Year 2, Volume 1: CORPORATE WORK TEAMS: Cisco Systems.

Teams of volunteers continue to come to work with us and we are always grateful for their help. From November 11^th to December 13th seven employees from Cisco Systems came to help us build with Paola and her family. This team came from the same company which sent volunteers to help build the house at Lujan for the Achiopoli’s home.

One said,

“It was an opportunity for me to do something completely different! I enjoyed learning how to construct walls most of all and I learnt that such work is not easy. It also gave me much inner strength to get to know Paola and her father and it was a privilege to be part of their lives for a short while. I really had a great time!

And another wrote,

“For me it was an interesting experience. I felt very comfortable and the organization was very good. I valued this time and the opportunity to reflect and offer help where it is most needed. .I believe that this type of experience enables one to understand how others live and to value those things which we tend to take for granted. When helping others, one also helps oneself!”

And yet another wrote:

“The experience made me feel wonderful! It was great to be able to help someone, who had never expected to have a home of their own. It was also great from the group’s point of view, both in collaboration and in time for solitude, because this allowed me to share something with people with whom I normally do not interact on a daily basis.

In Habitat for Humanity we not only look to change the lives of families living in inadequate housing, but also to serve as a bridge to link people together, helping them all to put their love and faith into action. Working together helps us all to enrich our lives.

We are grateful to Cisco Systems, especially to Rodrigo Turrado, and the members of the work teams. At no time did anyone lose their enthusiasm and dedication to the work until the task was completed.

We look forward to continued co-operation in our mission!

On behalf of Habitat for Humanity Argentina: Thank You CISCO SYSTEMS !!!!!!

Carolina Mansur
Resource Development
National Office

Year 1, Volume 5: THANKS TO THE VOLUNTEERS:

The year 2004 has been a year full of blessings for Habitat for Humanity Argentina: the first houses have been constructed and dedicated; we hosted the first annual fund raising dinner and Santa Fe was accepted as an affiliate…

In the national office, we have been able to rely on the help of some excellent volunteers; Céline Humeau (France), César Toala (Ecuador), Virginia Brumby (USA), Kim Burnitz (USA), Mario Benvenuto (Argentina) y Florence Smidt-Nielsen (Argentina)all did their best to help further the mission of Habitat.

The volunteers helped in many ways: Virginia and Kim improved and translated the web site and printed material into English; Celine contacted French volunteers and companies to increase their support; Cesar started groups of house leaders; Florence monitored and evaluated our organization and Mario made an inventory of the stock of souvenirs of HFHA.

We all appreciate so much the help of the volunteers as we know that their work of volunteers is vital for the progress of our organization. We are, indeed, extremely grateful to each of them and to the many others who were “volunteers for a day”, and also helped to keep things going.

Carolina Mansur,

National Office

Habitat for Humanity Argentina

Year 1, Volume 3: ANNUAL DINNER 2004 - May 19 th, Marriott Plaza Hotel

On May 19th, HFHA held its first annual fundraiser. The first annual dinner, held at the Salon Colonial that the Marriott Plaza Hotel generously lent us. About 270 people were invited and had the opportunity of spending a pleasant evening and of learning more about Habitat for Humanity Argentina and its work

Among the people who attended the dinner, were at least ten representatives of Maersk Argentina S.A., the first corporate partner of HHA and we were very honoured to have them with us. In addition to having donated two houses for the Luján Affiliate, employees from this company volunteer and come to help the families build their decent and simple houses.

While we were enjoying cocktails we also appreciated some renaissance music played by the quartet Trasvalarium. Once seated for dinner, José F. Colacilli, president of the National Board of Directors, welcomed everyone and Patricia Miccio, master of ceremony for the evening, gave a presentation on the work and the mission of Habitat, through a multimedia projected on giant screens. Then, between courses, there was a raffle of jewellery and other prizes.

But the most exciting event of the night was the paper houses sale! A brigade of volunteers –dressed in HFHA t-shirts- sold little paper houses to the guests who hoped to find inside a coupon exchangeable for one of the many and interesting prizes donated by more than 60 companies and shops. After the meal the Percussion Band Positrón played and those who wished danced the night away.

Thanks to the generosity of all the participants, sponsors and donors an amount of US$ 23500 was raised, and this has been allocated to building and community work and programme development organised from the National Office.

We especially wish to record the generous support of:

GOLDEN PARTNERS

Porcel Family

Gillette Argentina S.A.

Lloyds Bank

Novartis

Pan American Energy

Pluspetrol

Shell CAPSA

SILVER PARTNERS

Agroservicios Pampeanos S.A.

Balanz Capital

Banco Hipotecario

BankBoston

Productos Roche SAQL

Vintage Oil Argentina, Inc.

Gottraux Family

United Community Church

FRIENDS PARTNERS

Avery Dennison

Coca Cola Argentina

Harold Family

Kraft Travel Service

TABLE SPONSORS

Buenos Aires Internacional Christian Academy (BAICA)

Buhler S.A.

Harold Harold

Lincoln School Teachers

Maersk Argentina S.A.

As also the contributions of Patricia Miccio, Matías Brass Harriott, Ronaldo Hurley, Solange Lanusse (Swan Turismo), quartet Trasvalarium, Positrón group, the committee which organised the dinner and all the volunteers that made this event possible and so successful!!

Carolina Mansur