Activities to take place at 42 sites in seven countries across Asia
Bangkok, 26th April 2013 – Over 10,000 young people will stand up against poverty housing tomorrow. They will gather in 42 sites in across Asia to collectively build, repair and rehabilitate homes, or raise funds for and awareness on low-income families living in sub-standard shelter.
A large proportion of volunteers will be in Nepal to complete construction of 100 homes, so that low-income families across the country have a decent place to live. Volunteers in Nepal will also hold awareness-raising events such as a football competition, song composition and mass-participation hand-holding event.
Their counterparts in China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal and the Philippines will be engaged in a variety of other related activities as well.
For the last two months, thousands of Asia’s youth have supported the Habitat Youth BUILD campaign both online and offline. Asian celebrities such as Bollywood star John Abraham, Cambodian singer Ouk Sokun Kanha, Hong Kong model Kelly Fu, and Philippines’ Big Brother winner Slater Young, have also chimed in on the issue of poverty housing.
The latest celebrity supporter to add his weight to the campaign is Indian actor, model and TV host Purab Kohli: "Youth are coming together to take a collective stand for decent homes as a basic human right on April 27th. Join us!"
Check out Purab Kohli’s video for Habitat Youth BUILD: facebook/HabitatYouthBuildHYB
Amongst the families that will supported with a new home as part of Habitat Youth BUILD is Sabitri Chaudhary, 36, her husband Sabur Lal Chaudhary, 37, and their four children, who live in Sunsari district, southern Nepal.
Sharing her dream about having a decent home, Sabitri said: "The word 'parent' is a respected and responsible word but it doesn’t mean anything until we have fulfilled the basic needs of our children. I believe we can provide a safe future for our children only when there is a safe shelter for them. We are longing to be responsible parents so that our children will have a place to rest and play. We won’t let our hopes die and are waiting for the day when our children will see sunshine through the window of their new home."
Rick Hathaway, Habitat for Humanity vice president for Asia-Pacific, added: “Young people who aren’t able to take part in events on 27 April are invited to join the campaign online instead. Take to Twitter and use #habitatyouthbuild to make your voice count, or change your Facebook profile pic and like the Habitat Youth BUILD page. The more people we can get focused on tackling poverty housing, the better.
“27 April will not mark the end of the Habitat Youth BUILD 2013 campaign. Young volunteers across the region plan to signal their intent to continue efforts to tackle poverty housing by taking part in pledge activities, like signing a banner or voicing a commitment. Join them and help create a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
Notes to Editors
To set up interviews, receive photography or further information, please contact Heron Holloway, +65 9068 1892, hholloway@habitat.org
About Habitat Youth BUILD 2013
Habitat for Humanity Youth BUILD 2013 is a movement to raise awareness of the poverty housing situation in the Asia-Pacific region and grow support for the vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. It calls for concerned young people to take action together to build homes and communities, on a Habitat build site and online through their social networks.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 600,000 families by building and improving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. An estimated 176,000 of these families are in the Asia-Pacific region, where Habitat has been active since 1983. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit habitat.org/asiapacific or follow us at facebook.com/habitat.
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Heron Holloway
Media Relations and Disaster Communications Manager, Asia-Pacific
Habitat for Humanity International • Asia-Pacific Satellite Office
56 Lorong 23 Geylang, #05-00, Century Technology Building, Singapore 388381
Tel: +65 6744 2768 • Mobile: +65 9068 1892 • Skype: heron.holloway
hholloway@habitat.org• habitat.org/asiapacific | What will you build?