The Publication of Habitat for Humanity International | February / March 2002
CONTACT HABITAT WORLDSUBSCRIBEMONTHLY EVENTSHabitat Home Page
• Fighting Poverty
• A World View
• Habitat At Work Across The Globe
• A Country View
• A Regional View
•
 Homeowner Determination Yields Renewed Hope
•
 Habitat in Appalachia:
A Proven Solution
•
 What You Can Do


Behind the Scenes:
Becoming a 'Habitat Country'
Online
Options
To discover almost anything you want to know about Habitat for Humanity, take
a quick virtual trip to www.habitat.org. Info-packed pages are just a click away.

Among the options you’ll find:

• Habitat World Magazine: Each issue of HFHI’s flagship
print publication is issued bi-monthly.
If you would like to reveive Habitat World in print then please sign-up by clicking here.

• Habitat Extra!: This
monthly e-mail update
keeps you informed
about the latest Habitat news, special events, opportunities and new Web site features. To subscribe, visit Habitat Extra! .

• Global Village trips and schedules: The latest information about Global Village short-termvolunteer vacations. Click here.

Give Us a Piece of Your Mind The editors of Habitat World want to know what you’re thinking about Habitat World and its content. If you would like to be part of an informal “readers’ council,”
e-mail habitatworld@hfhi.org

or write:

Habitat World,
121 Habitat St., Americus,
GA 31709.

Please include
your address, telephone
number and e-mail.
Thank you.
"All in favor, say ‘aye.’ Aye.” Upon the unanimous vote, some 25 chairs were pushed away from the table; the gathered group clasped hands, united their voices and began to sing the words: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”

With that simple affirmation and the Doxology as a benediction, the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity International welcomed four new countries into the fold of its “approved” countries last November.

Those nations–Bulgaria, East Timor, Jordan and Lebanon–brought the number of countries in which Habitat for Humanity is represented to 83.

The affirmation and blessing of each country may have been simple, but the journey to board approval began many months earlier. Clearly, demonstrated need for decent shelter is paramount. But beyond that, it takes people.

“What drives Habitat is people of vision and passion,” says David Haskell, regional director for HFHI’s work in the Middle East and East Africa. “If there are people in-
country, or people worldwide who have a role in a country and they are passionate about the poor, about Habitat’s unique approach, then the most vital ingredient obviously is people who care and who will take action.”

Certainly, the methodology for developing a given country varies in each of HFHI’s regions according to need and resources. “It is different in every place,” says Karan Kennedy, HFHI’s international support director. “Every country is different, every culture is different, every political situation is different. You don’t have one set method or pattern that fits all the different situations. If you did, that would not be good, because that would limit what you could do.”

Even so, in general, area staff identifies a potential new country based on various indicators and progressive steps, such as:
  • Reviewing feasibility of operating in a particular country (including political and economic stability, accessibility of resources, country dynamics, partnership potential).
  • Visiting the country to identify appropriate local interest and contacts.
  • Assigning area staff to establish HFHI operations or activity in-country.
  • Beginning the process of legal registration as a non-governmental organization within that country.
  • Initiating affiliate development and partnership alliances.
  • Establishing initial local affiliate(s), complete with local involvement and leadership.

Prior to a country’s approval by Habitat’s international board of directors, work typically moves through these phases. Once approved, the building of simple, decent shelter with people in need begins in earnest.

— Milana McLead is editor of Habitat World.
   © Habitat for Humanity International    Home | Get Involved | Where We Build | How It Works | True Stories