doors,” she continues. “There was
no success in my efforts.”
But then Gadisee met a representative of Habitat
Ethiopia, which was launching a pilot program to build
communal sanitation facilities in the slums of Addis
Ababa to test such a program’s feasibility and impact.
With the help of the local government, plots of land
were identified where sanitation blocks could be built.
20 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
During the implementation period for the project, 290
individuals in 51 families were served.
Gadisee insists that she couldn’t just give up when
she didn’t find help immediately. “This toilet block has
made a great change in our lives,” she says. “It’s not just
my family that has benefited, but the whole area benefits.
It is now our property, and we divide the community
into groups. We have keys to the facility, and we raise a
small amount of money for maintenance to keep it in
a good condition.”
Land availability and prices keep Habitat Ethiopia
from partnering with families to build new Habitat
homes in Addis Ababa. The water and sanitation project
is the first step toward improving the shelter conditions
of slum residents. Housing rehabilitation projects are
also under consideration for some of the vulnerable
families.
It’s not just my family that has
benefited, but the whole area
benefits.” —Gadisse Mideksa
“We had so many problems, living here in these
conditions, and now one of them is solved,” Gadisee
continues. “In the future, I hope that our children can
have a better life, better circumstances.”
In the meantime, she says, pointing to the facility a
little walk away from her house, “you’ve saved our lives.”
BOLIVIA
Securing tenure for female
heads of household
What will
Barrio B ethania is an informal community that has
sprung up on farmland outside the city of Cochabamba, Bo-
you build?
livia, in an area known as District 9. Establishing ownership
here, as in so many places in the developing world, is expen-
sive, involves navigating a complicated bureaucracy and can
be made more difficult by unclear chains of possession. And
without proper zoning and proof of ownership, residents in
these infrastructure-less communities are often unable to ac-
cess basic city services.
Basilia Carbajal calls Bethania a “marginalized area” and
worries about general insecurity in her neighborhood. When
it rains, Basilia says, water runs unchecked in the streets of
Bethania. On such days, Basilia wraps black plastic bags on the
feet of her children so that they won’t be covered in mud when
they arrive in their classroom. But most of all, she says, families
like hers fear eviction because they don’t have proper paper-
work and current tax records.
Concepcion Barrintos lives in another area of the district
called Cerro Lindo and faces some of the same issues. She ac-
quired a small lot, but didn’t know it was protected as farmland.
“I currently don’t have any legal rights at all to the land,” she
says. “I’m a person who does not sit down, however.”
Instead of sitting down, women like Basilia and Concepcion
are working with Habitat Bolivia on a project that aims to im-
prove access to urban land and property rights for women and
excluded families. The project — administered by Habitat Bo-
livia in partnership with a slate of national partner organiza-
tions — offers a leadership school that focuses on encouraging
women to participate in the type of political advocacy required
to ultimately reform property regulations and help their fami-
lies feel more secure. Other project activities include commu-
nity organization support and, in some instances when tenure
is established, small loans for home construction.
“Out of 100 percent, 90 percent of us do not understand
property rights,” Concepcion says. “We needed someone to
open our eyes and help us understand. I am thankful for the
project that has come to District 9. I would just like to say thank
you — and to thank God — that you have crossed my path.”

SHOP ONLINE
OR CALL OUR STORE
habitat.org
march 2011 • a 800-422-5914
h b i tat. o r g 21
 constructive
Two Habitat

women compare

perspectives

and trade stories

conversation about building

with Habitat.

A
mid the bustle of getting houses “dried in” for winter weather, two
Habitat builders took time with Habitat World to compare notes and reflect on
where they, as women, fit into the larger scheme of building with families in
their communities.
Barb Metz is a volunteer house leader with Greater Columbus Habitat in Ohio, and Debbie
Hendrickson is a staff construction manager with Oakland County Habitat in Pontiac, Mich.

