September 26, 2008

Upcoming events

At Habitat for Humanity Argentina we believe that in order to have a real impact on the housing situation in our country, we need everyone’s support. There are many different ways of being a part of this challenge to provide the conditions for a real and lasting transformation in the lives of those living in conditions of poverty. This year we are inviting you to be a part of two different events, both vital for the achievement of our goals.

On October 1st we will have our 2008 “More than houses” dinner at the Marriot Plaza Hotel in the City of Buenos Aires. It is a benefit dinner to raise funds for our various projects and it is aimed at individuals, companies and institutions wishing to support our cause. It promises to be an entertaining evening, filled with surprises as well as moments to recognise and appreciate our supporters. We will also share our new video, our achievements and dreams.

If you wish to join us for this event, please contact Nuria or Connie by writing to
ddrr@hpha.org.ar or calling 4792 2739. If you are in Argentina, you can join us by buying a ticket to attend the event, buying a table, purchasing space in our program for your company, contributing prizes for the games, sponsoring the event, or volunteering as a promoter.
If you live abroad, you can still be a part of this event! Why not buy a ticket for someone you know in Argentina to enjoy the dinner on your behalf... or simply send in your donation to add to the event’s fundraising.

The second invitation is for our annual construction event: “Sing and Build” that will take place November 17-23, 2008. It is not necessary that you come neither to sing nor to build, but rather we invite you to put your “faith into action” during the activities planned for the week or for the weekend. All are welcome- volunteers from other countries and Argentines alike- to lay foundations of friendship and raise walls of hope. Like the Global Village program, we can assure an unforgettable experience not only for the volunteers, but also for the families in Santa Fe. We will witness the joy and love that ensure that our houses are built to be “more than houses”.

If you would like more information, please contact Lynn at
voluntario@hpha.org.ar or (+54 11) 4793-4384 or 4792-2739.

*By Ana Cutts (HPHA National Director)

Progressive Improvements

In Habitat for Humanity Argentina (HPHA) we seek to offer habitat solutions that are adapted to local needs and each family in particular. That’s why we have stopped promoting only complete houses in order to give prominence to other programs, such as “Progressive Improvements”, which is already working in Buenos Aires, Luján and Santa Fe. With the help of many of our associated organizations (Fundación Concordia, De la Nada, and churches from the city of Santa Fe) we have already helped 83 families improve their homes, and we are planning on reaching 76 more families in the next year.

The Ceferina García family, in Santa Fe, is one of the families participating in the “Progressive Improvements” program, through which they were able to improve their bathroom. “Now it is impossible to take the kids out of there, they want to stay all day in the shower in their new bathroom!” says Ceferina enthusiastically.

According to the National Statistics Office (Indec) 2004, 47.5% of Argentines live in unacceptable conditions. 23. 7% of these are homes that are in need of repair, while 15% are overcrowded homes needing an extension. Both of these problems are addressed by the “Progressive Improvements” methodology.

It is trully amazing to see how a small improvement or enlargement can change the life of a family! For those who would really need a whole new house, but cannot pay the cost of a loan, the “Progressive Improvements” allows families to build their home gradually, in stages, through small loans.

Many times, a small change in a house can completely transform the everyday life of those who live there. Hilda Núñez from Lujan, whose family is also part of the program, says that she is still not used to having running water in her home, and that once in a while she goes to her backyard to use the water pump without realizing that she no longer needs to do so anymore!

The problems that the “Progressive Improvements” program most frequently deal with are those related to unsatisfied basic needs such as access to water inside the house, the placing of openings for better ventilation, or the finishing of a room that may need some kind of plastering in order to eliminate humidity and thus make the place healthier and more habitable.

HPHA offers guidance and support to the family throughout the construction process from the social, technical and legal aspects. The goal is to reach a long term solution, ideally including the title deeds of the land – should the family not have them already.

*This article was written thanks to the contribution of Soledad Orellana (Social Worker from Luján), Gabriela Rivas (Social Worker from Santa Fe), Mercedes Leguizamón (Secretary from Santa Fe) and Andrés Maidana Legal (Housing Solutions).

Corporative Brigades: Accenture


The Community, the companies, the commitment and the volunteers

In the last three months, Habitat for the Humanity Argentina (HPHA) has received corporative brigades from Accenture, Citibank, Intel, Novartis, Nortel, Sheraton and Price-Waterhouse Coopers, among others.

In HPHA we have sought from the beginning to contribute to the human development of our families and their communities through corporative volunteer teams. It is an amazing sight to watch people who generally spend their everyday lives in a completely different environment, sharing their time and putting their two hands in action to help someone in need achieve their dream.

The first step is taken by the company, who supports us with its own structure, logistics, communication and donation to cover all of the expenses. After the employees have experienced “love in action” first hand, it is up to them to get more involved.

In Accenture’s case, the worker’s and the company’s commitment has gone beyond expectations and are now a concrete reality. At least once a month, the families and HPHA wait in Luján for the group of Accenture volunteers, who join us by collaborating in the housing construction.

In Luján everyone knows what Accenture is, who they are, and the families have established bonds with some of their employees who have been to several brigades that their company has organized. The families anxiously await them in their houses to work together in the construction, and they are moved and inspired knowing that there are people who are interested in helping them as well as their neighborhoods.

