Youth spotlight decent housing as way out of poverty through Habitat for Humanity Youth Build 2015
San Jose, Costa Rica (December 5, 2014) – This International Volunteer Day, Habitat for Humanity launches a youth-led campaign to tackle the global challenge of substandard housing: Youth Build.
From December 5, 2014 to March 21, 2015, volunteering, advocacy, awareness and fundraising activities will take place in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) and across the Asia-Pacific region, based on the importance of a decent home as the foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty.
“Worldwide, there are more than 1.8 billion youth, who are also disproportionately affected by poverty, unemployment and lack of access to education and housing. Nonetheless, young people continue to use their voices and volunteer work to create a better world”, said Torre Nelson, Habitat for Humanity vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Adequate housing is essential, especially for children and youth. Having a safe, comfortable and protected environment contributes to a person’s social and emotional development, provides stability and facilitates academic and work success.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, several countries will join Youth Build for the first time. For example, Habitat for Humanity Argentina will launch an advocacy and visibility campaign about the importance of secure tenure, as well as construction brigades involving youth.
Also, youth in 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region will campaign on- and offline to garner support for the movement and raise vital funds to tackle poverty housing in the region.
Join the Habitat Youth Build community: facebook.com/groups/habitatyouthbuild
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 5 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. For more information, please visit habitatlatino.org