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In the heart of Bytom, a historic 19th-century tenement building on Piekarska Street, Poland, has been given a new life. Long abandoned and deteriorating, the building has been transformed into four warm, safe, and modern apartments, offering families—including Ukrainian refugees and local residents—a chance to call this central Silesian city home. What was once a vacant, neglected property is now a symbol of hope, cooperation, and sustainable urban regeneration. It is proof that solving Europe’s housing crisis does not always require new construction—sometimes it’s about breathing new life into what already exists.

In episode 3 of our podcast series, we talk about informal settlements in Africa with Charles Witbooi, Program Head for Advocacy and Volunteering Engagement at Habitat for Humanity South Africa.

On 12 August, volunteer sector experts from across Africa gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to mark International Youth Day by celebrating the transformative power of volunteering. For the first time, the African Union recognized the contributions of volunteers across the continent by launching the State of Volunteerism in Africa Report.

The report positions volunteerism as a vital driver of Africa’s development aspirations, particularly in advancing Agenda 2063. It highlights that Africa contributes an estimated 5.9 million hours of voluntary service every month—valued at over USD 353.5 million annually. 

Through Habitat’s Disaster Response, and with the help of volunteers and donors like you, we are able to provide shelter assistance, education, training and partnerships to the affected individuals who find themselves in unthinkable situations.

Habitat for Humanity and Somfy helped 200 families in Australia, Brazil, China, Lebanon, Poland, and the US to gain access to decent housing.

For Mary, a mother and grandmother living in Makululu, an informal settlement in Zambia, the sound of rain once brought fear. 

Through a community-driven Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Habitat for Humanity Zambia partnered with residents and local government to transform access to essential services. 

Our microfinance projects

Etex, a global building material manufacturer and Habitat for Humanity announce a new partnership which aims to raise awareness and educate 150 women in Kabwe, Zambia in land rights and security of tenure.

Bratislava (August 14, 2025) – Habitat for Humanity is excited to announce the next step in our growing collaboration with the Employee Foundation of the VKR Group. Together, we’re building on shared values and years of impactful work, this time through hands-on volunteer work and collective action in Poland.