November 22, 2013

Scoring a rugby try to help a Gonzalez Catan Family

Fort a third consecutive year, Habitat Para la Humanidad Argentina (HPHA) held a ‘Building Seeds of Hope’ Construction Event. This year, the event was held in the neighborhood of Los Ceibos of Gonzalez Catan. International volunteers from Ireland and corporate supporters of this initiative, participated in building foundations for three new homes.

The theme of this year’s event was rugby. The last week of the event was attended by volunteers representing Habitat for Humanity of Ireland, including two legends of Irish rugby; Brent Pope and Paddy Johns. Brent and Paddy, as part of a volunteer team that had already worked in Zambia and Mexico, participated in construction activities. For their part, the Beromama Rugby Club, located in the Los Ceibos neighborhood, supported the event by making their facilities available to HPHA staff, that put up a large tent for use as a volunteers meeting point and which increased the event’s visibility.     

”Inspired by Rugby’s values of teamwork, solidarity, commitment, dedication and fun; this year we came to plant new seeds of hope that will enable more families to live in better conditions.”, said Ana Cutts,  Executive Director of HPHA.   

Lidia and Daniel and their two daughters are one of the families who benefited from the event. They have lived for over eighteen years in an house made of wood and sheet metal. After they became aware of HPHA’s work, they decided to begin construction of their new home on the front part of their lot. They want to improve their living situation but, even more, they want to improve conditions for their daughters who, as teenagers, need a space of their own.

Daniel tells us that he is hoping to finish the house as soon as posible so that “the roof won’t leak anymore when it rains and I won’t have to leave the house at dawn to use the bathroom”. Lidia says excitedly: “this is incredible, we are really very grateful to everyone who is helping us achieve it”. 

Marcela and Jose, and Maria and Claudio are the other two families that started home construction during the event.  Both families joined the HPHA project because they lived in inadequate housing conditions that affected the health of some family members.    

For over seven days, volunteers from corporate contributors such as Mercedes Benz, Cisco, Whirlpool and Ford, working alongside volunteers from Ireland, demonstrated their high spirits and commitment by successfully completing several important construction tasks. By the end of the event, Lidia’s, Maria’s and Marcela’s homes had their foundations in place and were ready for wall raising, the second stage of construction. ”Building better homes is part of our DNA as a company. That’s why we are proud to take part in the these HPHA events and to contribute not only through our products but also through our active participation, so that each day more and more families have a proper home to live in”, said Julian Ballarino, Whirlpool’s Institutional Relations Manager for southern Latin America , following his participation. 







A rugby clinic was held following the end of the event, directed by Pope and Johns at the Berorama Club. The clinic was attended by neighborhood children and by field hockey players from the Club’s team.  Everyone enjoyed the training which showed different ways to play with the oval ball. Following the clinic, participants were invited to congregate around HPHA’s tent to receive acknowledgements and special thanks for taking part in the third consecutive annual event. 





Financing: Mercedes Benz, Whirlpool and Habitat for Humanity Ireland.

Participants: Ford

Collaborators: Basani, Club Beromama, Gilbert, Obra del Padre Mario, Staples Argentina. y Vader Pack.

Dedication of Noelia Fernandez’ home, started during the 2012 Seeds of Hope event.

A dedication ceremony for Noelia Fernandez’ home held on September 23.  Noelia is one of the beneficiaries of HPHA’s Developing Neighborhoods program in La Matanza. The ceremony was a moment of celebration and gratitude. Noelia recalled with happiness the assistance received from all the volunteers that helped her reach this important moment of her life. Members of HPHA’s Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, neighbors, family and friends helped Noelia celebrate this important day.  






Buenos Aires’ Irish community welcomed the Habitat for Humanity Ireland volunteers.

During their brief stay in Buenos Aires, the Irish volunteers were honored by the Irish Embassy. The embassy organized a press conference during which volunteers shared their experience with the media. In addition, the Irish Club FAHY, located in Buenos Aires’ Belgrano neighborhood, sponsored an Intercultural Evening for the benefit of HPHA’s Neighborhood Development program.
 
