RR Rebuilding Christchurch | Habitat for Humanity
there are still significant costs that we have to pay. We are very grateful for the individual donors who make this possible,” Peter says. Volunteering is the most common way for people to support Habitat for Humanity. Christchurch volunteers assist with local builds, but can also travel overseas to build houses in places as diverse as Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Cambodia. “You don’t have to be a skilled builder to help out,” he explains. “While we welcome trades people, by far the majority of volunteers are people who are learning new skills on the job.”
Habitat for Humanity relies on donated materials, volunteer labour and interest free finance to secure land and build secure housing for low income families. It is a very practical philosophy behind Habitat for Humanity, Peter explains. “Every family that partners with Habitat for Humanity has to put in 500 hours in sweat equity, working on building the house they will live in. Once they have rented the premises for a period of time, we move them up to a purchase agreement. “Essentially we are moving people up the economic ladder and within 10 years they will own their own home.” The Canterbury Community Trust donated $250,000 to purchase the sections, Housing New Zealand gave the organisation a large interest free loan to construct the houses,
Dulux donated all the paint and E2 Environmental provided free engineering work. “Peter contacted us to see if we could help with certifying soil compaction on the Habitat sites in Kaiapoi,” E2 Environmental director Andrew Tisch says. “We’ve enjoyed working with Peter and Habitat and as I said at the official opening ceremony, it’s a pleasure to support an organisation doing such good work both here and overseas.” While Habitat for Humanity gets generous assistance from local organisations, there is still a significant cost attached to the process. “We welcome donations because, while we get volunteer labour and materials and have sometimes received money to buy the land,
Dulux New Zealand has also been a sponsorship partner of Habitat for Humanity since 1997, providing the paint for the houses the organisation builds in New Zealand. In Christchurch, Dulux New Zealand supplied paint for two houses in Breezes Road last year, which were renovated by Habitat for Humanity for their volunteers to use when visiting Christchurch to assist with postearthquake rebuild projects.
a practical hands-on approach to giving something back to the community. “Several Christchurch businesses have committed big teams of enthusiastic volunteers for a day’s work, and we are certainly keen to attract more of that; it’s great seeing the community buy-in. Participating businesses are proud to be involved in creating a future for a family. The volunteers have a practical, fun learning experience and at the end of it all, can point to something that they built. ” Next year volunteers will have the opportunity to join Habitat builds throughout Asia and the Pacific.
Since these two houses have been renovated, Dulux New Zealand has continued to work with Habitat for Humanity and Red Cross to help people who have been hardest hit by the earthquakes to bring their houses up to a liveable state again. Dulux is working with both organisations on around 50 such projects. Dulux South Island trade manager Kevin Riddle says the company is pleased to be able to participate in the rebuild of Christchurch and also to help so many deserving people get back into their own houses. A popular way of helping out is corporate volunteering and Habitat for Humanity offers
Habitat for Humanity (Christchurch) Ltd Unit 10-14 Broad St Woolston Christchurch T (03) 420 4342 E office@habitatchch.org.nz www.habitat.org.nz — Advertising Feature
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