A Global Effort: Answering the Call to Fight Poverty
By Milana McLead

Every day around the world, disasters strike, poverty oppresses, people starve, disease kills—it all seems overwhelming. Is there truly any way to help? That’s the marvel of Habitat for Humanity’s work in 67 nations: It provides a path to action. This issue of Habitat World offers a look at that effort in the four regions of the world outside of North America.

In Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, Habitat for Humanity is working to provide positive solutions to desperate situations in overcoming the wrenching poverty that plagues today’s world.

“We see poverty every day, but it anesthetizes us,” says Andrew Regalado, former national director of HFH Philippines. “But through Habitat, we can tangibly do something. That is empowering. Habitat radically changes the families who become homeowners. Once they move in, it’s a new beginning. They are no longer in an atmosphere and culture of poverty. Out of that deep hole, the hope, aspirations, longings are materialized.”

For thousands of volunteers around the world, Habitat provides a means to action.

Angela Cepangpangan, 22, a volunteer youth leader in the city of Cebu, is leading the way in her community through HFH Philippines’ Youth Build 2000 project.

“We grew up knowing ‘those people’ were around us, but we didn’t have it in us to help,” she says. “But now, Habitat has given us the chance to grab it. I could show anybody, I made this house with this family. I am the lucky one. I am among the fortunate who are helping.”

Answering the call to help reaches beyond our own nations, our own borders.

Together, we will make a difference.


--Milana McLead





Reprinted from Habitat World Magazine, October/November 2000.
This article may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
©2000 Habitat for Humanity International