Habitat for Humanity celebrates Valentine’s Day as 100 families move into the Santo community in Leogane, Haiti
San José, Costa Rica (February 14, 2013) – This week, Habitat for Humanity, alongside 100 Haitian families, is celebrating the fulfillment of a dream that was magnified by the 2010 earthquake. They are moving into their new homes, built with the collaboration of nearly 600 volunteers from around the world during the 2012 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. For one week, volunteers helped piece together, panel by panel, the safe, decent spaces that these 100 families will now call “home”.
The houses are fully painted and ready for living, each with its own latrine. The Santo community forms part of Habitat for Humanity’s five-year project to help several communities in Haiti. Santo is located in the city of Leogane – reported to be the epicenter of the 2010 earthquake.
The work goes far beyond building houses; it is about building a sustainable community. Habitat, therefore, is also helping to build a supermarket, where the 300 families, who have been served with core housing, as well as the larger Santo community of over 700 families, can have a common place to sell their products. The supermarket will also create opportunities for other vendors to sell basic, daily goods. As part of the infrastructural improvements to the community, 26 additional street lamps will also be installed. These projects are a work in progress, and welcome funding from any interested partner.
The social aspect of the community is also being addressed. An agricultural livelihood program has already provided some families with the chance to sell their January harvest, and has begun to create successful partnerships with hotels and restaurants to sell various products from the garden. Jewelry and other handicrafts are also being supported; the Artisan Business Network, a Haitian partnership that promotes artists and markets their work, has partnered with Habitat to train talented and interested local women to increase their income through their creations. The handicrafts and jewelry will be sold on the international market, including major department stores in the U.S.
The work is far from done, and much help is still needed. But on this day, where love and friendship is celebrated all around the world, Habitat for Humanity is proud to witness the love and care that people from all over the globe continue to show for those in need in Haiti.
You still have the opportunity to help. Visit https://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/one/donate.aspx?link=227 and donate today.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit habitat.org, or follow us at facebook.com/habitat or at twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at habitat.org/blog.