Habitat World Online

(Looking Back: A Photographic Journey continued)


The Global Village & Discovery Center in Americus, Ga., opened to the public in June 2003. A portion of the attraction demonstrates substandard housing conditions.

June | Romania
After years of living in a damp and crumbling shack of mud and straw, Benti Bako's dream of a simple, decent home for his wife and five children became a reality in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. His Habitat for Humanity homecoming was an event that occurs somewhere in the world every 26 minutes. But Bako's celebration heralded another milestone in Habitat's history: His was the 150,000th Habitat house built worldwide and the 100th Habitat house built in Romania. "The dedication of the Bakos' house is a milestone in Habitat's fight to eliminate poverty housing worldwide," said Millard Fuller, founder and president. "But we must remain focused on the task of providing decent housing for every family in need around the world."


	In June, Habitat for Humanity founder and president Millard Fuller celebrated the dedication of Habitat's 150,000th house worldwide and Romania's 100th house in Cluj-Napoca.

June | Georgia, U.S.A.
On a rainy Saturday in June, Habitat family and friends celebrated the grand opening of the Global Village & Discovery Center in Americus, Ga., home to the international organization's headquarters. The six-acre attraction highlights the housing transformation that is possible when Habitat housing helps liberate families from the bonds of poverty. Visitors "travel" to see representative Habitat houses from around the world and participate in hands-on activities such as brick and tile making. In addition, the center includes a "Living in Poverty" housing exhibit, International Marketplace, Visitor Welcome Center and more. Veteran African statesman and Zambia's founding father, Kenneth David Kaunda, spoke at the grand opening: "What impresses me most about Habitat is that we build the people, even before we build the houses. We do not build simply with brick and mortar; we build with human hearts. I cannot think of anything more sustainable than that." For information, visit www.habitat. org/GVDC/ or call (800) 422-4828.

August | Canada
By the numbers, the Ed Schreyer 10th Anniversary Celebration Tour saw hundreds of volunteers working for five days across four provinces to build four townhouses, two single-family houses and one triplex. The Right Honourable Edward Schreyer, former governor-general of Canada, and his wife, Lily, charged across the nation, visiting Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. "It isn't always easy to turn good intentions into concrete reality," says Schreyer. "Habitat makes that possible. It is a wonderfully positive concept." The couple helped celebrate the 100th Habitat house built by HFH Winnipeg, HFH Regina's 10th anniversary and the 700th Habitat house built in Canada since its inception in 1985. For information, visit www.habitat.ca.

August | Haiti and U.S.A.
As the Habitat momentum continues to build worldwide, both the United States and the Latin America and Caribbean regions celebrated the completion of the 50,000th Habitat house built in their respective areas. Two Global Village teams headed to Haiti to help build that milestone house in August. Team member Janet Gorrell participated in a build team to Haiti. Of her experience, she says: "[I traveled there] with the intention of helping others and touching lives. On the contrary, it was my life that was touched. The Haitian people may be poor, but they are rich in ways that we take for granted." Habitat Haiti staff member Randal Rhoade said it well: "Haiti is a dangerous place; the people will steal your heart. I know I lost a part of mine there."