| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
| Events |
| |
|
| |
| Women Build Homes for Women at the Women Build |
| 8th March- 17th March 2010, Hegdenagar, Bengaluru |
To mark International Women’s Day, Habitat for Humanity India will host more than 100 volunteers in Bangalore, in the south of the country, for a Women Build. The event will open with a special ceremony to commemorate International Women’s Day and the two-week blitz build will see about 10 homes built in the slum resettlement of Hegde Nagar, north of Bangalore city. In addition to building homes, the volunteers will visit self-help groups whose members are saving toward the cost of their Habitat houses.
read more |
|
|
|
| |
| Star studded dinner in aid of IndiaBUILDS |
Indian movie star and official Habitat for Humanity Global Hero John Abraham was among the celebrities spotted at a recent dinner hosted in Mumbai in aid of HFH India. Fellow actor R “Maddy” Madhavan, who volunteered together with Abraham at the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Thailand, was also present. Earlier, Maddy took the opportunity to highlight Habitat’s cause when he was in Chicago, US, to promote his movie Teen Patti. He was quoted separately as saying that he plans to build homes in India and support Habitat’s reconstruction in Haiti with funds which he has raised. About 50 guests, including representatives from various Habitat programs in the Asia- |
|
|
Pacific region, attended the dinner at ITC Grand Central hotel in Parel, Mumbai.
The host was Rajashree Birla, chairperson of India-based conglomerate Aditya Birla Group’s philanthropic arm. She is also co-chair of IndiaBUILDS, a campaign by Habitat to assist some 50,000 families across India and to mobilize volunteers and resources in meeting that goal.Read more…(attachment) |
|
| |
| Habitat for Humanity India runs in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2010 |
| |
The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on 17th Jan 2010 brought the city of Mumbai on one platform. 120 supporters chose Habitat for Humanity as the cause they would run for. The pledges raised by volunteers running in the Marathon totaled 42,000 Rs. |
 |
|
 |
|
|
| |
| 30 employees of Citigroup participated in the Corporate Challenge category and ran the Dream Run (6 kms) whereas three volunteers were from the ASK Group, Habitat’s Corporate Partner. |
Among the volunteers were HFH Staff, friends and supporters from American Alumni Association. T-shirts for the volunteers on this occasion was sponsored by Trent (A Tata Group Company). |
 |
|
 |
|
|
| |
| Build a home at the Oberoi Mall, Goregaon on 18th, 19th and 20th Dec.2009 |
| Join Habitat for Humanity India to Build a home at the Oberoi Mall, Goregaon on 18th, 19th and 20th Dec.2009.2 pm-8 pm. |
|
We invite each one of you to join Habitat for Humanity at the Oberoi Mall, Goregaon, Mumbai on 18th, 19th and 20th Dec.2009. between 2 pm-8 pm.
This is your opportunity to experience the joy of building a dream home of a needy family. By buying a brick, a door, a window, or a roof tile you are helping build someone’s dream home.
Come ....Join hands with Habitat for Humanity to eliminate poverty housing and make adequate housing a matter of conscience and action. |
| |
|
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 166 homes dedicated at Habitat for Humanity’s annual ‘Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project’ |
| Plans under way for Oct. 2010 “Carter Work Project” build in the United States to kick off on World Habitat Day |
| |
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Nov. 20, 2009) – Nearly 3,000 Habitat for Humanity volunteers dedicated 166 homes in Thailand, Vietnam, China, Laos and Cambodia. The houses were built or repaired as part of Habitat’s annual “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project,” where the former U.S. president and first lady helped raise awareness about the need for affordable housing and built homes in partnership with low-income earners.
“We are grateful to the Carters and the thousands of volunteers who’ve worked to make simple, decent and affordable housing possible,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Their work this week will help Habitat increase its efforts in this region to serve even more families in need of improved housing conditions.”
Celebrity volunteers from India included Bollywood superstar and Habitat for Humanity India supporter John Abraham, along with actor R. “Maddy” Madhavan and Pooja Bedi, and, from Sri Lanka, actress and broadcaster Jacqueline Fernandez. Mrs. Avanti Birla, a businesswoman and socialite volunteered at the Carter Work Project along with representatives of Citi, Deutsche Bank and Timken |
 |
| |
|
| Also seen working on the Thai site were global movie action star Jet Li, who signed an agreement with Habitat for Humanity to help build and improve homes in China in 2010-2011, Japanese football player Hidetoshi Nakata; South Korean TV actor Lee Seo-Jin; and Habitat for Humanity Thailand’s goodwill ambassador, singer and actor Rattapoom “Film” Tokongsub. |
| |
|
In Chengdu, China, Hong Kong actor/director Daniel Wu was one of several high-profile volunteers to build.
“I don’t want the house to be completed yet, because I want everybody to stay longer,” said new homeowner Kanchit Suthimetheesakul of her experience building a Habitat house alongside volunteers in Thailand this week. “When it is done, this will be everybody’s house, not just ours. We are all friends now.”
In 2010, the Carter Work Project will move back to the United States.
