New Homes Built For Low-income Earners By Jimmy Carter Project

21/11/2009

It is a small step for affordable housing for the poor, still something to be cherished. The Habitat for Humanity volunteers have dedicated 166 homes in Thailand, Vietnam, China, Laos and Cambodia. The houses were built as part of as part of Habitat's annual "Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project."

"We are grateful to the Carters and the thousands of volunteers who've worked to make simple, decent and affordable housing possible," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "Their work this week will help Habitat increase its efforts in this region to serve even more families in need of improved housing conditions."

Celebrity volunteers included global movie action star Jet Li, who signed an agreement with Habitat for Humanity to help build and improve homes in China in 2010-2011.

Also seen working on the Thai site were Japanese football player Hidetoshi Nakata; from India, Bollywood superstar and Habitat for Humanity India supporter John Abraham, along with actor R. "Maddy" Madhavan and Pooja Bedi, and, from Sri Lanka, actress and broadcaster Jacqueline Fernandez; South Korean TV actor Lee Seo-Jin; and Habitat for Humanity Thailand's
goodwill ambassador, singer and actor Rattapoom "Film" Tokongsub. In Chengdu, China, Hong Kong actor/director Daniel Wu was one of several high-profile volunteers to build.

In 2010, the Carter Work Project will move back to the United States, to coincide with World Habitat Day, which occurs on the first Monday in October each year as a time to reflect on the state of towns and cities, and the basic right of adequate shelter for all people. The day was so designated by the United Nations.

Habitat's Carter Work Project is an annual, internationally-recognized week of building that brings attention to the need for simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with low-income families. The former President and his wife have been devoting one week each year since 1984 to help build Habitat homes and raise awareness about the need for simple,
decent housing.

The Carter Work Project has been held in India, Korea, The Philippines, Mexico, South Africa, Hungary, Thailand, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Laos and throughout the United States.

Since its founding in 1976, the Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical Christian ministry, has built and rehabilitated more than 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people, according to a press release.

Source-Medindia