Jimmy Carter Work Project 2004

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn will extend helping hands--and experienced hammers--to build houses with families in need Oct. 24-29, 2004, in Puebla and Vera Cruz, Mexico. Thousands of volunteers from around the world will gather for the Jimmy Carter Work Project to build 150 houses with local families.

Mexico's need for affordable, decent housing is tremendous: About 40 percent of Mexico's population lives in poverty, and one in three adults lives in poverty housing. Since 1987, when Habitat began working in Mexico, 19 Habitat affiliates have built more than 13,000 houses at a cost of about US$6,500 each. As families build, buy and move into their block houses--for which they pay between US$70 and US$80 per month--they leave behind some of the burdens and hardships of substandard living conditions. To lend your support, please use the envelope inside or donate securely online at www.habitat.org/donation. You may designate your gift to this year's JCWP.

To sign up for e-mail news and announcements, or for information on the build locations, visit www.habitat.org/jcwp/2004.

Habitat World Goes to Antarctica

We never know where Habitat World might turn up next, but we have certainly enjoyed finding out in the photographs readers share with us. Pictured here is volunteer and Habitat World reader Carmen Lemon, who is spending her sixth winter in Antarctica. Lemon supports scientists conducting research as part of the U.S. Antarctic Program. In the background is the Royal Society Range of the Transantarctica Mountains. Lemon has participated in Habitat for Humanity Global Village trips to Honduras and Fiji and plans to join another one to Africa later this year. She says that when she read of Habitat's work in a travel book, it struck her as the perfect opportunity to contribute to a family's sense of stability. "It's been an incredible experience," she says. "It has helped me realize that material possessions don't really mean that much, but it's the more lasting, [intangible] things that have the most value."