Habitat World: Talk a little about how you got involved with Habitat.
Debbie Hendrickson: I worked hands-on in remodeling for about seven years before I
started volunteering at Habitat in the fall of 2006. I came on as a volunteer first and then
steffan hacker

worked into crew leader, house leader and then came on staff after about a year.
Barb Metz
Barb Metz: I started about 15 years ago. I had heard about it and thought this would be interest-
ing to do, so I just showed up one day. I really enjoyed the time, so I started going back. Through
the years I worked on a number of houses, and the company that I worked for sponsored a
couple of houses. Then I found out about Women Build. They were just starting their third
house in Columbus, so I went out for that and we’re now on our eighth house. This is my third
house as house lead.

Debbie: Do you do start-to-finish, and is there a site super or a construction staff person out there
with you? How is that working?
Barb: I do the house start to finish, and yes, there is a site supervisor who stops by, and he’s avail-
able at any time to talk to by phone. Either he or the construction director is available to answer
questions.
Debbie: So you basically learned how, over your years of — I don’t like to say “just” volunteer-
ing — you basically learned how to build a full Habitat house, right? You didn’t have any other
kind of training?

22 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
Barb: No, no other kind of training; it was by working on the
houses with the house lead. On the first Women Build house
that I worked on, the house lead was very good. She showed me
a lot and then, as I say, any time I run into any questions, I just
call the supervisor or we meet before the house starts and go
over the plans to see if there’s anything unusual.
And this year there is — we’re doing a rebuild instead of a
new house. So this one has brought all sorts of new opportuni-
ties. Sometimes I’m scratching my head looking at something
saying, “Oh my goodness, what are we going to do here?” And if
we can’t figure it out, I call him.
HW: Do you think that, as a woman, you’ve connected differ-
ently with the work that Habitat does?
Barb: A big part of Women Build is not just building but teach-
ing women the skills to build and empowering them to be able
to do things they wouldn’t normally think they could do. We
have so many women who come out for the first time, have
never touched power tools, and by the end of the day have been
instructed on how to use them safely. They’re so excited because
they’ve done something completely outside of the realm of what
they usually do.
Debbie: Unless they’re very upfront and willing to step out and
say, “I want to learn that,” women will just go with the flow and not
think they should step in and tackle a project. If I’m on site and
leading the house, I will specifically make sure that the women
are scheduled construction jobs and make sure that I create an
environment where they feel comfortable tackling a project. That
empowerment thing, Barb, you were talking about, I just love it.
It’s a lot more rare, but I have encountered it where even guys
haven’t picked up power tools, and just the look on their faces
and the smiles at the end of the day when they’ve learned how to
use that power tool that they were scared of. It’s amazing. If the
homeowners are out on site — and specifically the women who
are typically “Oh, I’ve never done that” or “Oh, I can’t do that” —
I say, “Yes, you can.” It’s just a matter of instruction.
“A big part of Women Build is
teaching women the skills to
build and empowering them to be
able to do things they wouldn’t
normally think they could do.”
—Barb Metz
courtesy debbie hendrickson
Debbie Hendrickson
HW: It’s probably a different dynamic on the build site if it’s a
Women Build house. Do those women stay involved on mixed
crews, or do they keep coming back just for Women Build?
Barb: It definitely serves as an incubator for skills because that is
a primary focus for us. We would like to be able to do a Women
Build every year. In the past that’s not been possible, and so we
have seen that those women who have come out and have devel-
oped skills have gone on to mixed crews and worked with them.
And that’s where I think it’s often interesting to see the dynamic
because these women now will go in and say, “Oh, no, I can do
that,” or “I’ll go do that,” or “What do you want me to build?”
and they’ll have the terminology and they’ll be able to stand next
to the guys and say, “Yeah, I can work along with you doing this.”
HW: What are some of the big construction challenges that
you’ve encountered?
Barb: Our crew size is usually about five-foot-four and below, so
if we get a tall person, they’re star status immediately. We have
a lot of issues with having to get things up high and very heavy
things. We were putting up trusses and we had sheeted the ga-
ble truss — it was very heavy — and we had to get it up on the
porch. So we had to come up with some solution other than just
muscling it up there like the guys do. And we run into that a lot,
that we can’t just use brute strength because of our size, so we
have to think, “How else can we do this?”
HW: We have talked about the construction side; let’s talk a
bit about the other side. Statistically, more than half of Habitat
homeowners are women heads of households. How have you
seen their gender impact their Habitat experience?
Debbie: I see things in the same way as women volunteers —
when I get homeowners, it’s simply about empowering them. It’s
part of our training to teach the homeowners how to take care
of their houses, and we’re mainly just saying, “You can. It’s all
about education. It’s not about your ability, it’s just about educat-
ing you.” They can do it. And the sense of empowerment they get
from that is amazing.
march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 23
 habitat
world
photo
contest

