Habitat for Humanity is mobilising all our resources to help low income families affected by the earthquake in Chile on 27 February.
Over 700 people are now confirmed dead and an estimated 2 million people have been affected by the 8.8 magnitude quake. The death toll is expected to rise and a growing number of people are being reported missing.
Over 500,000 homes are severely damaged and roads and bridges are destroyed. President Michelle Bachelet said there is an immediate need for field hospitals, temporary bridges, water purification plants and damage assessment experts.
Habitat for Humanity Chile has provided more than 3,500 families with adequate housing since 1998 and has extensive training in working in disaster recovery.
Our ability to respond effectively to this disaster will require your support.
Please donate today:
http://www.mycharity.ie/event/chile_earthquake/
Habitat for Humanity Ireland would like to thank everyone who donated so generously to our Haiti appeal. To date over €10,000 has been raised! This money has been sent to Habitat for Humanity Haiti to assist with its relief and recovery operation.
The scenes of loss and destruction from Haiti are heart breaking. Nearly 700,000 people are without homes in the capital city Port-au-Prince alone. More than 200,000 people are dead and nearly 400,000 are injured.
It is estimated that HFH’s recovery and building work will cost $60m and reach 50,000 Haitian families in the next 5 years. This plan includes the building of secure hurricane-resistant housing. Resource Centres will be established to provide building materials, train Haitians in construction techniques, assist small businesses with microfinance loans and increase disaster preparedness. This work will strengthen the foundation for HFH, our volunteers and supporters to continue partnering with Haitians for years to come.
Before the earthquake Haiti was already the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. More the 80 per cent of the population were living on less than US$2 a day, 55 per cent on less the US$1 a day.
HFH is committed to working with the Haitian people towards long term, sustainable development in the country to help families and communities break free of the poverty cycle.
Without your continued generosity this work would not be possible.
Thank you!
Donate to Haiti today: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/hfh_haiti_fund/
]]>Women – lets take the lead in the fight against poverty housing!
We are inviting all women of all ages to take part in this experience of a lifetime.
Don’t worry if you don’t have construction skills. There are several ways for you to be involved and all come with hands-on training.
Women’s Build brings together women from all walks of life to address the housing
crisis facing millions of women and children worldwide.
So lets build a better future for women and children….one house at a time!
For Women’s Build poster click here: Womens_Build_Poster.pdf
For more info on how to get involved phone Rachael on: 01 6299 650
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For more info on this programme please phone our office on 01 62 99611.
]]>Habitat for Humanity is offering a three-fold response to the earthquake that includes clearing debris from home sites, providing Habitat for Humanity Recovery Starter kits and repairing and rebuilding homes through a transitional housing method.
We want to help families with shelter right away, while also thinking of longer term housing solutions,” said Reckford. “Our goal is to put families into safe, durable transitional shelters that can be used for long periods and improved upon over time.
The transitional housing model involves small shelters that can be built quickly and provide permanent base structures that can be expanded over time. The shelters will meet humanitarian standards of adequate living space and provision of water and sanitation. The structures also will be designed with hurricane and earthquake-resistant features.
Donations are urgently needed for recovery and can be made by clicking here: “Habitat for Humanity is offering a three-fold response to the earthquake that includes clearing debris from home sites, providing Habitat for Humanity Recovery Starter kits and repairing and rebuilding homes through a transitional housing method.
We want to help families with shelter right away, while also thinking of longer term housing solutions,” said Reckford. “Our goal is to put families into safe, durable transitional shelters that can be used for long periods and improved upon over time.
The transitional housing model involves small shelters that can be built quickly and provide permanent base structures that can be expanded over time. The shelters will meet humanitarian standards of adequate living space and provision of water and sanitation. The structures also will be designed with hurricane and earthquake-resistant features.
Donations are urgently needed for recovery and can be made by clicking here: Donations
To view President Jimmy Carters call for support click here: View video
]]>Habitat for Humanity’s response
Basic needs such as health care, food, water and shelter are the most urgent following an event like an earthquake, to try to mitigate harmful after-effects such as spread of disease and insecurity. Habitat for Humanity’s goal is to help low-income families in need of decent housing because of this disaster with an emergency humanitarian response of shelter kits, clean-up and rehabilitation.
Clean-up and cash-for-work
Habitat for Humanity plans to help in clean-up and rehabilitation efforts by mobilizing people to clear the way for shelter construction and home rehabilitation. The size of response will depend upon the amount of support we are able to mobilize. A clean up “cash for work” program would organize people in communities and provide them with tools (shovels, wheelbarrows, crowbars, etc, etc). People would clean up debris and salvage those materials that could be recycled in a shelter solution. This involvement in productive activity provides an influx of cash to those affected by the disaster to help them meet other basic needs such as food, and also contributes to their mental health by providing them with a positive, proactive opportunity to help with recovery.
Shelter kits
Shelter kits are a basic package of materials (wall panels of either wood, composite such as reinforced plastic or fibrocement, or other materials; as well as sheets for roofs; nails; rope and tools such ashammers).
