Community Service in Colombia

Wastelandlive says on May 19, 2006, 12:14:

My absolute FAVORITE charity... Is Habitat for Humanity.

http://www.habitat.org/intl/lac/46.aspx

I like to work with my hands, and I build things easily... so I enjoy the labor. More, I appreciate when somebody asks for my HELP, not my money.

But the best part is that Habitat teaches responsibility and civic values. Habitat doesn't give anything away... what it does is build houses with much volunteer labor, and them sell them below cost. It provides financing as well, ALSO below cost (0% interest). And it is selective about the individuals to whom it sells; they must first prove their need, their integrity, and their civic mindedness, among other things by volunteering for Habitat itself for a certain number of hours before they can benefit by "buying" a home.

The resulting neihborhoods are something to behold. Imagine a neighborhood of humble, but clean and solid homes... a place where your neighbor literally helped build your house, just as you helped build his. Imagine a place where the poor, but working - the salt of the earth - raise their families, and look out for each other. Where they are invested, and own there own properties.

Here's an idea: have your son contact Habitat, and offer to bring them a TEAM. Plant the idea that HE take the initiative in organising this expedition... and help him as needed. You'll be creating a leader, and teaching him an incredibly valuable life lesson.

And, at the end of the day, they'll help some Colombians own homes of their own. THAT'S a worthy cause in a nation where the elite have opposed affordable credit and title insurance for some mysterious reason...

Wasteland

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Monpirri says on May 19, 2006, 13:25:

Divamor Congratulations for teaching your son to become involved in helping the most unfortunate. It is a great cause to promote aid to the most needed!
When I was living in NJ, I wanted to go to volunteer in the Kibbutz.

There is a program that started in Chile "Un Techo Para Mi País"
now it’s very successful in Colombia. “Un Techo Para Mi Pais�
Helps build basic housing for the most needed. (You can also read story in English, if you click on my account.)
Here’s the story Spanish which is not longer in my account because it just got moved.

El Tiempo - Vivienda
Noviembre 18 de 2005
Un techo para mi país nació en Chile y ya está en Colombia La idea, que convoca a jóvenes con la idea de ofrecer vivienda a personas en extrema pobreza, también está en Guatemala, Argentina y El Salvador.
El proceso, que nació en 1997, se replica en Colombia desde el 2004 y ha logrado construir de viviendas para 210 familias bajo el nombre de Un techo para Colombia (UTPC).
Promotor de la idea en Chile visitó Colombia Se trata de Juan Pablo Larenas, gestor del programa en Chile, quien estuvo en Bogotá hace dos semanas y apreció la evolución de la organización y su labor en diversos frentes, entre ellos, el proceso de selección que convocó a más de 1.500 jóvenes interesados en formar parte de la estructura organizacional del equipo.
“Hay de todo. Estudiantes, profesionales, recién egresados… todos con una vocación de servicio única que mantiene viva la idea�, comenta Gohard Giraldo, representante de la organización en Colombia, quien destaca la forma en qué operan.
GABRIEL E. FLÓREZ G.
Coordinador editorial VIVIENDA
gabflo at eltiempo.com.co
http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/vivi/vivi_deco_arqu/2005-11-19/ARTICULO-WEB-_NOTA_INTERIOR-2615486.html
Más información sobre este exitoso programa "Un techo para mi país"
http://www.universia.cl/portada/actualidad/noticia_actualidad.jsp?noticia=39170


http://www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/17681

P.S. You can also contact Caracol TV for further info. I found out about this program through their News program.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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Monpirri says on May 19, 2006, 13:25:

Divamor Congratulations for teaching your son to become involved in helping the most unfortunate. It is a great cause to promote aid to the most needed!
When I was living in NJ, I wanted to go to volunteer in the Kibbutz.

There is a program that started in Chile "Un Techo Para Mi País"
now it’s very successful in Colombia. “Un Techo Para Mi Pais�
Helps build basic housing for the most needed. (You can also read story in English, if you click on my account.)
Here’s the story Spanish which is not longer in my account because it just got moved.

