November 2015 – Habitat for Humanity Vietnam

‘I thought that our new home was too good to be true’

Posted on November 18, 2015 by habitat

Family of Dang Van Ngang, 58, and Vo Thi Mai Hoa, 43, is among the 19 families who have recently moved into the new homes at the Vietnam POSCO Village, Tan Thanh district, Ba Ria Vung Tau province. Neighboring with 26 families moving in in June 2015, they are all overjoyed to finally settle down. This project is funded by POSCO and supported by Habitat for Humanity Vietnam and by February 2016 will assist 85 families in total to move in decent homes with clean water and attached toilets.

Happy family of Hoa in their new home at Vietnam Posco Village

Like other families in the Vietnam POSCO Village, a new home means a dream comes true for Ngang, Hoa and their only son Dang Tan Tai, 12 year-old.
Hoa recalled, during the first week in the new home, that she couldn’t sleep through the night while her husband and their son were sleeping next to her. ‘I often awoke at night and asked myself where I was’, relived Hoa. ‘Then I went around the house, touched every inch of the walls and checked the door lock again and again. Many questions came to my mind. Was it my home? Would everything disappear when I woke up? I thought that this new house was too good to be true for us.’

Enough space for meals with friends and relatives

Having moved in for almost a month, Hoa and her family can now enjoy a new life full of sunlight and fresh air in their new home while memory of the hard time is fading.

‘Just a year ago, we had nothing but our empty hands’

Their old house was built by a river on public land where the government might take back any time. It was too old and rickety that it cost them from VND 3 – 5 million (about US$ 140 – 233) for home repairs every 2 or 3 years. The roof was made of steel sheets and walls and floor were of old untreated wooden sheets. The family of 3 had to live for years without running water, proper bathroom and toilet. Their so-called toilet was a ‘fish pond latrine’. ‘There were too many mice surrounding where we lived as well as in our house. During raining season, our house was mosquitoes-infested,’ Hoa said.

Hoa’s old house near the river.

Despite poor living condition, Hoa and Ngang had never given up their hope by non-stop striving; however, life didn’t seem to be easy for them. More than a year ago, they took a loan around VND 30 million to invest in raising oyster in the river. Due to contaminated water and other unfavorable conditions, one night, all the oysters died while they were going to collect and sell them. ‘We were so frustrated. We had nothing left but our empty hands and big debts,’ said Hoa, ‘I had to move to Binh Duong province to work for higher income to pay off our debts. If not, our debt owners didn’t leave us alone.”

When Hoa and their family were so desperate, the good news knocked on their door and turned their lives to another page.
Since obtaining a new home, their lives become more relieved. Beyond a place to live, a decent home guarantees a better life for the family. As the family of Hoa has acquired shelter security, they are no longer be chased by debts owners and be able to pay mortgage monthly.
“Thank you very much our kind donor and Habitat for Humanity. My husband and I will continue working hard to escape from debts; more importantly, to raise our only son and to provide him with adequate education. Without this new home, I can’t image how our life would be,” said Hoa in tears.

Tai is watching TV in his new home

Habitat Vietnam reaches out to the youth at TAS Community Service Fair 2015

Posted on November 6, 2015 by habitat

On November 5, 2015, Habitat for Humanity Vietnam was delighted to join The American School (TAS) Community Service Fair 2015 with many non-profit organizations and local social organizations. The event was an opportunity for TAS students ranging from grade 3 to grade 12 to learn about community services and get involved with various volunteer organizations. Together with teachers and parents, the students shared a genuine interest in meaningful work across Vietnam which contributes to community development of the country.

TAS students were interested in the mission of Habitat for Humanity which is for a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

This was the second time Habitat Vietnam participated in the event, and it was such a great pleasure meeting students who recognized the organization and expressed their enthusiasm to get involved. They were eager to learn that by spreading the word and raising their voices, they can help more underprivileged families have access to decent homes and safe water and sanitation.

Bui Quoc Huy (right) wanted to join hands with Habitat for Humanity Vietnam to build

“I’m 13 now. I’ll wait for 2 more years to help build homes for poor families”, said Bui Quoc Duy, grade 7 as knowing the minimum age required for building at a Habitat construction is 15.

Habitat for Humanity Vietnam’s display at TAS Community Service Fair 2015

Receiving positive support from youth was a constant encouragement for Habitat for Humanity Vietnam as reaching out to wide community for awareness raising. We look forward to more opportunities where we can work together with them to develop local initiatives for housing issues and build a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

World Toilet Day 2016: WE CAN'T WAIT

Posted on November 5, 2015 by habitat

World Toilet Day is a day to take action. It is a day to raise awareness about all people who do not have access to a toilet – despite the human right to water and sanitation. It is a day to do something about it.
Of the world’s seven billion people, 2.4 billion people do not use a basic toilet. Almost 1 billion people still defecate in the open. Without good sanitation, women and children are particularly at risk of disease and malnutrition. We can’t wait to change this situation. We must speak up and end the global sanitation crisis.

This is why the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 designated 19 November as World Toilet Day. It’s time to end this deadly crisis and to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to a clean, safe toilet.
(Source for information and image: unwater.org)

A healthy toilet means a lot more than what people might think

At Habitat for Humanity, we focus on housing. And in each new and decent home we help build, there is always a healthy toilet. Not only meeting sanitation need that a proper toilet means, but also eradicating health-related problems, providing necessary privacy and increasing community’s environment.

The family of Nguyen Ngoc Mai was one of those who had been living without a proper toilet for years. As it was a family of six including 2 elders, it was needless to say how inconvenient it was for the family.
“It was awkward using a temporary makeshift toilet,” said Mr. Mai. “We practiced open defecation in bushes surrounding the house. As a result, we had to suffer from bad odour and unhygienic environment”.
In addition to health problems it might cause, poor sanitation didn’t offer the family privacy. Women of the family could be risk being victims of rape and abuse. The old toilet that the family of Nguyen Ngoc Mai used for years
When hearing about Habitat for Humanity Vietnam’s project in Tien Phuoc district which enabled low-income families to access to loans with low interest to improve water and sanitation facilities, Mai applied for the project without any hesitation. “My family and neighbors did know that unhygienic sanitation would lead to diseases,” told Mai. “But due to awareness of older generations which considered toilet was the least important and strained financial situation, we had put aside the need for adequate toilet. Thank you for the support of Habitat for Humanity that encouraged us to obtain a safe toilet.”

Mai is content with the new and adequate bathroom with clean water.

Since the new bathroom was completed, Mai and his family have experienced the first-hand convenience that it brought. Sanitation is much more improved. The facilities offers the privacy needed. The space is ample enough for both taking shower and toilet. Safe water is available for cooking, drinking and washing thanks to a water tank.
As seeing that many low-income households are undergoing disadvantages living without hygienic water and sanitation system, Mai hopes the support of Habitat for Humanity will continue so not only will those households have improved sanitation but also community’s spirit will be increased.