Costa Rica 19 April – 1 May 2008

Habitat for Humanity – Costa Rica is changing lives and communities throughout the country. There are currently 200,000 people living in Costa Rica who live in substandard housing: in shacks with dirt or decrepit floors, with inadequate or unsafe weather protection or with poor sanitation facilities. Habitat’s goal is to provide people throughout the country with a simple, decent alternative to living in such inadequate housing conditions.

 

Like all Habitat efforts, both local and international, Habitat for Humanity – Costa Rica is a grassroots organization. This means that the founders of Habitat affiliated locations throughout the country are members of the communities, not habitat employees. These local affiliates are structured and administered according to the needs and desires of each community; the houses are designed locally, the families who benefit are chosen locally, and the houses are built using local materials and labor.

Since 1988, when the first houses was built in Costa Rica, seven other communities have joined. Each family is chosen without regard to race or religion. The only factors considered are the family’s need and their ability to repay the interest-free, no down payment loan in a reasonable time period, which is usually 15 years. The money from each family is then entered back into a ‘rotating fund’ to build more homes in their community. Each family actively works on their own home as well as their neighbors homes and they continue to volunteer with Habitat.

 

Our team consisted of 15 people; most were from Nova Scotia, one couple was from Newfoundland, and one couple was from Texas. I got into the project through a close friend from Halifax. Once I learned about the organization, I was hooked to do the project. I sent out many emails for donations, and led 4 charity yoga class to raise both awareness and receive donations. For those that contributed to the project, I can assure you that your money was very much appreciated and well spent. Our team consisted of the most giving, compassionate and caring group of people I have ever come across.

 

We left the build after 8 days, the finishing touches were to be completed by the Habitat employees and other volunteers from the organization. After spending so much time with this family, words cannot describe how it feels to volunteer your time, money and energy into such a worthwhile cause. We all left the last day in tears included the family of four.

 

We will all be forever changed!