habitathaiti.org: FONDATION HABITAT POUR L'HUMANITÉ HAITI

Select your language

Etes-vous d'Habitat?

Menu Principal

Accueil

Bookmarkez Habitathaiti.org

Accueil

Habitat Info

Building Day Summary

Les Dernières Nouvelles de la Fondation

Building Day Summary

Habitat Info - Habitat Info

Written by habitathaiti.org

Tuesday, 21 April 2009

Community build in Haiti

habitathaiti.org

Port-au-Prince, Haiti—Habitat for Humanity Haiti celebrated the importance of volunteerism by hosting a day of community construction in the municipality of Cabaret . Habitat staff and board members, local students, a local Christian youth group, Haitian businesses, representatives of the U.S. Embassy, and individual community members totalizing over 200, all gathered at the “Ti Place” build site to put their hands to work.

The volunteers transported materials, mixed cement and laid concrete blocks for two new homes at the Ti Place build site, within the Disaster Response program framework. They also had an opportunity to “experiment” on a third home, using a new adobe “earth bag” construction technology.

Throughout the next three years, Habitat’s Disaster Response program aims to provide 1,000 new complete houses and 1,500 home rehabilitations in three departments of Haiti: Artibonite, (Gonaives); West, (Cabaret) and Plateau Central, (Hinche).

More than construction

habitathaiti.org

However, work was not the only activity on the agenda. Habitat Haiti staff took some time to speak to the group about the housing need in Haiti, explaining that the country currently has a deficit of over one million homes. Severe damage caused by hurricanes has worsened the situation, and the risk of future storms creates further vulnerability. The volunteers also learned about Habitat Haiti’s effort to respond to the country’s housing needs—namely through disaster preparedness, mitigation and response programs, as well as through Building and Training Centers.

Participants also had an opportunity to visit Bercy, a Habitat “village in progress” in Cabaret, already hosing more than 150 Habitat partner residents.

For the vast majority of people participating in the event, this was their first time volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Haiti. When asked about their experience, one volunteer said, “It was very fun—working together with friends and helping the community.” When asked if they would participate again in the future many volunteers responded that they would definitely come out again.

Click to see the Community Build in Haiti's Pictures

Photos and story courtesy of Jean Joseph Sanon, Habitat for Humanity Hait

Add as favourites (0) | Quote this article on your site | Views: 828