Habitat for Humanity

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Habitat for Humanity
founding	1976 (Germany 1998)
founder	Millard Fuller
Seat	Americus , GA United States
motto	Because everyone needs a home
main emphasis	House building for people in need, disaster relief and preparedness
Action space	worldwide
Managing directors	Jonathan Reckford
sales	$ 250,235,592 (2017)
Website	www.habitat.org www.habitatforhumanity.de

Habitat for Humanity is an international, Christian and non- denominational non-profit organization founded in 1976 in Americus , Georgia (USA). The organization is primarily committed to building accommodation for the disadvantaged.

aims

Habitat for Humanity is actively committed to the right to a roof over one's head in around 70 countries around the world. Aid measures related to the thematic focus at home are implemented as part of extensive projects

In 70 countries around the world, Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates solid houses together with volunteers and the project beneficiaries and is active in disaster risk management and sustainable reconstruction after natural disasters. These house building, retrofitting, and renovation works enable people to build the foundation for a healthier, more self-determined future. Projects in the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as well as training on health, income and land law, often with a focus on orphans and particularly vulnerable children (OVC), complement the international aid programs. In addition, Habitat for Humanity is an expert in disaster-proof construction in disaster risk management and long-term reconstruction after natural disasters. Thanks to the network structure, Habitat for Humanity can often fall back on existing offices, knowledge of the country, tried and tested structures and partnerships and works closely with local authorities, other aid organizations and the affected population.

Anyone can help in the Global Village volunteer program and get involved in a Habitat for Humanity construction project.

Habitat for Humanity Germany is one of around 70 agencies of Habitat for Humanity International and in Germany, based in Cologne, is a registered non-profit association and an independent part of the international Habitat for Humanity network. Habitat for Humanity Deutschland is a member of the German Donation Council and was one of the first 15 organizations in Germany to receive the certificate for transparency - awarded after an intensive review by independent auditors. Further memberships exist with Aktion Deutschland Hilft , Venro and the Transparent Civil Society Initiative .

Why a home

Because everyone needs a home - the home is more than just a roof over your head. It is directly related to the healthy development of children, improves educational and income opportunities, and offers protection and security. Working for a humane home through practiced help for self-help is a fight against poverty and lack of opportunities and thus contributes to the eleventh Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations (SDGs). The aim is to promote the strength, stability and independence of the project beneficiaries through the principle of helping people to help themselves . The project beneficiaries are not recipients of charity; They are involved in the project planning, pay for the building materials for their house, work on the construction site whenever possible and thus acquire their property through Sweat Equity . In addition to personal contributions, active neighborhood help and the support of numerous volunteers who are involved in the project are an essential part of the work of Habitat for Humanity. In addition, the construction costs are kept low. Long-term, low-interest microloans enable even low-income families to build a house that they call home. All loan repayments flow into a revolving fund, which is continuously invested in new projects. This creates a sustainable, ever increasing effect of the aid. Groups of people who cannot be expected to repay due to a particularly critical life situation, such as orphans, widows, seriously ill people and people affected by natural disasters, are exempt from repayment.

As a volunteer in the aid project

Side by side with the project beneficiaries, volunteers help on site with the construction or repair of a house. Because this voluntary work brings people from different cultures together, it is also called “Global Village” in international parlance .

Anyone can participate, from businesses and schools, to private groups and individuals. Companies use this opportunity of corporate volunteering as part of their corporate social responsibility to provide significant support to an aid project, to convince themselves of its usefulness and at the same time to strengthen employee motivation and team spirit.

history

Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by lawyer Millard Fuller and his wife Linda in Americus, Georgia . A successful businessman and lawyer, Fuller was a multi-millionaire when he was just 29. A few years later, however, Millard and Linda Fuller made a radical change in life: They decided to give up their wealth, sold their property and donated their wealth for social purposes. They wanted their lives to be based on Christian values ​​and standards and they moved with their children to Koinonia Farm in Georgia.

There they met Clarence Jordan and together the idea of ​​a Fund for Humanity was born . They started building houses and selling them to needy families in the local area who had to live in inhumane conditions. You yourself did not want to make a profit with this work, but rather to break the vicious circle of poverty and illness by creating safe and healthy living conditions, so that affected families receive a new sense of self-worth and thus perspectives for the future. Based on their experience, the Fullers developed a sustainable building concept based on personal contribution, neighborhood help, volunteer engagement and a financial fund.

In 1973 the Fullers moved to Africa with their four children to test their house building concept in Zaire (today: Democratic Republic of the Congo ). The experiment turned out to be a great success for the developing country and Fuller was now convinced that his model could be used worldwide. When Millard Fuller returned to the USA with his family in 1976, the founding of the organization Habitat for Humanity International was clear to him

Honors

In 1989 Habitat for Humanity was honored together with Otto Königsberger , Hassan Fathy , Lauchlin Bernard Currie with the renowned UN Habitat Scroll of Honor, which the United Nations (UN) has awarded since 1989 for exceptional achievements in urban and housing construction ( United Nations program for human settlements )

Web links

• Habitat for Humanity International website
• Website Habitat for Humanity Germany

Individual evidence

1. ↑ "Aktion Deutschland Hilft" receives donation certificate from the German Donation Council / auditors confirm alliance of German aid organizations responsible handling of donations , on tagesspiegel.de, accessed on September 27, 2019
2. ↑ Building blocks of our work , on habitatforhumanity.de, accessed on September 27, 2019
3. ↑ Millard Fuller, 74, Who Founded Habitat for Humanity, Is Dead (February 3, 2009), on nytimes.com, accessed September 27, 2019