Cambodia mission: Seven volunteers with Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County will embark on a mission to build 22 homes in Cambodia next month, similar to the work shown above. (Contributed photo)
The Echo Press
Alexandra, Minnesota
Published October 21, 2011
You don’t need to look too far to see the difference that Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County (HFHDC) has made in the lives of families in our community. Since 1997, the affiliate has built or renovated homes for 30 families, partnering with them by providing a hand up for a better future. What you may not know is that while the affiliate is building homes and changing lives locally, they are also building homes and changing lives across the globe.
You don’t need to look too far to see the difference that Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County (HFHDC) has made in the lives of families in our community.
Since 1997, the affiliate has built or renovated homes for 30 families, partnering with them by providing a hand up for a better future.
What you may not know is that while the affiliate is building homes and changing lives locally, they are also building homes and changing lives across the globe.
This November, seven individuals will get an opportunity to see firsthand how Habitat changes lives both at home and abroad. Greg and Deb Pouliot, Tom Schabel, Bob Seward, Gordon and Deb Vander Helm and Sara Vander Helm will be taking part in a life-changing mission to build 22 homes in five days for families in Cambodia.
This build is made possible through the support of Habitat affiliates from across the globe through affiliate tithes. HFHDC made the decision early on to tithe as part of its Christian identity. The concept of tithe is based on the biblical principal of sharing from what God has blessed you with to bless others.
Habitat is a global organization and many places where the need is the greatest for housing, the options for fund-raising are dim. Affiliates in the U.S. and other developed countries of the world join together in sending tithe do-nations to support the developing countries of the world. HFHDC has consistently been a leader among small affiliates across the U.S. in its tithe support, and is currently in the top 25 in the nation.
Since 1997, its tithe has helped to build 33 homes for families abroad in places such as Central America, Latin America/Carribean and Nicaragua, in addition to the 30 homes that they have built in Douglas County.
This will be the first time that they will be sending a group to participate in a tithe trip. The volunteers are responsible for their own travel expenses – the tithe funds go directly to support the building of homes.
THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
Cambodia, located in the heart of Southeast Asia, is an ancient land with a young population. The median age is 22 years.
According to the United Nations, more than 26 percent of its 13.9 million population lives on the equivalent of less than $1.25 per day. The majority of children, families and communities live in desperate poverty and struggle to meet the most basic needs of food, clean water and shelter with-out assistance.
The Khmer Harvest Build takes place over five days in November. More than 350 volunteers from around the globe will work to build 20 homes for families who used to live on a municipal dump-site. The homes will have sanitation facilities, safe water, a rainwater collection tank and a solar-energy panel.
The families who will live in these homes live and work on a municipal dumpsite, scavenging through the 900 tons of trash dumped each day to survive. The Khmer Harvest Build will not only provide a healthy home for these families, but will also provide a way to make a living, as the homes are being built around a farm being developed in partnership with International Children’s Care Australia.
The build continues work begun in 2009 as part of a Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project, where 21 homes were built.
COMMUNITY IS
INVITED TO TAKE PART
The community is invited to take part in a “commissioning to service” ceremony on Thursday, October 27 at 1:30 p.m. The ceremony will take place at the site of Habitat’s fourth build of the year at 821 Oak Street in Alexandria.
This home is currently being built in partnership with Alexandria Community and Technical College, with the first year construction students doing the majority of the construction of the home. The volunteers who will be serving in Cambodia will be honored, and prayers of community support will be offered to them in their work.
Individuals wishing to learn more about Habitat’s work here in Douglas County and abroad are encouraged to contact the office at 320-762-4255. You can also follow the action in Cambodia via Face-book, as one of the volunteers has agreed to share the experience via Habitat’s Face-book page.
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 1997 and has built 30 homes for sale to partner families throughout Douglas County, providing housing for 122 people. Homeowner families are selected according to established criteria: need for housing, ability to partner with Habitat and ability to pay. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build or renovate decent, affordable housing. Partner families purchase the homes from Habitat with no-profit mortgages. Volunteers provide most of the labor. Tax-deductible donations of money, land and materials are provided by individuals, organizations, churches, foundations and businesses. For more information on how to support Habitat or get involved contact the affiliate at (320) 762-4255, e-mail at info@hfhdouglascounty.org or see the website at www.hfhdouglascounty.org.