new hope
in nepal
T e x t a n d p h o t o s b y NE I l R e i d

As Habitat World announces the launch of its

2011 photo contest, last year’s prize winner
shares his experience at the Everest Build.
In May 2010, I received an e-mail that in no small
way changed my life, the e-mail informing me I was
the winner of the Habitat World photography contest.
My winning photo “New Hope” had been taken
in Mozambique, where I led a team of 14 Habitat vol-
unteers from Northern Ireland. September 2010 saw
me return to Mozambique, leading another team of
volunteers. We represented a range of ages, beliefs and
social backgrounds, yet all we were focused on was
working hard in the hot sun. This is what it should be
sion completed, I left my team at the airport and
headed off into the great unknown on my way to
Nepal. What lay ahead? What sort of an impact
would we make? These questions swirled in my
head as I traveled to the home of Sagarmatha,
more commonly known as Mount Everest.
Upon my arrival, I was struck by the beauty of
the country, the green rice paddies, the stunning
colors in the saris of the local women, the Hima-
layas, and amongst all the hustle and bustle in
justin niederkorn

like, and this is what I love about Habitat — people the streets an underlying sense of calm.
coming together for a common cause. The bamboo build was a first for me. Having
With yet another successful Mozambique mis- always worked with heavy concrete blocks, the

24 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
 strong lightweight bamboo was a welcome relief
and surprisingly easy to work with. Treated
bamboo frames, woven walls, zinc sheeting and
concrete were shaped over the following six
days into a home.
Everyone soon found their working stride,
and under the watchful guidance of our house
leader, we finished our house in time for the
dedication ceremony at the end. I once again saw
“new hope,” this time in the eyes of the Tiwari
family as they entered their new home.
Neil Reid volunteers in As I plan the next chapter of my Habitat
Pokhara, Nepal. story, I will always remember the Everest Build.
The build process, the graciousness of the Nep-
alese people, amazing teammates, the scenery,
but more importantly the fact that we helped a
family find their feet and helped to secure the
future of four amazing children.
I have previously been quoted as saying that
everyone should take part in a Habitat trip and
that, through this, you will receive back tenfold
what you put in. I can confirm that tenfold will
only scratch the surface.
march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 25
26 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
Page 26 / Hundreds of prayer wheels
adorn the Swayambhunath temple in
Kathmandu. / During a lunch break, I
arrived back to the house early and noticed
this cap hanging on the window frame.
What better way to sum up the build
experience and the use of bamboo as a
sustainable building material? / I joined
more than 450 international volunteers
who were in Pokhara for the Everest Build.
Altogether, we built 40 houses during the
six-day blitz build. / One morning, I climbed
one of the steep paths behind the house to
allow me to capture the house in the context
of the surrounding area. / Dev Tiwari’s
mother will live with the family in their new
Habitat home. She is 76 years old and was
the most amazing wee character. While we
worked on site, she split bamboo alongside
the volunteers in preparation for the woven
bamboo walls.

