*By Karen Urdaniz, volunteer in the Communications team
On January 17th staff from the Buenos Aires Office initiated a project “Habitat Tent”. This event took place in the “22 de enero” neighborhood of La Matanza and volunteers, HPHA employees and friends from the community all joined together. The name “Habitat Tent” comes from the biblical passage Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes”.
The “Incremental Improvements” project to be carried out in the neighborhood was explained. It will be possible for selected families to receive a loan of approximately $4000 pesos, to repair or improve their home. Each family who receives a loan is responsible for the implementation of their home improvement, but they are encouraged to maximize the loan by comparing different estimates, without forgetting the price-quality equation. Humberto, whose family was one of the first to benefit from these loans, described how it had helped him. Analía Bachor, Community Promotion Coordinator, encouraged those present to build much more than houses; and to help build community.
During the discussions the children enjoyed a “Little Bricks” workshop. Later, three volunteer architects gave some home owners help with technical matters regarding their constructions, and made recommendations to help avoid accidents. Some of the buildings were very precarious and risked the lives of those families who live there. To one family the architect said, “The bathroom is very insecure; taking a shower here is as dangerous as an electric chair!” Later, Andrés Maidana Habitat Legal Coordinator, explained: “We are here to give as much information as possible to assist and empower the families”.
“Sol de Pan” is a small enterprise in which four families cook together in a solar oven lent by the NGO “Microenergía”. They provided the group with empanadas, “sopa paraguaya” and small pizzas which were much appreciated.
Viviana, one of the members said, “We want to keep on working and growing to make a bakery”. After the meal the Financial Literacy Workshop met in the Fundación Concordia’s office, (this organization works in association with HPHA in the neighborhood.) Each family completed a survey, including topics such as how to organize the family economy, ways of saving, benefits and risks of taking a credit, spending and investing, and necessary and unnecessary expenses. In the meantime, the children of the families learned how to grow food from seeds and small plants. The children were enthusiastic and took the plants to their homes, where they will continue to take care of them.
The day was successful; from better understanding of the needs of the neighborhood to giving support to more families and encouraging the participation in the community, and making contact with other organizations from the area. In these ways the family of Habitat for Humanity Argentina keeps growing.
On January 17th staff from the Buenos Aires Office initiated a project “Habitat Tent”. This event took place in the “22 de enero” neighborhood of La Matanza and volunteers, HPHA employees and friends from the community all joined together. The name “Habitat Tent” comes from the biblical passage Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes”.
The “Incremental Improvements” project to be carried out in the neighborhood was explained. It will be possible for selected families to receive a loan of approximately $4000 pesos, to repair or improve their home. Each family who receives a loan is responsible for the implementation of their home improvement, but they are encouraged to maximize the loan by comparing different estimates, without forgetting the price-quality equation. Humberto, whose family was one of the first to benefit from these loans, described how it had helped him. Analía Bachor, Community Promotion Coordinator, encouraged those present to build much more than houses; and to help build community.
During the discussions the children enjoyed a “Little Bricks” workshop. Later, three volunteer architects gave some home owners help with technical matters regarding their constructions, and made recommendations to help avoid accidents. Some of the buildings were very precarious and risked the lives of those families who live there. To one family the architect said, “The bathroom is very insecure; taking a shower here is as dangerous as an electric chair!” Later, Andrés Maidana Habitat Legal Coordinator, explained: “We are here to give as much information as possible to assist and empower the families”.
“Sol de Pan” is a small enterprise in which four families cook together in a solar oven lent by the NGO “Microenergía”. They provided the group with empanadas, “sopa paraguaya” and small pizzas which were much appreciated.
Viviana, one of the members said, “We want to keep on working and growing to make a bakery”. After the meal the Financial Literacy Workshop met in the Fundación Concordia’s office, (this organization works in association with HPHA in the neighborhood.) Each family completed a survey, including topics such as how to organize the family economy, ways of saving, benefits and risks of taking a credit, spending and investing, and necessary and unnecessary expenses. In the meantime, the children of the families learned how to grow food from seeds and small plants. The children were enthusiastic and took the plants to their homes, where they will continue to take care of them.
The day was successful; from better understanding of the needs of the neighborhood to giving support to more families and encouraging the participation in the community, and making contact with other organizations from the area. In these ways the family of Habitat for Humanity Argentina keeps growing.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment