President and Mrs. Carter join hundreds of Habitat for Humanity
volunteers in Haiti for the 29th annual 'Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter
Work Project'
LEOGANE, Haiti, Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Former U.S.
President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, join hundreds of
volunteers from around the world to help build 100 homes in
Leogane, Haiti, during the 29th
annual Habitat for Humanity Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work
Project.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121126/CL18262 )
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)
Volunteers are helping to construct the homes throughout the
course of this week in the Santo community, which is 18 miles from
Port-au-Prince and considered to
be the epicenter of the 2010 earthquake that devastated the
country.
This is the second year in a row the Carters and Habitat
volunteers have joined together to help build homes in Santo. Last
year 100 homes were built during the Carter Work Project, and an
additional 50 homes were built in the community by volunteers from
the Irish nonprofit Haven.
"Last year, Rosalynn and I worked side by side with families
left homeless by the 2010 earthquake and Habitat volunteers to
build desperately needed homes in Haiti," said President Carter. "We were both
deeply moved by the experience in a country we have known and loved
for years. We have a deep personal investment in the future of
Haiti and are happy to be building
100 homes in Leogane again this year."
The Santo community is part of a larger Habitat shelter program
funded by the Multilateral Investment Fund of the Inter-American
Development Bank, Habitat for Humanity Netherlands (Samenwerkende
Hulporganisaties SHO) and many other donors. Similar to last year,
Haven will manage all Carter Work Project logistics, including
catering, accommodations and transport throughout the week. In
addition, approximately 70 Irish volunteers recruited by Haven will
join Habitat volunteers from the United
States, Ireland,
Northern Ireland, and around the
world.
"Even though nearly three years have passed since the 2010
earthquake, there remains a dire need for adequate shelter in
Haiti for many who were displaced
from their homes, so we are bringing the Carter Work Project back
to Leogane to help more families and to raise awareness of the
ongoing efforts to rebuild lives," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity
International. "We sincerely thank all the volunteers, sponsors and
especially the Carters for their dedication to improving the lives
of our Haitian partner families who are eager to have safe, decent
homes."
Habitat for Humanity has operated in Haiti for more than 28 years. In response to
the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010, Habitat initiated a five-year
plan to help 50,000 families. Since that time, more than 40,000
families in Port-au-Prince,
Cabaret and Leogane have been served through permanent core houses,
transitional and upgradable shelters, repairs and rehabs, damage
assessments and emergency shelter kits. Programs focused on land
reform advocacy, urban reconstruction and training initiatives have
benefitted thousands more.
Each year since 1984, President and Mrs. Carter have volunteered
with Habitat for Humanity for one week, building homes and hope in
14 countries around the world and providing inspiration to millions
of people around the world who share Habitat's vision of a world
where everyone has a decent place to live.
This year's Carter Work Project will be the culmination of a
two-month observance of the need for safe, decent and affordable
shelter that began with special events on World Habitat Day on
Oct. 1, 2012. The purpose is to call
attention to the need for adequate housing for everyone by raising
awareness and mobilizing people to take action in response to the
need of better shelter around the world.
Habitat for Humanity would like to thank the volunteers, partner
families and the following sponsors for this year's Carter Work
Project: The Dow Chemical Company, Greif, Inc., Habitat for
Humanity Canada National Leadership Council, Nissan, Habitat for
Humanity Cars for Homes, Habitat for Humanity Women Build,
Jean and Kevin Kessinger, All
Weather Windows, Carpenters' District Council of Ontario, Chemco Electrical Contractors Ltd.,
Cossette, Digicel, the Digicel Foundation, Genworth Canada, Proctor
& Gamble, Simpson Strong-Tie, the Volkswagen of America
Foundation and countless others.
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
www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at
www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat's blog community at
www.habitat.org/blog.
About Habitat for Humanity Haiti
Habitat for Humanity
has been at work in Haiti for 28
years and has provided housing solutions through a variety of
initiatives including new home construction, progressive building,
home repairs and improvements, and land reform advocacy. Habitat
also builds capacity in construction skills, disaster risk
reduction and financial literacy, and works in coordination with
community and government agencies. To learn more, please visit
habitat.org/Haiti, or follow us at
www.facebook.com/Habitat for Humanity Haiti - Official Site or at
www.twitter.com/habitatinhaiti.
SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International