Hundreds of youth and young professionals sign up for Habitat Youth BUILD 2015

Thursday, 12 March 2015 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

To be held for the first time in Sri Lanka on Saturday 21 March, Habitat for Humanity’s Youth BUILD 2015 is one of the largest initiatives in Sri Lanka’s history and will see hundreds of youth from across the island as well as from overseas come together to assist in the building of homes for internally displaced people in Trincomalee. Habitat for Humanity is an international organisation dedicated to the elimination of poverty housing. Working in Sri Lanka for 20 years and having assisted more than 20,000 families to date, Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka has experienced first-hand the positive changes that a decent home brings to a family and the community at large. The organisation identifies secure and safe housing as a key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Building a house is so much more than just a concrete structure; it is a place to call home, a safe haven that also provides physical protection from the elements. A decent home gives one dignity, opens the door to improved health, better performance in school, greater economic opportunities and increased community cohesion.

What is the Habitat Youth BUILD? A regional initiative in its fourth iteration, the Habitat Youth BUILD is designed along the theme ‘Play a part, Act today, Share with friends’. The movement expects to rally more than one million youth supporters in 16 countries across the Asia Pacific region. The campaign, which began on 5 December 2014, culminates on Saturday, 21 March and will be celebrated with mass participation events in these countries. Sri Lanka is proud to participate for the first time this year, with over 300 volunteers already registered. The culmination event will take place in Trincomalee and targets gathering 500 young people to provide unskilled labor for 1 day, building alongside home-owners in this region. With young professionals from both the private and public sector, students from universities and schools and international volunteers travelling to Sri Lanka especially for the build, this program provides a unique opportunity to bridge communities, build relationships, spread the spirit of volunteerism as well as create a positive impact in the lives of these internally displaced people who have shown much resilience and endurance. Recognised by UN Global Compact (UNGC) as a monumental opportunity for corporate organisations to foster social responsibility and sustainability practices, UNGC has also rallied behind and offered their full support to the Habitat Youth BUILD by gathering teams of dedicated volunteers from several companies that have a strong economic and social footprint. The day’s activities will enable volunteers from these participating organizations not only to assist in building homes but also gain leadership skills, build and strengthen their teams and form relationships with other young professionals. Renowned actress, and Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka’s Youth Ambassador, Pooja Umashanker has also pledged her support to build on site on 21 March and expressed her excitement at the strong response from volunteers: “It’s amazing to see the great response from our youth. They are realising that volunteers, corporate donors and organisations like Habitat can do great things together to provide homes across our nation, thereby giving people their dignity, making them feel protected, safe and productive.” The deadline for registration is today, 12 March. If you are aged between 16 and 30, you still have a chance to be a part of this life-changing experience. You can also support this cause via sponsorships. For more information visit www.hfhsl.org or https://www.facebook.com/hfhsl.