The Echo Press
Alexandra, Minnesota
Published October 21, 2011
You don’t need to look too far to see the difference that Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County (HFHDC) has made in the lives of families in our community. Since 1997, the affiliate has built or renovated homes for 30 families, partnering with them by providing a hand up for a better future. What you may not know is that while the affiliate is building homes and changing lives locally, they are also building homes and changing lives across the globe.
You don’t need to look too far to see the difference that Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County (HFHDC) has made in the lives of families in our community.
Since 1997, the affiliate has built or renovated homes for 30 families, partnering with them by providing a hand up for a better future.
What you may not know is that while the affiliate is building homes and changing lives locally, they are also building homes and changing lives across the globe.
This November, seven individuals will get an opportunity to see firsthand how Habitat changes lives both at home and abroad. Greg and Deb Pouliot, Tom Schabel, Bob Seward, Gordon and Deb Vander Helm and Sara Vander Helm will be taking part in a life-changing mission to build 22 homes in five days for families in Cambodia.
This build is made possible through the support of Habitat affiliates from across the globe through affiliate tithes. HFHDC made the decision early on to tithe as part of its Christian identity. The concept of tithe is based on the biblical principal of sharing from what God has blessed you with to bless others.
Habitat is a global organization and many places where the need is the greatest for housing, the options for fund-raising are dim. Affiliates in the U.S. and other developed countries of the world join together in sending tithe do-nations to support the developing countries of the world. HFHDC has consistently been a leader among small affiliates across the U.S. in its tithe support, and is currently in the top 25 in the nation.
Since 1997, its tithe has helped to build 33 homes for families abroad in places such as Central America, Latin America/Carribean and Nicaragua, in addition to the 30 homes that they have built in Douglas County.
This will be the first time that they will be sending a group to participate in a tithe trip. The volunteers are responsible for their own travel expenses – the tithe funds go directly to support the building of homes.
THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
Cambodia, located in the heart of Southeast Asia, is an ancient land with a young population. The median age is 22 years.
According to the United Nations, more than 26 percent of its 13.9 million population lives on the equivalent of less than $1.25 per day. The majority of children, families and communities live in desperate poverty and struggle to meet the most basic needs of food, clean water and shelter with-out assistance.
The Khmer Harvest Build takes place over five days in November. More than 350 volunteers from around the globe will work to build 20 homes for families who used to live on a municipal dump-site. The homes will have sanitation facilities, safe water, a rainwater collection tank and a solar-energy panel.
The families who will live in these homes live and work on a municipal dumpsite, scavenging through the 900 tons of trash dumped each day to survive. The Khmer Harvest Build will not only provide a healthy home for these families, but will also provide a way to make a living, as the homes are being built around a farm being developed in partnership with International Children’s Care Australia.
The build continues work begun in 2009 as part of a Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project, where 21 homes were built.
COMMUNITY IS
INVITED TO TAKE PART
The community is invited to take part in a “commissioning to service” ceremony on Thursday, October 27 at 1:30 p.m. The ceremony will take place at the site of Habitat’s fourth build of the year at 821 Oak Street in Alexandria.
This home is currently being built in partnership with Alexandria Community and Technical College, with the first year construction students doing the majority of the construction of the home. The volunteers who will be serving in Cambodia will be honored, and prayers of community support will be offered to them in their work.
Individuals wishing to learn more about Habitat’s work here in Douglas County and abroad are encouraged to contact the office at 320-762-4255. You can also follow the action in Cambodia via Face-book, as one of the volunteers has agreed to share the experience via Habitat’s Face-book page.
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 1997 and has built 30 homes for sale to partner families throughout Douglas County, providing housing for 122 people. Homeowner families are selected according to established criteria: need for housing, ability to partner with Habitat and ability to pay. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build or renovate decent, affordable housing. Partner families purchase the homes from Habitat with no-profit mortgages. Volunteers provide most of the labor. Tax-deductible donations of money, land and materials are provided by individuals, organizations, churches, foundations and businesses. For more information on how to support Habitat or get involved contact the affiliate at (320) 762-4255, e-mail at info@hfhdouglascounty.org or see the website at www.hfhdouglascounty.org.
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