El Tiempo - Vivienda
Noviembre 18 de 2005
Un techo para mi país nació en Chile y ya está en Colombia La idea, que convoca a jóvenes con la idea de ofrecer vivienda a personas en extrema pobreza, también está en Guatemala, Argentina y El Salvador.
El proceso, que nació en 1997, se replica en Colombia desde el 2004 y ha logrado construir de viviendas para 210 familias bajo el nombre de Un techo para Colombia (UTPC).
Promotor de la idea en Chile visitó Colombia Se trata de Juan Pablo Larenas, gestor del programa en Chile, quien estuvo en Bogotá hace dos semanas y apreció la evolución de la organización y su labor en diversos frentes, entre ellos, el proceso de selección que convocó a más de 1.500 jóvenes interesados en formar parte de la estructura organizacional del equipo.
“Hay de todo. Estudiantes, profesionales, recién egresados… todos con una vocación de servicio única que mantiene viva la idea�, comenta Gohard Giraldo, representante de la organización en Colombia, quien destaca la forma en qué operan.
GABRIEL E. FLÓREZ G.
Coordinador editorial VIVIENDA
gabflo at eltiempo.com.co
http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/vivi/vivi_deco_arqu/2005-11-19/ARTICULO-WEB-_NOTA_INTERIOR-2615486.html
Más información sobre este exitoso programa "Un techo para mi país"
http://www.universia.cl/portada/actualidad/noticia_actualidad.jsp?noticia=39170


http://www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/17681

P.S. You can also contact Caracol TV for further info. I found out about this program through their News program.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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Monpirri says on May 19, 2006, 13:33:

I do not know what happened? but the post duplicated.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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Miguel_Clavo says on May 19, 2006, 19:53:

Wastelandlive...Does Habitat operate in Cartagena? I am looking into supporting similar projects in the upcoming year....

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo.......faltan 42 días.....

"Ignorance is a Weapon of Mass Destruction..."

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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Wastelandlive says on May 20, 2006, 08:43:

Miguel... Good question. No, I don't think so... I never worked for Habitat in Colombia - only here in Florida - but as I review the Colombia chapter's website, I see that they are mostly around Bogota and Antiochia.

I'll tell you what though... I was once financially independent, living in Cartagena, and desperately searching for a sound business idea.

THIS IS ONE FOLKS.

Habitat pays salaries to it's corporate employees, albeit modest salaries. Still, the work is rewarding. A man with a little know- how, willing to invest some time and money, could probably start up a Cartagena chapter and eventually create a job for himself and others while doing some real good in the world.

Now THAT'S an idea folks.

Of course, it's a religious organization, and while they don't discriminate among volunteers, they want their employees to be witnesses for Christ. I'm not even sure I'm a Christian anymore... certainly not a good one.

Who knows?

Wasteland

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caulfield2 says on May 20, 2006, 09:02:

I´m not sure a Cartagena chapter would work, simply because of the extreme heat there.

On the plus side, you have the possibility of drawing tons of volunteers from the US and Europe that have the time, energy, abilities and commitment to help out.

However, Cartagena is a little far removed for the typical mission trips that high school and university students usually make. So, the question would be, how many tourists would want to go to Cartagena and then work while they were there?

A lot of CTG is pretty much dead between 10-3 o´clock because of the heat. You would have to work in the early morning or late afternoon-early evenings.

I´m not sure how much rain CTG gets on a yearly basis....it REALLY rained like Noah´s Ark time when I was there, but not every day like it does here in Eje Cafetero. Rain could definitely have an effect on building projects as well.

You might want to spend some time researching Barrio Nelson Mandela. There are tons of people there in need of homes. OTOH, many of them are very marginalized and don´t have jobs, so they wouldn´t be able to afford the payments, even without the interest.

I´ve been to Americus, GA, am a big fan of Habitat´s ¨business model,¨ in that it´s very simple, understandable and logical...they don´t try to do 10 different things, they do one thing WELL, just like Wal-Mart. I had the opportunity to meet Millard Fuller at a non-profit conference in 1998 in St. Louis and he´s one of the good guys out there.

Some chapters are overtly Christian, others are less so. Of course, you would have to adhere to their mission and vision. It´s not any different from soup kitchens or shelters requiring clients to go to Bible study...however, it is a controversial practice in the non-profit field to connect faith and service. Half believe you can´t have service WITHOUT a direct connection to faith, while others argue the separation of church and state line and try to prevent organizations like Habitat from receiving Federal funding, despite their obvious efficiency.

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Wastelandlive says on May 20, 2006, 12:02:

Huh? I had no idea that Habitat received any Federal funding. But, sure enough....

http://www.city-journal.org/html/5_3_its_time.html

But... it wouldn't work in Cartagena because "it's hot?" Unlike Costa Rica and Nicaragua? What, Cartageneros don't need houses? Or they're just incapable of working in the sun?

