Habitat for Humanity and Asian Tour join forces to promote decent housing

MANILA (Dec. 20, 2018) — On marking its 35^th anniversary in the Asia-Pacific region in 2018, Habitat for Humanity recognizes the importance of continuing to engage partners in providing decent and affordable housing. Such strategic partnerships include the collaboration with the Asian Tour that has named Habitat for Humanity as its sustainable development partner for 2018.

Rick Hathaway, Asia-Pacific vice president, Habitat for Humanity, says: “The Asian Tour is an important partner of Habitat for Humanity. Their efforts provide visibility for the golfing community and public into the need for decent shelter and opportunities for people and organizations to get involved in some practical solutions. We encourage more to get involved as volunteers and donors for the cause. The need is so great and the opportunities to help families are real and important.”

Cho Minn Thant, chief operating officer of the Asian Tour, comments: “It has been a meaningful year for the Asian Tour in 2018. As we celebrate another season of success, we are happy to see that many stakeholders within the Asian Tour family made an effort to give back to society through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Over the past 12 months, players and staff have also volunteered their time on-site in India, Thailand and now Indonesia, which are some of the places that we host tournaments in. We are proud to be able to pledge our support to Habitat for Humanity.”

To cap the successful Indonesian Masters — the last tournament for 2018 under its partnership with Habitat — Asian Tour golfers and Asian Tour Media staff contributed their time and labor at a build site. On December 17, more than 20 volunteers worked on three homes alongside future homeowners in Sentul village, Bojong Koneng, in Bogor.

George Gandranata, Berry Henson, Elki Kow, Wolmer Murillo, Fajar Win Nuryanto and Mitchell Slorach were among the Asian Tour golfers leading the build. Habitat for Humanity Indonesia’s ambassadors also lent a hand.

During the build, the Asian Tour volunteers were able to meet and work with future homeowners Enoh, Bai and Aben. Their families have been living in run-down bamboo houses that have leaky roofs and poor lighting. With the support of Habitat Indonesia and Asian Tour, the three families will be able to create a better future through secure and stable homes.

Like millions of Indonesians living in poverty, the low-income families in Sentul typically build their houses on their own, using makeshift and low quality materials. Sustainable and resilient housing solutions are critical in disaster-prone Indonesia where vulnerable families are at risk of losing scarce assets and falling deeper into poverty. Habitat Indonesia is committed to helping affected families recover from the disasters in late 2018 through rebuilding homes and water and sanitation facilities. 

In December 2018, Olympic golf champion and world number 2 Justin Rose also donated US$50,000 to support Habitat Indonesia’s disaster response in tsunami and earthquake-hit areas in Sulawesi and Lombok.

Asian Tour golfers and Habitat ambassadors Danny Masrin and Berry Henson also contributed generously. They raised funds together with their peers and supporters through the #BirdiesforHabitat challenge at the Indonesian Masters.

At the end of Asian Tour’s 2018 season, Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma topped the Habitat for Humanity Standings. The rankings were renamed from the tournament’s season-long Order of Merit as part of Asian Tour’s partnership with Habitat.

Through their collaboration, Habitat and Asian Tour rallied the golfing community to raise funds and awareness as well as volunteer for the cause of decent, secure housing in India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.