At Habitat for Humanity, we believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. We know that simple homes save lives. By connecting communities around the world, we move closer to a world where everyone, everywhere can have a decent place to live.
Every year, as part of our long-term global partnerships, we raise funds to support projects which change the lives of the most vulnerable communities. Volunteers from across Ireland normally fundraise throughout the year to travel and support these programmes first-hand too. For more than 25 years, support from Ireland has empowered families in countries like Ethiopia, Malawi and Zambia to improve the place they call home.
Learn how you can get involved with our new fundraising challenge now!
IMPACT OF COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all. However the 1.8 billion people with inadequate housing, are still most at risk. As governments around the world called on their populations to stay home, for too many vulnerable communities this did not provide safety or security.
A study has shown that families living in Habitat homes can have a 44% reduction in rates of respiratory illnesses.
It is estimated that the pandemic has plunged more than 100 million additional people into severe poverty and threatens to undo decades of progress in international development.
As we cautiously move out of lockdown, and the vaccine roll-out beings hope of brighter days ahead, the same cannot be said for the most vulnerable. Many poorer countries will not achieve mass COVID-19 immunisation until at least 2024. More than ever, a safe home and access to adequate water and sanitation services are essential to a family’s health.
HOME SAFE HOME CHALLENGE
The average cost of building a safe and secure Habitat home in Africa is now approximately £5,500. This year we want to raise the funds to build FIFTEEN homes with access to water and sanitation in three of our partner countries. This will support fifteen families to improve their lives, with the safety and security that a Habitat home provides and will ensure access to clean water and sanitation for the wider communities too.
To raise funds for these life-changing projects, we’re asking YOU to take on a virtual journey! Get outside and complete a physical challenge to help us reach our target of 10,000 kilometres travelled!
The distance from Ireland to Addis Ababa then Lilongwe and Lusaka is around 10,000km, so we want our volunteers, supporters and donors to help us get there this year!
Walk for a window, dander for a door or hike for a home, get sponsored and support the most vulnerable communities in Ethiopia, Malawi and Zambia.