“I also am pleased to announce that next year Habitat’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project will be held in the United States, Oct. 3- 8, to coincide with World Habitat Day,” said Reckford.
World Habitat Day occurs on the first Monday in October each year as a time to reflect on the state of towns and cities, and the basic right of adequate shelter for all people.
The day was designated by the United Nations and is annually observed by Habitat for Humanity organizations around the world.
Habitat’s Carter Work Project is an annual, internationally-recognized week of building that brings attention to the need for simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with low-income families. President and Mrs. Carter have faithfully given one week of their time each year since 1984 to help build Habitat homes and raise awareness about the need for simple, decent housing. The Carter Work Project has been held in India, Korea, The Philippines, Mexico, South Africa, Hungary, Thailand, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Laos and throughout the United States. |
|
| |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Build a Home Brick by Brick |
| Nirmal Mall, Mulund, Mumbai, 9th to 11th October 2009 |
| |
Nirmal Mall helping you make a difference.
Habitat for Humanity, driving change through its efforts to eliminate poverty housing in India and across the globe.
In India over 29,000 houses have been built by Habitat for the less fortunate citizens of the country. Over 12,000 houses have been built for the disaster affected families in Gujarat, Orissa ,Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
This is your opportunity to experience the .....joy of giving through the joy of building... with the family. Every wall , door ,window or roof that you help erect on this here house, you are simultaneously helping a needy family build their dream home.
Come ....Join hands with Habitat for Humanity...this Diwali....Light up anothers’ home !! |
| |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| World Habitat Day |
| Bangalore, 5th Oct.2009 |
| |
Habitat for Humanity India will celebrate World Habitat Day at Bangalore with over 300 invitees, comprising of corporate patrons, volunteers, Government representatives and community. Habitat for Humanity India will also launch Women Build project, which is expected to mobilize resources and link women donors with women savers.
In December 1985, the United Nations General Assembly declared the first Monday of October to be “World Habitat Day”. The day offers a chance to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic need everyone has for adequate shelter. World Habitat Day also serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. |
 |
Across the world, towns and cities are growing. Half the world now lives in urban areas. One in three of urban dwellers – nearly one million people, half of them in Asia – lives in an informal settlement, a shantytown, a slum. And the numbers continue to increase.
In both developed and developing countries, cities are increasingly feeling the effects of climate change, resource depletion, food insecurity, population growth and economic instability. These pose a significant challenge for the 21st century.
This year's World Habitat Day, which this year falls on 5th October, focuses on the need for better and smarter planning to cope with the demands of rapid urbanization.
For the poor who live in overcrowded, unsafe, unsanitary, unacceptable conditions, planning must also be more equitable. To break the cycle of poverty means creating sustainable communities where people have access to affordable land and enjoy secure tenure rights.
World Habitat Day is a special chance for Habitat for Humanity International to draw attention to the need and importance of safe, decent, affordable housing. Owning a place to truly call home transforms lives. |
| |
|
“At the dawn of this new urban age, we recognize the problems and we know how to tackle them. We understand perhaps more clearly than ever before that no-one can be excluded, especially the poor. On World Habitat Day, let us pledge to do our part to follow through on our plans for a better, greener, more sustainable future for our increasingly urban planet.” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon |
| |
|
|
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Women Build Program |
| 07 March |
: |
Arrival of the volunteers |
| 08 March |
: |
Inauguration; celebration International Women Day and inaugural build |
| 17 March |
: |
Closing Ceremony |
| 18 March |
: |
Departure |
| |
|
|
|
During the Build |
Planning to organize the following: |
 |
A poverty-housing tour of the community |
|
Team works on house-building alongside the women from these SELF-HELP-GROUPS |
|
A study-session on Self-Help-Groups and Microfinance: Understanding the model, dynamics, scope and limitations. |
|
Interaction with “experts” on SHG / Micro-finance |
|
Interaction with a SHG members and an on-field exposure to their operations and process of repayment (if feasible) |
|
Week-end sight-seeing |
| |
|
|
AND FINALLY, we look forward to your active cooperation and support to make this event successful and resourceful. |
| |
| To register for Women Build 2010 write to vpindia@hfhisa.net |
| |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Be the Change….Run for Habitat |
| Mumbai, 17th January 2010 |
| |
Habitat for Humanity India is participating in the 7th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on 17th January 2010.