I'm not sure you're seeing the big picture. Most Habitat volunteers are locals. I wasn't proposing a chapter dependent on tourists... just a chapter.

That would be interesting though. I'd say at least 60% of European and American tourism to Cartagena is sex tourism. Picture this: you show up, hit La Dulce Vida, end your DSB, then work it off the next day building a house for the Lord. If you could work in a social event with the local introduction agency, and a cheap condo rental, you'd really have something!

What do you think... should I submit my resume?

Wasteland

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caulfield2 says on May 20, 2006, 15:59:

I haven´t travelled to those Central American countries, but they do have the advantage of being considered more tourist friendly, particularly CR. I don´t know about the heat there, but it doesn´t get any worse than CTG....or I would like to see it.

Yes, Americus, Georgia, HABITAT HQ is also pretty darned hot...although it´s not unsufferable all year long.

I just don´t see the obvious connection between that tourist-LDV crowd and a community service orientation. Most of those guys are staying out until 2-4 am, I don´t think they are going to be waking up the next morning at 6 or 7.

OTOH, there are more and more Colombians and foreigners retiring in Bocagrande-CTG and Santa Marta. There are plenty with the skills that Habitat needs...although I think we´re still 3-5 years of stability and increased tourism from making a CTG chapter of Habitat fully viable. Just an opinion.

You forgot the obligatory beach message and pasty gringo club meeting with Morphus at Tu Candela.

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divamor says on May 22, 2006, 08:38:

Now why didn't I think of that! Brilliant! Actually my son volunteers at our local Habitat during the summer. Last summer he volunteered 40 hours and this summer he will do the same.
Thank You so much for your suggestion!

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divamor says on May 22, 2006, 08:42:

Another great idea! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS SUGGESTION. As I mentioned my son volunteered at Habitat for Humanity last Summer and really enjoyed it. He likes working with his hands and is planning on becoming an architect, so this organization suits his interests!
Once again Thank You!

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dwmte says on May 22, 2006, 17:19:

i had the great fortune... of being aboe to give to the less fortunate in colombia on our last stay there a couple of years ago.

for crazy reasons, my wife and i were separated...she staying with the family in envigado and myself living in the hinterlands of llano grande. i noticed the huge divide between the have's and the have nots. it was visible to the common eye. it was a situation where the have's had everything, and the have nots, basically nothing. they lived on the fincas of the rich and did their bidding and to eat, they grew their food.

the rich sent their kids to private schools and had private tutors as well. i finally started teaching english to the children of the campesino--free--and although i negatively effected my relation with the landed class, i received such love and respect from the poorer families. many of these families were 'farm hands' during the day and dawned camo at night to do the work of the eln. teaching their kids had the side effect of actually serving as a life insurance policy for me, as everyone spoke well of that 'crazy gringo living alone in the mtns'. the pay/reward was far greater than any monetary reimbursement i might have received. in fact, i was invited to teach at eafit but declined.

just an aside, the mothers of the kids used to cook me food and bring it to me as they knew i had no money. love em.

dw

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platano says on May 22, 2006, 17:23:

dwmte, I love it! You're busting all the stereotypes! Stereotypes such as:

Gringo = rich

ELN = kidnappers of gringos

In the end it's about simple human relationships of trust and love.

plátano

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dwmte says on May 23, 2006, 04:55:

actually, friend... i found in my experience the eln to be the good bad guys. bit of an oxymoron, but true. they brought me food and gave me drink... some how that reminds me of what CHRIST told us to do.

dw

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little bear says on May 23, 2006, 11:13:

to dwmte - Did you just walk round town offering your services as an english tutor? or did you become a respected member of the community first? Your work sounds really interesting and rewarding

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dwmte says on May 23, 2006, 15:09:

town? what town? i was in the mountains, had a bar and a restaurant but unfortunately, it was a period in colombian history a few years back when there was absolutely no business. businesses were folding daily, govt employees weren't being paid and just about everyone was in a world of hurt.

i looked at the situation of the campasino families and wondered how i could add a little something to their quite bleak lives and decided on the teaching. all too often, the rich came and asked why i taught the poor kids free and charged the rich kids. as if i could give an answer these rich flakes would understand. you'll have to take my word for it, but i got a lot of heat for this. i mean a lot of heat. real bad vibes from the landed class and their gigantic egos.

dw

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