Sharon Lennon of the Irish Embassy, HPHA Executive Director Ana Cutts, Brent Jones and Paddy Johns, and retired Argentine rugby star Rafael Madero spoke at the press conference. Pope and Johns agreed that it was a true honor to be able to take part in this project and to be able to help people improve their lives. Pope emphasized the link between sport and this type of activity, which can be used to build a better society “the camaraderie of rugby, the idea of teamwork is something worth learning, particularly for the children”. Also attending the press conference were members of HPHA’s Board of Directors, staff, donors, volunteers and former Argentine rugby stars Eliseo “Chapa” Branca and Miguel “Techi” Tezanos Pinto.



     
Over seventy people enjoyed an Intercultural Evening of music, argentine food and wine, as well as Irish dance and tango shows and a raffle. All funds raised were allocated towards the Neighborhood Development project being implemented by HPHA in the Los Ceibos of Gonzalez Catan neighborhood, together with the Obra del Padre Mario.






The Pumas also score.

Pope and Johns attended a training session of the national Argentine rugby team, the Pumas, which was held just prior to the Pumas match against New Zealand’s All Blacks, played in late September. They were welcomed by the Puma’s team captain Fernandez Lobbe, team trainer Tati Phelan and other players including Felipe Contrepomi, who knows Pope from his playing days in Ireland.  

At the end of the training session, signed balls and team shirts were exchanged. Axel Munoz, a juvenile player from Club Barorama who attended the training session stated: “I am very excited to be here and to have the Pumas support this initiative”.



November 21, 2013

International Youth Day in La Boca

Half of the world’s population is under 25 years old. Young people are a source of innovative ideas and committed defenders of justice and dignity in the world. This is why Habitat for Humanity Argentina (HPHA) celebrated International Youth Day on August 10, with emphasis on universal access to adequate housing.



International Youth Day was celebrated by all Habitat for Humanity offices in Latin America and the Caribbean. Young people older than 18  were invited to participate. In Argentina, a volunteer brigade worked on construction activities at the Assisted Rents project building located at Hernandarias 674, in the La Boca neighborhood. 



”Housing serves as a base from which to break out of the cycle of poverty. In the Boca neighborhood, as in many other places where we work, many families need a solution to their housing problem.   An adequate home improves the health of the family, empowers women heads of household, and provides an adequate environment for children to study”, stated Ana Cutts,  HPHA Executive Directo, during an introductory  chat with young volunteers.

Following Ana’s remarks, the volunteers were divided into four teams; one team for each floor of the building. Each group had a leader responsible for coordinating activities and materials availability.  


During the day, the volunteers plastered walls throughout the building under guidance from project masons who accompanied each team.

In late afternoon, following a lessons-learned evaluation session, one young volunteer stated emotionally: “It is very good to see that what we did helps needy families. They are the reason it was worth celebrating International Youth Day”



“It is fundamental that families have a home”

Habitat para la Humanidad Argentina’s 2012-2013 Annual ‘Hogares’ Fund closed on June 30. When it comes to helping more families live in adequate homes, each grain of sand makes a difference.

That’s what HPHA’s ‘Hogares’ fund is all about; it’s about people who want to commit to building a world where everyone has a proper place to live, people who understand that there is a solution to the country’s housing problems and that each of us can contribute to that solution.

That’s how Élida Gándara, an HPHA donor for the last four years, puts it:

“I started to donate to Habitat when I heard a proposal from Connie Ledesma (current manager of HPHA’s Major Donors campaign) that intrigued me. As I was building my own home at the time, I realized that my donation could help others do the same.  My idea was to share my own good fortune in some way with others.  It is fundamental that all people and families have a home, because then they can focus on other priorities like education, health, etc.”

With their monthly ‘little grains of sand’, Elida has donated an amount almost equal to a what’s needed to fund a home improvement loan. That means that another argentine family lives in better conditions thanks to Elise’s generous decision. Many thanks and congratulations for your commitment!

All donations, large or small, help more families live better. We invite you to become a supporter of the “Hogares” Fund in 2012-2013. To donate, please complete our secure form or email us at donantes@hpha.org.ar.