We urge you to you join us now in support of Habitat's cause of eliminating poverty housing and ensuring 'A safe, secure and decent place to live for every child'. |
 |
|
| Currently registrations are on for the Mumbai’s most happening sporting event also called the 'Greatest Race On Earth' and preparations have already begun at Habitat for Humanity. |
| |
| You can participate by: |
Running the Full Marathon (42 kms), Half Marathon (21 kms) or Dream Run (6 kms) for Habitat- This would involve paying a registration fee of Rs. 300 for Dream Run, Rs.500 for Half/Full Marathon and subsequently collecting pledges for Habitat. You could also form a team with people from your school, college or organization and run collectively as a team. Individuals who are able to raise a minimum of Rs. 1 lakh, 5 lakhs or Rs.10 lakhs for a charity can be part of the elite group of Dream Makers, Dream Wizards or Dream Champions respectively. |
| |
Encouraging your company/corporate to be a part of the Corporate Challenge- This would involve paying a registration fee of Rs. 2, 25,000 of which Rs. 2,00,000 would be sent to Habitat. The balance of Rs. 25,000 goes to the organizers for administration expenses. The corporate then becomes eligible to send a team of up to 30 people to participate in the marathon. Each of the team members may also raise pledges for the charity they support. In addition to the registration, a company has to pay individual registration fees based on the race category opted for. |
| |
Collecting pledges for Habitat runners- If you are unable to run the marathon yourself, you could encourage those who are running by collecting pledges for Habitat. Our runners will be doubly motivated by your support. |
| |
| To learn more write to habitatindia@hfhisa.net |
|
|
| |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
  |
| |
Habitat for Humanity’s “GlobalBUILD” Brings Volunteers from Around the World to Help Families in Delhi, India, Build Decent Homes |
More than 70 volunteers of all ages and all walks of life from seven countries came to India to help build homes with people of Bhalaswa, a resettlement colony in Northwest Delhi, under a project titled GlobalBUILD organized by Habitat for Humanity India from 29th Sept-06th Oct, 2008
The volunteers ranged in age from only 20 years of age to more than 71 who normally work as yoga instructors or doctors or video producers or bankers at home in the USA, Canada, Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore and India.
The volunteers participated in GlobalBUILD, a signature one-week event that started on 29th September and ran until the United Nations’ designated World Habitat Day on 6th October. The event aimed to draw global attention to the issues of inadequate housing, and what these mean for the people of Bhalaswa and India as a whole.
Habitat for Humanity India’s GlobalBUILD was inaugurated by the Hon. Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Government of India. Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Fernandes shared his own experience as a volunteer, which started way back in 1973, with building houses for the poor. He was extremely appreciative of the efforts of Habitat for Humanity India, for mobilizing the international volunteering team from these different countries. He also expressed deep satisfaction at seeing the interest in volunteering reaching such great heights, given that international volunteers have braved adverse conditions to ensure their presence at the Habitat construction initiative.
Marie Henry,71, from USA is the oldest volunteer in the group. This is her 8th build. Having built homes in countries like Equador, Fiji, Costa Rica, Marie finds this build very different. According to Marie, the people living in this slum live in dehumanizing conditions, abject poverty and in very congested living conditions. But the warmth and hospitality she has received from the community has created deep impressions in her. Accompanied by her husband, Dave, 70, for whom this is his 2nd build, Marie feels happy for having influenced her family to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Her daughter too has done several builds in different parts of the globe.
The GlobalBUILD volunteers worked with the home owners families in building 11 houses and roofing one. These houses were handed over to the homeowners on the World Habitat Day. Since 1968, the United Nations has designated the first Monday in October each year as World Habitat Day in order to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| World Habitat Day |
| Bhalaswa, 6th October 2008 |
| |
Habitat for Humanity and its volunteers and supporters celebrated World Habitat Day with the dedication of 11 houses from its “GlobalBUILD” initiative and a cultural presentation on the theme “A Place to Be.”
The program was held in Bhalaswa slum on October 6th at 2:00 pm. The Chief Guest of the program was Dr. Kulwant Singh, Chief Technical Advisor, UN-Habitat.
Dr Singh addressed the gathering by congratulating Habitat for Humanity for organizing such a meaningful program with the volunteers and other stakeholders. The celebration of the World Habitat Day in itself was like taking a step forward with the UN theme of building “Harmonious Cities”. In an age where for the first time half of humanity is now living in towns and cities, the quest for adequate shelter for all along with basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity, decent health care, safe streets, etc., is more urgent than ever, especially in developing countries.
There was also an art exhibition on the theme “Shelter: Through the eyes of children” that featured paintings by children from the slum and from a formal school. As part of an educational drive and advocacy program, children who enjoyed “better privileges” from Queen Mary School, in Mayur Vihar and children from the Bhalaswa slum were brought together for a painting competition.
The children, representing different “walks of life,” came together again on World Habitat Day to express their concerns on the issue of shelter in the form of music, dance, drama and other cultural expressions.
“It is not easy to live without a home. The heat, the rain and the chilly winters have always tormented me and my family. I am glad that I have the privilege to build my home now”, says Apada, a homeowner from Bhalaswa. For Lokesh, it is like the fulfillment of a dream that she dared to dream. “The humiliation that I had to face within is something difficult to share. I am happy that I will not only have a home but also a toilet, said Lokesh. Subhan enjoyed helping his neighbors Apada and Sajid build their home. He has taken off from his workplace for this purpose and enjoys building together with the volunteers and homeowners. Habitat has indeed got engaged not only in enabling people build their homes but in building communities of hope and transformation. |
| |
Glimpses of Bhalaswa Resettlement Colony |
|
|
| |
|
| |
HFH staff preparing the plan of action along with the Local NGO staff |
| |
|
| |
One of the technical teams assessing the BUILD site |
| |
|
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
