World Habitat Day: Help transform lives

MANILA, Philippines — Today, 1.6 billion people live in inadequate shelters around the world. Approximately, 1 million of them live in informal settlements, and about 1 in 5 people live in conditions that harm their health, safety, prosperity and opportunities.

Habitat for Humanity joins the United Nations, alongside organizations around the world, in raising awareness and consciousness on the importance of building decent homes by educating and mobilizing individuals and communities to take action in the current global housing crisis by observing World Habitat Day.

Celebrated every first Monday of October every year, World Habitat Day is a worldwide event that aims to make a call for new and innovative programs, policies and systems that would make our world a decent place to live for people of all walks of life – regardless of race or religion.

World Habitat Day was established in 1985 by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/202, and was first celebrated in 1986. Each year, different yearly themes promote the various UN-Habitat focal areas such as: inclusive housing and social services; a safe and healthy living environment for all; safe and clean drinking water and sanitation; healthy air quality; job creation; improved urban planning and slum upgrading; and better waste management.

Habitat for Humanity Philippines participates in this yearly international event to help provide access to adequate shelter to all, which is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty.

The core focus on providing decent homes to more than 4 million Filipino informal settlers is always at the forefront of Habitat for Humanity Philippines. As we commemorate World Habitat Day, Habitat for Humanity Philippines has prepared exciting and meaningful activities on October 4, 2014 at Quezon City.

Participants will be given a chance to shape the future of our cities and towns by participating in construction work for the Habitat home partners, immerse and understand the lives of our home partners, help out in medical mission, participate in a sports clinic, and bond with the children of the community.

Habitat for Humanity Philippines’ main day will be on October 11 this year by having simultaneous” builds” across the nation. Habitat Philippines will be organizing 20 simultaneous builds across the nation on Saturday, October 11 in Metro Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Zamboanga, Mindoro, Bohol, Cebu, and Leyte.

Through these series of events, Habitat for Humanity Philippines hopes to raise awareness that more than 4 million Filipino families still live in substandard housing, and that this figure does not include the millions recently displaced by the Zamboanga Conflict, the Bohol Earthquake, and super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) 

Together we can bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Together we can transform lives. — Rappler.com

Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) is a non-profit organization that serves Filipino families in need of decent homes. We bring together partners who share the same vision of transforming lives through building responsible and sustainable communities. Visit its website or Facebook for more details.