Year 4, Volume 2: Editorial

In Latin America and the Caribbean 26 million homes do not provide basic shelter for the families who live there. In addition 28 million more homes are needed to eliminate the slums and inferior conditions in which families live.

Changing policies and creating partnerships to support a sustainable livelihood for families in need was the central theme of the Habitat for Humanity 2007 Leader’s Conference. The lush, green mountains of Heredia provided a quiet, secluded setting for the conference hosted by Habitat for Humanity’s Area Office based in Costa Rica. Several workshops dedicated to various facets of the theme were presented during the seven conference days.

It was my pleasure to be able to take part in the conference along with members of Latin American and Caribbean National Organizations, the Latin America and the Caribbean Area Office, and members of the Habitat International staff who came from their new offices in Atlanta, Georgia. We were gathered for the same purpose: to act as mentors for those people who need a voice, to learn more about what other countries are doing on a local level and to make plans for the future using the knowledge gained through our interaction.

Workshops included Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Housing and Human Settlement, Sustainability: a model of institutional development and Housing Development. The guest speaker, Graciela Landaeta PhD, professor of Housing Development and Management in Sweden shared her studies of low income housing in her native Bolivia and other parts of Latin America. Dr. Landaeta shared examples of success and failures of housing programs around the continent emphasizing the importance of addressing the needs of partner families as the first step in a sustainable solution.

The importance of transforming structures and processes both in the way Habitat reaches out to the individual families and how we influence the policies made today in each country was impressed upon us time and time again. Finally the Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Torre Nelson called us to action with these instructions: start with the family’s needs, develop products that respond to those needs, form alliances with other organizations that create holistic changes in the lives of the families, and finally, balance building homes with advocacy for those who we serve, those who have no voice.

We have learned in Habitat for Humanity Argentina, that we can make a difference in people’s t lives. We do that every day. We also know that there is a great deal left to do. We need others to join us by being volunteers, donating time, money or experience so that more families in Argentina and the world can look forward to a better future.

Patricia Caviezel

Vice President (October 2005/2007)

Year 1, Volume 4: Editorial

EDITORIAL:

At the end of four years’ work during which there had been some frustrations, the National Honour Society and the Junior National Honour Society of Lincoln American School finally achieved their goal to raise sufficient money to build a house for a family in need in Lujan.

At 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday August 4^th the Niz family, of the Open Door, were able to show their new home to the many people present for this special occasion. These included representatives of Lincoln School, the United Community Church and the Buenos Aires Newcomers Club, the National Directors of Habitat from nine South American countries, Directors of the Regional Office and representatives of the local authorities and many friends and neighbours. All came to witness the inauguration of the new house and the untying of the light blue and white ribbon.

There are many people we must thank for their participation in this project! Firstly Kate Lewis, mentor of the group of students of Lincoln, who believed in the project, kept interest alive and motivated others to help. Then the Lincoln College students who gave their time and labour to help build the house. But most especially we have to thank Maersk, Argentina S.A. for their donations. Thanks to their generous gifts it was possible to build the house for the Silva Miranda family and to make possible the building of a second house which will begin shortly. In addition to their donations, Maersk Argentina also encouraged and assisted some of their employees to help with the building work.

Those of us who work for Habitat for Humanity thank God for the opportunity to celebrate these events in an atmosphere full of joy. Two more families have a decent house in which to live and this will change their lives! For we believe that adequate housing enables a family to sustain a better way of life.

Certainly, the example of the Lincoln Students succeeded in motivating a group of young people from Luján, that is working hard to make more dreams come true and to make it possible for more houses to be built... Last April a training course for young leaders was organized with the cooperation of the National Office of HFH Argentina and NGO "Save the Children Spain". From this experience, the young people from Luján created the Habitat Youth Project and hope to build a house with materials and donations collected entirely by young people in Lujan and in schools in Buenos Aires. Young people from the community will also be asked to assist in the building of this special house...

Let’s support the youth in Luján in this challenge!

Patricia Caviezel

President of the Students and Youth Programs Sub-Committee

Member of the National Board of Directors