DONANTES FONDO HOGARES 2012-13

GRANO DE ARENA: ($1-$600)

Adriana Fels
Ana Deambrossi
Andrea Marcela Debenedetti
Antonieta Carrión
Ariel Alejandro Sosa
Bárbara Bradford
Bernardo Enrique Arcioni
Bilby Martignone
Bruno Capalbo
Carmen Beatriz Santillán
Cecilia Segovia
Concrexa
Daniel Rios Moreno
Daniel Rodriguez
Edith Lia Schrott
Emanuel Lentini
Facundo Galea
Familia Nazer Roset
Fátima Micheo
Fernando Frydman
Gabriel Konfederak
Gillian King
Gonzalo Fontana
Graham Rowe
Hugo Néstor Piquero
Iván Villán
Jesica Vanesa Sánchez
John Dickerson
John Martin
Jorge Vahedzian
Juan Manuel Franceschi
Karina López
Lidia Fernandez
Lucas Artaza
María Celeste Medina
María Celina Malvazo
María Emma Oyarzabal
María Laura Nieves Rostagnol
María Rosario Abramo
Mariana De Simone
Mariana y Zack Sears
Martha Ureta
Matías Emanuel Arevalo
Maximiliano Gerardo Pereyra
Nayla Arpigiani
Nicole Gryncwejg
Pablo Diego González
Pablo Martín Lamounan
Pedro Gadze
Robert & Julia Holmes
Ronaldo Hurley
Sandra Olmos
Silvia Amine Sol
Stella Maris Esquivel
Susana López
Tatiana Rodriguez
Victor Zlotnicki
Visnja Drucker
Viviana Scazziotti
Yesica Vera
Zoe Banatvala

En especie: Office Florida, Vader Pack

CIMIENTOS: ($601-$2499)

Alumnos de Lipscomb University
Alumnos de Montclair State University
Andrés Espina
Augusto Arario Neme
Carlos Cifuentes
Carlos Coconi
Carlos Mansur
Carlos Rodriguez Servicios Inmobiliarios
Catedral Anglicana San Juan Bautista Buenos Aires
Cecilia Mariluz
Christian Pata
Christian Schueler
Daniel Gazzo
Dolores García Cuerva
Elida Gandara
Geoff y Rosemary Lyon
Horacio Marciano
Julia Sainz
Katharine y Tim Dougherty
Luis Arana Tagle
María Belén Sarmiento
María Carmody
María Magno
Mariana Jimena Muradás Alonso
Marisa Gamboa
Matías Saenz
Nicolás Vellón
Pablo Feresini
Pablo Ortelli
Patricia Caviezel          
Santiago Mignone
Santiago Valent
Sebastián Miranda
Sergio Crivelli
Sofía Mansur
Stephanie Simonetta

En especie: Amerindia, Bodegas Peñaflor, Hotel Zavaleta


LADRILLOS: ($2500 - $5000)

Evelyn Beryl Godwin

En especie: Basani


GRUPO FAMILIA

Adrogue PC - Soluciones Informáticas
Ana Cutts
Andrea Marcela Debenedetti
Antonieta Carrión
Augusto Arario Neme
Bárbara Bradford
Bernardo Enrique Arcioni
Bilby Martignone
Bruno Capalbo
Catedral Anglicana San Juan Bautista Buenos Aires
Cecilia Mariluz
Cecilia Segovia
Elida Gandara
Familia Nazer Roset
Geoff y Rosemary Lyon
Hotel Zavaleta
Katharine y Tim Dougherty
Luis Arana Tagle
María Celina Malvazo
María Constanza Ledesma
María Rosario Abramo
Mariana Jimena Muradás Alonso
Mariana y Zack Sears
Marisa Gamboa
Martha Ureta
Marval, O' Farrell & Mairal
Matías Saenz
Maximiliano Gerardo Pereyra
Nicolás Vellón
Norma Raquel Pimienta
Patricia Caviezel
Ronaldo Hurley
Santiago Valent
Silvia Amine Sol
Stephanie Simonetta
Susana López
Tatiana Rodriguez

Raffle: “Meeting my commitments to improve my home”

Whirlpool Argentina donated five high quality home appliances as prizes for a raffle open to families who are up to date with their loan payments.  

