Role model
MANILA (November 19, 2018) — Before Maricel turned 32 in May, she held a special party at her Habitat home in Calauan, Laguna province in southern Luzon in the Philippines. Not only did the mother of two host young volunteers, she also worked hand-in-hand with them and others in her community to build new, affordable houses.
“I was happy to accommodate the volunteers; they did a lot of great work in the community. At the same time my house needed repainting to clear up the big doodle marks that my daughters had left over the years,” Maricel says laughingly.
She adds: “Together with other mothers in our village, I wanted to open the doors of my home to volunteers. It was my way of giving back and it gave me joy to see students actively participating in community work. I wanted my children to grow up just like them.”
Maricel strongly believes in the importance of a strong, stable home for the sake of her two daughters, aged 8 and 5. For over a decade, her family lived by the riverside, and her house was always in danger of flooding when strong rains and typhoons came.
For the sake of her daughters Kate and Trisha, Maricel (center) and her husband decided to move out of their flood-prone old house by the riverside. Photo: Habitat for Humanity International/Aaron Aspi.
“We had to evacuate every time flood waters rose. And when we returned, our house was in shambles and it took so much from us to rebuild every time. My husband and I decided that we had to move out for the sake of our children,” Maricel shares.
She took the opportunity to relocate her family to a safer site when the local government in Calauan started working with Habitat for Humanity Philippines.
Maricel still remembers the first time her family set foot in their new home four years ago, “It was not much. We barely had any belongings but it was a great relief to finally have a place we can call our own.”
She also considers the growing community that she lives in as her own extended family. Taking charge of block 7 in the community, she coordinates village activities with other mothers.
In April, she led other mothers in welcoming student volunteers and supervising wall painting duties on April 21, for the culmination of the 2018 Habitat Young Leaders Build campaign in their village. The multi-month annual campaign rallies young supporters to volunteer, raise funds and speak out on the need for decent and affordable housing for all.
Habitat Philippines’ staff giving a lesson on good hygiene practices to children from the Calauan community in Laguna province on culmination day of the 2018 Habitat Young Leaders Build. Photo: Habitat for Humanity International/Aaron Aspi.
Simultaneously, in northern Vietnam, Son and his wife Thien worked with Habitat volunteers from the Rainbow Youth Club. The couple lives in Thuong Tien commune, Kim Boi district, in mountainous Hoa Binh province.
“The country lane is very steep and it is hard to move during rainy season. My house was so shabby and it was easily damaged when there were torrential rains. It wasn’t warm enough to stay in during winter,” Son says. “With this new house, I feel like my wife and I are capable of taking care of our children in a better way, especially their health.”
“I feel really grateful and touched by Habitat’s help through the Rainbow Youth Club. My family and I are excited at the prospect of living in decent shelter and not worrying about inclement weather,” Thien adds.
(Left) Son and his wife Thien worked with volunteers (right) from Rainbow Youth Club to construct a new home on culmination day of the 2018 Habitat Young Leaders Build in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam. Photos courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Vietnam.
Dat was among the Rainbow Youth Club members who raised funds and helped build a home. “When I joined this Habitat Young Leaders Build season, I felt that I was not wasting my youth doing silly things. From my point of view, whether we failed or succeeded in fundraising to help Habitat build Son’s and Thien’s house, I would never regret what I and my friends did for a family in need,” Dat says.
“It felt like a great victory when we reached the fundraising target and directly held the bricks to build the house right now. That was one of the most rewarding experiences I had ever had in my life,” he adds.
Aniporn Chalermburanawong, Miss Universe Thailand 2015, also volunteered at the campaign’s culmination event. Along with students and other youths, she helped paint a mural depicting the meaning of home in a school in Pathum Thani province, central Thailand. In an Instagram post, the model and actress invited her followers to donate and raise funds for more decent homes in Thailand.
With the support of celebrities like Aniporn, as well as youth organizations, corporations and other partners, the Young Leaders Build has grown to be Habitat’s largest youth movement in the Asia-Pacific region. The 2018 campaign saw a record 4.3 million supporters from 17 countries and one Special Administrative Region.
Since 2012, over 12.4 million Habitat Young Leaders Build supporters have raised US$6.5 million in funds to help build homes and supported close to 29,000 families to achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.
Now in its eighth year, the campaign will build on key youth initiatives such as the advocacy grants, the HYLB Leadership Academy, and the Asia and Pacific Builds.
Habitat Young Leaders Build supporters included Aniporn Chalermburanawong (left), Miss Universe Thailand 2015, and Nepali youth leader Supriya Maskey (right). Photos courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Thailand and Nepal.
Ahead of the 2019 Habitat Young Leaders Build’s launch on December 5, International Volunteer Day, Supriya Maskey highlights the role of youth. The Nepali youth leader and HYLB volunteer says: “We are the future leaders of our country so we, the youth of our nation, should work together to bring positive change, like little drops of water and little grains of sand that make up the mighty ocean and the pleasant land. So, together we can!”
Join the Habitat Young Leaders Build community on Facebook bit.ly/HabitatYLB. Post on social media with the hashtag #HabitatYLB. Follow on Instagram @HabitatYLB.