Page 27 / My teammates and I worked

alongside Dev during the week. Here, he
was inspecting his newly built house, and
I don’t think he expected to see me armed
with my camera. / One of the many tools
we used on site to help construct the home.
Simple, yet very representative of Habitat
and the work it undertakes.

march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 27

 Last year, hundreds of photographers from C O N T E S T E N T RY C H E C K L I S T

share
around the world entered the inaugural
Habitat World photo contest. Their pictures » Official contest rules, entry instructions
— nearly 650 images were considered by our and required permissions forms are avail-
judges — created a fascinating focus on the able at habitat.org/hw/photo_contest/2011.
importance and vitality of Habitat’s work.
» To enter the contest, e-mail your photo
what you
Now that last year’s winner Neil Reid has

see
Enter Habitat World’s 2011
photo contest for a chance
to help build in Haiti.
shared his build experiences from Nepal in the entries to hwphotocontest@habitat.org.
previous pages, it’s time to officially launch the
» Along with each photo entry, attach
2011 contest. Once again, show us what Hab-
signed release and consent form(s) from
itat means to you through images that help
any individual(s) who appear in your
communicate how Habitat’s mission plays
submission(s).
out in your experience: volunteers, families,
houses, the need that exists in your commu-
» In the body of your e-mail, include com-
nity, the change Habitat has helped create.
plete photo caption information (who,
The contest winner will be awarded a spot
where, when) for each submitted photo.
as a volunteer at the 2011 Jimmy & Rosalynn
Carter Work Project in Haiti. In addition, » Be sure that your e-mail includes your
photos and statements from the contest win- name, mailing address and phone number.
ner and top four finalists will be featured in
the December 2011 issue of Habitat World » In order to advance in the competition, you
and on habitat.org. must be able to present proof of a current
The contest closes at midnight, July 8, passport immediately upon request.
Eastern Daylight Time.

“New Hope,” photographer and

volunteer Neil Reid’s winning
image from the 2010 Habitat World
photo contest

28 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
FieldNotes
Habitat World is also published online at
habitat.org/hw
with additional coverage of Habitat’s work.

Perspectives from around Habitat’s world

Affiliate Spotlight

Greater Sioux Falls Habitat for Humanity

W
ith a metro-
area population
of less than
250,000, Sioux
Falls, S.D.,
comes across
as a small city
with big aspirations. Even in the midst of
abundance, however, Greater Sioux Falls
Habitat is needed and busy. Volunteers
and staff there have been working to
increase their capacity to 10 houses per
year and have recently launched A Brush
with Kindness to expand their service to
the community. A thriving ReStore resale
outlet — and some 1,400 volunteers in the
area — have helped fuel the growth.
“This is an amazing ministry,” says
executive director Sue Olsen. “I’ve worked
in nonprofits for a long time in my life,
but I’ve never worked for an organization
as powerful or spirit-driven as this one.”
FACTS
» Sioux Falls is named for waterfalls on the Big Sioux River.
» Greater Sioux Falls Habitat celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2010 with a volunteer thank-you
dinner. Other noteworthy accomplishments include building the first Habitat house in an adjacent
county and building to “Energy Star” standards (now in place for all the affiliate’s houses).
» Last year, Greater Sioux Falls Habitat expanded its reach in the community by launching A
Brush with Kindness. Thinking it would be wise to begin the new program cautiously, supporters
planned to repair five houses. By the end of the construction season, they had completed 36.
» The refugee population in Sioux Falls has increased significantly in recent years, prompting
Habitat volunteers to scramble for translators of different African languages. Often, this task falls
to the younger members of partner families. “I am struck by the bravery of those families and the
responsibility on the young shoulders,” Olsen says.
» An Apostles Build — a house sponsorship strategy in which 12 area churches team up to sponsor
a Habitat house — concluded in November. Through the build, Olsen says, new church partners
became involved in Habitat’s work, the church relations program was strengthened, and another
build is planned for this year.
» Looking ahead to 2011, Habitat supporters raised money at an outdoor arts and crafts festival with
a booth selling the South Dakota culinary specialty “chislic.” The funds they raised were matched
by a local Thrivent chapter and will be directed toward support of a build project later this year.

