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At Habitat Hong Kong, we #choosetochallenge systemic inequalities
Every March, Habitat Hong Kong celebrates Habitat Women Build. In the past, we have partnered with local NGOs serving vulnerable women and girls. In the future, we will be serving single mums living in substandard living conditions. For International Women's Day 2021, we #choosetochallenge the systemic inequalities that lead to women being disproportionately affected by poverty. Hong Kong is ranked as one of the world’s most expensive cities and whilst the number of women living below the poverty line is contested, the data we can all agree on is that women are most impacted by poverty and the pandemic has exposed the extreme inequalities in the housing market.
My first week at Habitat in 2018 was spent in Nepal experiencing some of our regional women empowerment programmes. I worked alongside Sharada, one of the Habitat trained masons, learning from her how to lay the foundations of a home to replace one that had been destroyed by the 2015 earthquake. Through masonry training, Habitat has empowered Sharada and others to not only re-build their own homes, but address the gender pay gap and use those skills to move from the lower-paid farm-hand roles to the better-paid, male-dominated construction roles. I witnessed the dramatic impact of our micro-finance programmes where entire villages were empowered to build more resilient homes through incremental building. Depending on the village, uptake for the programme was 98-99% female. It was incredible to witness the shift in power and decision-making and by delivering financial literacy and micro housing loan opportunities, the women and their families were being empowered to work collaboratively to make the entire community stronger together. A few months later, I met 15-year old Eva in the slums of Bangladesh capital, Dhaka. She was excited to tell me how the Habitat Water, Sanitation and Hygiene training had given her a voice to teach her family and school friends how WASH training and hygienic habits could help keep girls in full-time education.
Every girl and woman I have met and every story I have heard, has reinforced my personal challenge to apply the same level of life-changing impact and inclusive programmes to the work we do in Hong Kong.
At Habitat Hong Kong, we #Choosetochallenge Every. Single. Day. Join the Habitat family now (click here) and help us ensure Every. Single. Woman. has equal access to safe and affordable homes.
Thank you,
Jo Hayes
CEO, Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong
“It has been my pleasure to take part in the voluntary works of Habitat Hong Kong over the previous half year. As a designer, I helped with the promotional materials and publications, sharing and promoting the organisation’s local projects and aims to our community. The Habitat family mobile stickers created and published recently is my favourite work. I hope you like them too! Wish more homes get repaired and renovated with our family characters in the coming future!”
- Nicole / Volunteer Graphic Designer
Together, we build a better future
We are excited to be re-starting our deep cleaning programme this month in partnership with Barclays, RB, HKEX and TTI. This programme provides both part-time employment opportunities for local domestic workers and gives elderly and disabled families a more hygienic home.
Binh’s husband left her after her legs were paralysed in a serious motorbike accident, taking their older daughter with him. Binh, pregnant at the time, was devastated but would begin rebuilding her life. She was overjoyed to learn that she would partner with us to design and build a home that would be accessible and have enough space for her and her younger daughter, Giao, to live independently.
Habitat empowers women to be part of housing solutions that helps to build a better, stronger, more financially stable life. Now that Binh and her daughter have moved in, their quality of life has greatly improved. Binh is relieved that she’s now able to care for herself and can rely less on her elderly mother for help. “My daughter is absolutely thrilled about the new house. We’ve been sharing so much laughter and warm moments there,” says Binh.
Habitat Hong Kong is proud and grateful to partner with Swire Trust. We have completed our first ever ‘extensive’ Project Home Works! In partnership with Swire Trust - TrustTomorrow initiative, we will improve the living and learning environment for 65 families over the next three years, including single mothers, disabled parents and families with disabled children.
We installed new windows, erected partition walls and created a study area for Mr. Leung and his children. “I am pleased with this new home. The renovation is very nicely done. With the windows installed, we can close them during night time (to keep the home warm), and open them to have fresh air during day time. Every day around 5 pm, I sit near the windows to watch the sunset. It is so beautiful!”
In Hong Kong
- 2021-2022 Hong Kong Budget - Land and Housing (HKSAR Government)
- (Budget 21-2022) 70,000 public housing flats to be built in five years (The Standard)
- Hong Kong budget: five commercial land parcels at old airport may be used for private housing (SCMP)
- Govt says 800 hotel rooms to become temporary homes (RTHK)
- Homes as Small as 60 Square Feet Worsen Hong Kong's Covid Crisis (Bloomberg)
- For 11th year, HK remains least affordable housing market (The Standard)
In Asia
- We Now Have a Bamboo Research Facility to Help Build the Most Affordable Houses in the Philippines (Esquire)
Around the world
The Year of the OX is a special year for building strength and resilience. We have launched A Year of Giving to raise awareness of the need for monthly donors. Join the Habitat family today as a Hope Builder, to support our housing programmes, public policy, and research efforts.
In case you missed our Habitat FUNdraiser virtual party, no worries! We have prepared a special challenge for you - find an object in your home that makes you think of home, take a picture and tell us on social media what it is and why you chose it.
We appreciate the support of all our volunteers! Together, we can build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Join hands and be our volunteer today. We have regular openings for skills-based volunteers, so please get in touch.
Contact us:
Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong
9/F, V-Point, 18 Tang Lung Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
enquiry@habitat.org.hk
+852 2520 4000
Copyright ©2021 Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong. All rights reserved.
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