The kits will be distributed to families by Habitat employees and partners who have been trained by Habitat in disaster response and construction techniques. Habitat for Humanity has been implementing vocational education programs in Haiti for the past three years and has a cadre of certified masons and carpenters ready to assist families receiving the kits with shelter construction in Port-au-Prince.
Transitional shelter
In a next phase of response Habitat for Humanity plans to repair damaged homes and also rebuild using a transitional shelter model, whereby the shelter provides an immediate solution to a family but also provides a permanent base structure. The model adheres to international Sphere standards and the basic transitional shelter unit consists of a 17.5m2 home, a 2.5 meter porch, and a separate 4m2 latrine/shower unit. The design includes a concrete floor and structure (beams and partial wall), wall panels which can be converted later to a more permanent material, and a hurricane-resistant roof (metal sheets or micro-concrete).
Habitat for Humanity has been at work in Haiti for 26 years and will use its local expertise and mobilize resources to as part of the long-term recovery building efforts. 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 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information phone our office today on 01 6299611 or email info@habittaireland.ie.
For urgent donations to Haiti please visit http://www.mycharity.ie/event/hfh_haiti_fund/
]]>Job description:
- Develop, adapt and update the written and visual promotional materials for use in our campaigns to enhance HFH Ireland identity and branding.
- Maintain and update HFH Ireland website, blog and social networking pages.
- Design and produce communications, marketing, training and education tools as needed within various departments of Habitat for Humanity.
This position is 22.5 hours per week (flexible) and is an unpaid volunteer role. Expenses incurred while in the position, including mileage to work, may be claimed. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable experience within a great working environment.
Please e-mail your C.V to info@habitatireland.ie or phone our office today on 01 6299611.
Job posted till position is filled.
]]>So…whats involved?
- For teams of 3 to 6 people.
- Mental and physical challenges.
- Minimum pledged donation is €4,ooo (per team).
- Shelter-building, hill climbs and orienteering.
- A balance of fitness, strategy and teamwork.
- This event will be held around the Tollymore Forest Park, located in the Mourne Mountains.
- Have fun while you raise funds for Habitat for Humanity.
Hope Challenge is about more than teams and tasks;
it is also about the 2 billion people in poverty around
the world that Habitat for Humanity is striving to help
build or renovate safe, decent homes.
UP FOR IT?
For more info on this exciting event contact Sarah on
01 6299611 or e-mail sarah@habitatireland.ie.
BENEFITS OF BEING A HOPEBUILDER
Inclusivity: The Hopebuilders Campaign can involve staff at all levels, and they can set their own targets.
Recognition: We want to involve all staff personally with the campaign by individually recognising them for their efforts.
Building skills and teams: The Hopebuilders Campaign can be used as a focus for teambuilding, breaking down silos, developing entrepreneurial and creative skills, and enabling people to use their own strengths and those of the staff around them.
Motivation: Many people want to ‘make the world a better place’ but don’t know where to begin. Joining the Hopebuilders campaign enables staff to do something very practical with tangible outcomes. You could also offer to part fund some staff to go on overseas volunteering teams, as an extra incentive and as a means of improving motivation further.
PR: This is an easy proposition to communicate, with great visuals available for PR purposes.
Take Action Now!!!
Sign up to be a Hopebuilder today!
Call or email:
016299611 or sarah@habitatireland.ie
Africa June/ July /August
Mozambique 31st July – 14th August
Ghana 24th July – 7th August
Botswana Summer 2010
Latin and Central America June/ July /August
El Salvador 10th July – 24th July
Paraguay 19th June – 3rd July
Costa Rica 31st July – 14th August
Asia Pacific June & August/September
India 3rd – 17th July
Philippines 19th June – 3rd July
Europe and Central Asia June & August/September
Armenia 7th August – 21st August
Kyrgyzstan 5th – 19th June
Romania October
For further info on these trips contact the office on 01 6299 611.
]]>Apply today if you are up for a rewarding challenge! ]]>
The launch was to promote the build of 16 new affordable homes which are to be constructed for low income families. Joe Duffy and Finbar Furey (both of whom are originally from the area) were there to turn the sod. Living Irish music legend Finbar entertained the enthusiastic crowd by singing his rendition of Red Rose Café.
The day was a major triumph and there was a great sense of community spirit with local residents showing up to give their support. Building work will commence later this year in partnership with Sisk.
]]>Would you or your church/youth group like to join us to help provide safe, decent homes for many families previously living in shacks in Mfuleni, just outside Cape Town? The Desmond Tutu Building on Faith Week 2009 is a great opportunity to put your faith into practical action that will make a real difference. As you demonstrate God’s love to a community in need, you will experience township life, and most of all you will help a family build their new home – changing their lives forever.
Each volunteer team will work with the chosen homepartner family, who are currently living in a shack, to build their new home in just 7 days. All you need is the desire to make a difference and plenty of enthusiasm! More info.
For more information on this exciting opportunity, contact David at 01 6299663 or email david@habitatireland.ie.
]]>Habitat for Humanity believes in putting faith into action. As the walls go up, so many invisible walls come down and new hope is built in the heart of the community. Desmond Tutu