Year 1, Volume 5: Lujan and Open Door

The following has been contributed by Carlos A. Miranda

a member of the Silva-Miranda Family of Luján who worked

as a volunteer on this project.

At 7.30 a.m. on October 29^th we arrived at the site selected by the Luján Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Argentina, and chosen for the house of the Archiópoli family, It was just a grassy plot of land! Victor, the builder, began by setting the perimeters for what was to be the foundations of the house, according to the blueprints. Then, a team of volunteers from the Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel arrived and, when Victor had finished delineating the foundations, they marked it out so that the ditch would be dug straight and square. The same volunteers started digging the ditches. Another group offered to help me dig the hole for the septic tank. The future home owner and her father, with more volunteers, placed the fencing around the plot of land.

At midday, we had lunch and then continued the work. The remains of our lunch were distributed among the local children who were watching what was going on!

Soon after, the foundations were finished and the hole was 2m depth. Although there was some intermittent rain we were not deterred. The day finished approximately at 3 pm.

When I was at the building site, I thought that Paola and her family must have been feeling the same joy that I had felt when we began to build our home.

Carlos A. Miranda

Volunteer belonging to the Silva Miranda Family (First Homeowning family of the Luján Affiliate of HFHA)

WHAT IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMILIES AFTER THEY HAVE THEIR NEW HOUSE?

Our work is not limited to helping families only by giving them an economic and decent house, because we are interested also in staying in touch with them and helping in the community..

Therefore, we work jointly with other organizations working in Luján - because we cannot do it alone! With one of our partners we organized a workshop on organic vegetable gardens and we handed out seeds.

After that workshop Norma’s family created a good vegetable garden at the back of their “Habitat” house. This helps them to reduce expenses and to balance their diet.

The Silva Miranda’s have also started with their “seedling boxes!” So we prove that a decent home offers, among other things, the energy and the will to progress.

Laura, mother of the Silva Miranda family, is a teacher and wants to continue studying at the University. She is also, with the help of her mother and sister, creating a small business with candles.

Veronica, who is 17 years old, is part of the Norma Niz household, and she is hoping to continue studying at college. She has applied for a scholarship at the Universidad Nacional de Luján.

Norma Niz works non-stop in order to be able to make the monthly repayment for her house; she sells eggs and beauty products, as well as doing housework for other people and working in a school.

Both families are very committed to help in the activities of the affiliate; they help build, and make invaluable contributions at special projects board meetings. We are very happy with this.

We believe that this is just the beginning. There are very few families we have been able to help so far …. but we intend to continue in the way we are have begun and have faith and hope that we shall be enabled to do so!

“Working with love is building a house with stones from the quarry of the heart, as if a beloved person was going to live inhabit it”

Celina Malvazo

National Educator

If you would like to join us in rebuilding Lujan, one family at a time, please contact:

Mariana Ballesteros, Local Coordinator - Tel.: +54 (02323) 430160 Address: 9 de Julio 502 , CP 6700 - Luján, Prov. de BS AS – Argentina - lujan@hpha.org.ar

Year 1, Volume 3: Rebuilding Santa Fe, one house at a time

Sharing the joy of the first house of Habitat Argentina

Hundreds of people came to the dedication of the first house of HFHA on Friday July 4th 2004, and many others who could not be present would have certainly loved to be there to celebrate with the Espinosa family, owners of the first house built by Habitat for Humanity in Argentina.

It was a beautiful day, cool in a typical South American autumn, but with a full sun that allowed us to enjoy the day outdoors. Early in the afternoon the sounds of the Police Music Band of the province called us to celebrate. Neighbours from near and far, friends from other regions of the province of Santa Fe such as Cañada de Gómez, plus many who had travelled from Luján and Buenos Aires, all came to help us celebrate..

We felt that the Lord was among us, as Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them”. Three pastors reminded us of this in their prayers; a priest gave his message and we knew the glory of God in a moment that was unique for each of us. The Espinosa family all gave sincere thanks in emotional speeches. Our heartfelt applause was so great that it could possibly have been heard throughout Argentina!

HFHA leaders spoke of the helpful and encouraging attitude of those who provided water and electric energy, and from the neighbours who looked after the tools and building materials. And everyone recognised the tremendous efforts of the Espinosa family and of the volunteers that helped with the construction.

There were two more joyful moments – one when children from a “special school” planted a tree in front of the house and the other, when the school friends of the Espinosa children sent up multicolour balloons, which will fly where the wind takes them with a message that spoke of the importance of a decent house for a happy family,. It was very touching to see those 10 year olds, and their teachers, digging the ground and planting a tree, which will, in time, provide the Espinosa family with shadow and shelter and we pray that many families in need will receive the messages on the balloons!

Carlos Zaballa, Nacional Board of Directors

All those that want to add efforts to the project “Rebuilding Santa Fe, one house at a time”

:

Jorge Díaz, Local Coordinator - Tel.: +54 (0342) 455 9200 - santafe@hpha.org.ar