On September 25, the winner of the second “Meeting my commitments to improve my home” raffle was announced. This time, the lucky winner was Monica Lanche of Lujan, Buenos Aires Province, who won a Whirlpool kitchen stove. The winner of the first raffle, held the last week of June, was Blanca Lopez of Recreo, Santa Fe Province. Blanca won a Whirlpool refrigerator.

Both Monica and Blanca are examples of families that have demonstrated their commitment to HPHA’s mission. Thanks to their timely payments, other families have the opportunity to improve their homes. Thanks and congratulations! 

Future Raffle Dates and Prizes

Wednesday November 27, 2013. Prize: Clothes Washer (Model WFE61A)
Wednesday January 29, 2014. Prize: Microwave Oven (Model WMD20SS)
Wednesday March 26, 2014. Prize: Kitchen Extractor Hood (Model WAI60BR)




“Being aware of everyone else’s needs”

Twenty-two year Christine Larson lives in Connecticut, about an hour’s drive from New York City. She graduated last May from North Carolina’s Duke University with a degree in Civil Engineering.      

Christine came to Argentina in July through Habitat for Humanity’s international volunteers program. In this edition of the Digital Bulletin, she shares her experience working with HPHA’s Developing Neighborhoods program.

”I remember working for two months in 2010 for an organization called St. Bernard Project in New Orleans. This Organization built homes for people who lost their homes during the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. After living that experience, I decided to study engineering, but more importantly, I discovered that I enjoy working on the intersection between engineering infrastructure and people’s lives”  

”I was lucky enough to have a similar experience 2 years ago, when I worked for ten weeks in Nicaragua building a plant nursery as part of an environmental  restoration project. During that trip, we also looked at street flooding issues resulting from a lack of drainage structures”

“Through both of these experiences, I realized that I wanted to spend some time working in this area after graduation. So then, as soon as I finished school in May, I decided to come to Argentina to join Habitat for Humanity, because I believe it is a tangible way to accomplish a significant change and to impact the lives of people who want to have a proper place to live.” 

“I am very happy to have joined this organization as a volunteer, getting to know both the people and the country. What I like most about Argentina is the social culture that permeates every aspect of daily life. I have spent 4 hours at lunch with friends discussing everything from economics to local desserts. I have drank mate with new friends all over the country, during meetings in the office and with families on site. ”

“It’s all these things and also the people that I work and live with as a volunteer; the HPHA staff as well as the beneficiary families which round out my volunteer experience”.

Just like Christine, you can also join Habitat for Humanity’s International Volunteers program to help with our mission.

Click here to find out how.





Global Village Brigade in Santa Fe

Between October 13 and 19, Global Village volunteers from the United States and Canada joined the Santa Fe Developing Neighborhoods project, an HPHA partnership with ACDI, to participate in construction tasks in Villa del Parque and Barranquita Sur neighborhoods.

The volunteers were welcomed with much joy and enthusiasm by the community. During the week, significant progress was made on the Ibáñez-Benavídez Seed House and on the Grismado-Rojas Progressive improvements. “We are very happy because it was a week of much activity working together with the families which are part of this project”, says Joaquin Lichter, Global Village Project Manager with HPHA.

In addition to working with the families, the volunteer group participated in neighborhood activities including maintenance and upkeep of the community garden and repair of chairs, doors, furniture and other items and materials.





Missions to Chaco and San Juan Provinces

Between June and October, volunteer teams from HPHA carried out two Remote Communities project missions; one to the Impenetrable Chaco and one to San Juan. The objective of both missions was to whitewash homes with lime in order to reduce Mal de Chagas disease risk.

HPHA volunteers, together with the Argentine Red Cross, visited the Control Forestal community in San Juan Province between June 13 and 17. Between June 19 and 24, with the support of the local branch of the ASADECICH organization, volunteers visited the Toba Native American communities of Pampa Argentina and Ferrocarril. Both communities are located within 20 kilometers of the small town of Juan Jose Castelli, where the volunteer teams set up their base of operations.     

A total of 35 homes were whitewashed during the 11 days spent by the volunteers in both provinces. Volunteers also shared information with local families regarding links between housing and health conditions. Upon their return, the volunteers expressed satisfaction with their accomplishments and were happy to have been well received by the families and by local social organizations.