After a longstanding relationship of tithing a percentage of donations to Habitat for Humanity Ghana, SIHH made the decision to reevaluate where the greatest need exists. While there is still a need for the tithe in Ghana, SIHH has the ability to tithe to more than one international affiliate.After much deliberation and evaluation of various international affiliates, SIHH decided to expand the tithe to Paraguay as well. Paraguay is the 3rd poorest country in South America with an estimated housing deficit of 470,000 homes and few government-funded housing subsidy programs are available. It is important to SIHH to not only give financially to support international affiliates but also to build our Global Village trip program to support them through building with them.
For all of these reasons SIHH took a group of staff, homeowners, volunteers, and donors on a 10 day trip to build with Habitat for Humanity Paraguay. Amy Sanchez, a SIHH Homeowner and our Office Assistant, says of the group, "We went on a mission to build a more decent home for a family in need, and we went with open hearts."
The SIHH team, the family, and Habitat Paraguay staff came together to work as a team on the construction of the home. In addition, GV participants were able to enjoy such cultural events as making chipa, traditional Paraguayan bread; visiting a local barrio to witness substandard housing conditions and what is being done in terms of community development; playing soccer with the masons; meeting with leaders of a local indigenous reserve to discuss their situation; spending an afternoon at an eco-reserve rappelling, zip-lining, and hiking; touring Asunción; and a home dedication and barbecue with the family.
Habitat for Humanity Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has a slogan: "Make your world a home, become an albañil." An albañil is a mason. Habitat LAC encourages each of us to make the difference that is needed to provide adequate housing.
SIHH feels passionately about not letting our mission of providing adequate housing stop with the barrier islands. We realize the importance of being part of a greater community brought together by the same mission. Jillian Cain, our Deconstruction Manager, put it simply in saying getting to know Habitat Paraguay staff and homeowners "felt no different than getting to know the people I work with and serve here, so it was comforting to me that it felt like an extension of my work and our efforts here in the Charleston area." It was remarkable to see the Habitat community we have built in Johns Island grow to include Paraguay.
As we stood at the end our week at the house dedication before a family in tearful joy, we witnessed the tremendous impact that a small group with a lot of faith and hope is able to make.
For pictures from our trip, please click http://picasaweb.google.com/seaislandhabitat/GlobalVillageTripToParaguay#
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