The social responsibility that Accenture achieves serves also an example for the families, because part of HPHA’s methodology consists in teaching that it is their own commitment that will help them move forward.

And, of course, this solidarity means a lot in practical and economical terms: by guaranteeing one brigade a month, Accenture allows us to improve our planning of the volunteer’s activities, because they are taken into account as a regular workforce that contributes towards reducing the cost of the house to the home-owners.

*By Connie Ledesma (National Resources Development Coordinator), with the collaboration of Lautaro Sourigues (Brigades).

Family Brigade


On May 24th, Habitat for Humanity Argentina (HPHA) carried out its first Family Brigade in Luján, in the “Los Gallitos” neighborhood. Five home-owners from previous projects, together with members of the Presbyterian Church San Andrés de Olivos worked together to build the homes of the Monzón Rodríguez and Ferreyra Duarte families.

“Habitat is a mutual help chain. I was so grateful when people came to help me in the construction of our house, and we are never going to forget everything they did for our family. That is why anytime we can help others we will be more than willing to do so” said Mariana Martínez, one of the brigade’s participants.

Not only were they able to make a considerable progress in the construction, but they also created a comfortable space for all the families to get together, strengthen their bonds, and develop a sense of “community”. The families shared both the construction time as well as the breaks, in which they took the opportunity to share some “mate” and exchange anecdotes, work experiences with HPHA and life stories.

Since one of the goals of the brigade was to integrate all of the family, the children were not left out. In order to make them part of the event, a “Little Bricks” (our programme for children) workshop was held, which allowed the kids to be part of the days events through games and fun.

*This article was written thanks to the collaboration of Mariana Huici (Social Worker of Luján).

Homes Fund

Habitat for Humanity Argentina’s Homes Fund is a collection of donations given by individuals or institutions throughout one year. It is used to further our mission and vision that every family should have access to a simple, healthy, safe and affordable house. This year the Home Fund’s closed on June 30th, and we are very proud to say that it is continually growing. More and more people trust and believe in HPHA and –above all- understand that even the smallest contributions add up to help these deserving families and has a lasting impact on their lives.

Members of the Homes Fund 2007-2008 are:
Allysa Vine, Ana Cutts, Asociación Mujeres SS, Banco Suquía, Barbara Bradford, Connie Ledesma, Elida Gandara, Fernandez Lidia, Fernando Quinteros, Gretchen Hall, Henderson Group, Juan Ignacio Simioli, José Colacilli, Luis Tagle, Marcelo Ortelli, Maria Belén Sarmiento, Maria José Leveratto, Maria Dolores Gonzalez, Mariana Ballesteros, Mariana Ortega, Mariana Sears, Marina Romere, Marval O' Farrel y Mairal, Familia Merryl, Kervin T., Nicolás Vellon, Nilda Ayala, Patricia Dougall, Patricia Cabot, Patricia Caviezel, Paul Hartley, Pereyra Maximiliano, Visnja Drucker, Ronaldo Hurley, Roberto Torest, Santiago Valent, Sforza Daniella, Sistema y Soluciones, Skelly Theresa y Dennis, Sofia Carnora, Stephanie Simonetta, Tim Dougherty, Vianney Osorio, Victoria Cassells, Wright Corbin, Zaballa Carlos.

In HPHA we believe that by joining together we can be stronger, and that with the contribution of many, great things can be achieved. We therefore want to thank those who joined our Homes Fund for the 2007-2008 year and those who have been helping us for many years.
We invite you to join the Homes Fund: with only $1 a year you can support HPHA’s mission! As one of our partners said: “Joining the Homes Fund is just like being there, next to the families, working with them and giving them hope”.

*This article was written thanks to the collaboration of Nuria Roset (Individual Donors).

Brief News


Join HPHA’s Facebook group
If you have a Facebook account, join our group! There you will have access to pictures, videos and information, and you will be able to read about the latest events, as well as stay in contact with many people who are or have been involved with HPHA from different parts of the world.

Annual Meeting 2008
This year HPHA’s Annual Meeting took place in Tigre on July 11th and 12th. The various HPHA offices were present, as well as the National Board, long term volunteers and paid staff. This year’s goal was to not only continue strengthening our bonds and our commitment towards HPHA’s mission, but to also improve both our internal and external communications.

Looking ahead

- 9/21: World Day of Prayer for Humane Habitats: Since 1983, Habitat for Humanity International has celebrated the World Day of Prayer by encouraging Churches from all over the World to pray on the third Sunday of September for all of those who live in unacceptable conditions and to advocate so that having a decent home becomes a matter of conscious and of faith in action. We invite your church to join us!

-10/1: “More than Houses” 2008 Dinner. Habitat for Humanity Argentina is in the process of organizing its “More than Houses” Benefit Dinner on October 10th, at the Marriot Plaza Hotel in Buenos Aires. If you are interested in joining us please contact us at (54 11) 4792-2739 or via e-mail to
ddrr@hpha.org.ar

-10/6: World Habitat Day: The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October of every year in order to reflect on the inadequate housing situation and the fundamental human right to a decent house for all. This date is also important to remind the world of our collective responsibility towards the human habitat future.

-10/17-11/23: “Sing and Build” Event. Join our annual event, which is going to be held in Santa Fe and Recreo. If you are interested in participating, please contact us at voluntario@hpha.org.ar