Visit the Habitat World blog on habitat.org

Comment, interact and get an inside look at Habitat

In early November, Habitat for Humanity launched the Habitat World blog at habitat.org/blog.
The goal of the blog is to share a variety of voices from all around Habitat’s world, voices that all
together help tell even more of the Habitat story. Each week, the blog hosts contributions and insights
from volunteers and supporters, partner families, affordable housing experts, and Habitat staff mem-
bers. It’s a great place to find out more about the scope and substance of Habitat’s work, to learn new
ways to get involved, and to share your own experiences with others who are excited about Habitat.
You can check out the blog at habitat.org/blog. Subscribe to our RSS feed to receive new content
directly. Join the conversation by leaving a comment. And e-mail habitatworld@habitat.org with ideas
for future blog posts.

March 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 29

 FieldNotes
Perspectives from around Habitat’s world
Building Better Communities
Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds bear fruit in Miami
ezra millstein
I
n late October, Habitat for Humanity
of Greater Miami dedicated the first
house built in the United States with
funding from the Neighborhood
Stabilization Program.
The new home, built with Habitat
homeowners Claude and Rose-
mene Estimable on vacant land donated by
Miami-Dade County, was the first of 160
houses that Habitat Greater Miami plans to
build or rehabilitate using NSP2 funds.
The U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development established the Neigh-
borhood Stabilization Program in 2008 to
provide states, local governments and non-
profits the funds to purchase and redevelop
30 ha b i tat wo r l d ha b i tat. o r g
foreclosed and abandoned homes and va-
cant properties in blighted communities.
The Greater Miami dedication ceremony
was part of the affiliate’s annual Global
Community Day and included seven other
house dedications. Nearly 100 volunteers
from financial services firm Citi gathered in
Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood. They
were joined by Habitat staff members and
other volunteers, along with local residents,
nonprofit organizations and businesses —
all to support Greater Miami’s ongoing Lib-
erty City Shine campaign.
As Habitat Greater Miami celebrated
the dedication of its first NSP2 home, affili-
ates in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas,
Habitat World is also published online at
habitat.org/hw
with additional coverage of Habitat’s work.
Citi employee Rosy Alfonso participates in
Habitat Greater Miami’s Global Community Day.
Milwaukee, Pensacola and Naples, Fla. also
neared that milestone in their own commu-
nities. By March 2013, the seven Habitat af-
filiates will use NSP2 funds to build or rehab
1,062 houses in neighborhoods like Liberty
City. That means many more simple, decent,
affordable homes for families like the Esti-
mables. “We have so much more room than
we had in our apartment,” says the eldest
Estimable son, Azor. “And we now have
a yard where my brothers and sisters can
play.” — Julie Gurnon
ComingHome
g
The camera captures a moment in time

a recipe for better health

O ne - year- old Catherine Melissa Vasquez plays near the door of her family’s home in the small village of Pro-
greso, El Salvador. Thanks to the help of visiting Habitat volunteers, Catherine’s parents now have an improved kitchen
area, meaning healthier living conditions for her extended family of six. ¶ Before partnering with Habitat, the family
cooked on a dirt floor in a bamboo structure that had no windows and a wide-open entrance. Without proper ventila-
tion, the smoke of burning wood — still the traditional way of cooking in rural areas — would find its way into the rest
of the house, causing respiratory problems for the family. ¶ Now, as part of a local alliance between Habitat El Salvador
and the Peace Corps, the family has a kitchen addition constructed of block bricks with a door and a ventilation system
that draws smoke away from the space where Catherine plays and sleeps and sends it out into the backyard.

P h o t o B y E z r a M i l l s t e i n

march 2011 ha b i tat. o r g 31

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