Habitat Online Champion Build for World Habitat Day

World Habitat Day! Celebrated ever first of October every year, is a worldwide event happening all over the country aims for new innovative programs, policies and systems that can help make the world a better and decent place to live for everyone - regardless of race or religion.

The other day with fellow Habitat Online Champions, we headed to Bistekville in Payatas Quezon City for the kick start event commemorating the World Habitat Day. It was my first time attending a Habitat build and it felt nice to be part of the exciting program in shaping the town and the city. 

The activity started with a short briefing, orientation and a bit of stretching for the participants. After that we headed to the site and chose the house that we wanted to paint on.

The houses were in their bare state but can be painted on. As soon as we got to the place, we started painting.

Here's us doing our part. With Yen Dreyfus, Chuckie Dreyfus, Ruth dela Cruz and Earth Rullan.

and here's the before and after shot of the place! :)

Now, aren't those beautiful! :) During the event there was also a medical mission for the families there and Chris Tiu was also there who did basketball clinic and also bonded with the children of the community. 

After the lunch prepared by the community for us, we visited the homes of the residents there and got to chat with the families who were given a chance to own a decent home.

Lolo and lola has been living in their humble home for more than 3 years awarded to them by Habitat for Humanity and they were very thankful. The house helped them build a better family and was able save up things for that are also important like food and medicines.

The Bistekville community is still in its work but we can already see the planned developments in weeks to come. People are lending out their hands, time and pockets to help families achieve better life through proper housing and nothing could be more rewarding than helping fellow Filipinos achieve better lives.

Habitat for Humanity Philippines' main day will be on October 11 this year by having simultaneous 'builds' across the nation. Habitat Philippines will be organizing 20 simultaneous builds in select towns nationwide - Metro Manila, Cagayan de oro, Davao, Zamboanga, Mindoro, Bohol, Cebu and Leyte.

Through these series of events, Habitat for Humanity Philippines together with the Habitat Online Champions hopes to raise awareness that more than4 million Filipino families still live in substandard housing, and that this figure does not even include the millions recently displaced by the Zamboanga conflict, the 2013 Bohol earthquake, and survivors of the super typhoon Yolanda.

Overall, the experience was amazings and fulfilling. It was nice to give something back to the community but helping them build better lives through their homes. You guys can also help make amazing things happen. There are 1.6 billion people living in inadequate shelters around the world. Approximately, 1 million of them live in informal settlements, and about 1 in 5 people live in conditions that harm their health, safety, prosperity and opportunities. We can help these people. Visit this site www.habitat.org.ph if you want help build communities and transform lives. 

#WHD2014

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