HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Introduction

 Habitat for humanity is a non-governmental organization that is involved in providing shelters such as residential places, churches, and hospitals for the people in need and for free. This is done by a charitable organization that receives donations from different organizations as part of social responsibility and various donors.  They aim at building simple, decent houses and improving the current houses. It is made up of various organizations that work in different regions in building shelters for the needy.

            New Orleans Area Human Habitat (NOAHH) is such an organization that works towards human habitat. It is a non-profit making organization that was incorporated in 1983 (Karlin, Adam & Downs, 1). It is an independent organization that has been working in partnership. It has jointly worked with hardworking and low-income families to finance and build new, safe and affordable homes. This is done through the program that facilitates home ownership the families that do not meet the condition of home loans such as mortgage though they have jobs (Karlin, Adam & Downs , 62) .. This is achieved through their willingness to contribute some of their few hours in building habitat homes.  Recently it has been involved in building homes that were affected by the devastating floods of the famous Hurricane Katrina (Ouellette, 63). The rebuilding process was made possible by recruiting and deploying thousands of donors, volunteers and partners from all over the world to construct new houses in the damaged and blighted neighborhoods. The organization mission is to build homes through partnership, donors volunteer, homeowners, families, and the community by empowering and transforming their lives. They also aim in eliminating substandard houses as they serve to make decent houses.

            Since the organization was incorporated it has made build over 550 homes and has settled over 200 more in the area of New Orleans. NOAHH built 10-12 houses yearly but that was prior to Hurricane Katrina (Ouellette, 63). After that, the organization has been able to make at least 25-30 houses per year. One of its most famous rebuilding projects was in the Humanity’s Musicians’ Village in Ellis Marsalis Center and Upper Ninth Ward that is home to 72 partners families (Ouellette, 69).

            To make the project for human habitat successful there must be an architect involved in it. This is the persons that plan and designs the project and oversees its construction. This means providing the service to the building activity to the primal purpose of human occupancy. Architecture involves the process of constructing the building after planning and designing it. Habitat for humanity will be achieved by the presence of this people because the project has to be carried in the right way to enhance the durability of the buildings. For them to develop certain models it will be determined by the availability of resources and materials (Konaani & Kopec, 1).

Oregon is an example of an architect without a border. They connect with a design professional and the students to assists communities in need. To be able to achieve this they have to partner with nonprofits organization such as NOAHH to design and organize the projects. The organization is made up of volunteers such as students, engineers, writers, event planners, social media experts, landscape architect, web designers and developers, trades people, builders among others (Perera 1). In order for the organization to perform its duties, there are communications made, administrative tasks, have technical support and fundraising that is received from donors. In the past the organization has been involved in the various project such as St. Andre Bessette Catholic Church where they improved the common areas of the chapel (Perera, 125). This included kitchen floor, the configuring of the office and the program spaces available in the basement. This was as a result of the project the chapel undertakes in caring for the poor, addicted, homeless and the mentally ill. Another project that they undertook was the Bata Atha Grade School in Sri Lanka (Perera, 125). This was done in connection with the government who facilitated in site selection through adequate funding. Since it is a trans-border organization it carried a project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. AWB-Oregon and Global Health Oregon partnered together on a power solar panel which was intended to supply energy to the health clinics. Currently, the organization is still undertaking programs that will assist humankind.  The project of Bon Repos Orphanage was completed recently. It is aimed at reconstructing of the classroom blocks and moving of the structure to more advantageous locations that were damaged in the Haiti earthquake (Perera, 130).

 Service learning that is based on community engagement forms an experimental education on a campus that facilitates both the student growth and the common good. The learning strategy involves integrating meaningful and useful community service that will improve the learning experience, civic responsibility and strengthening the community (Scott, Katharine & James, 1). It seeks to attain objectives for the community with deep understanding and skills. Through the process students association personal and academic development with social and cognitive development. Such a project is designed to through the collaboration of the institution and the community such as non-governmental organizations. This entails the student to apply the skills gained in the course to community-based activities. This provides an experimental opportunity to the student as a result of community engagement (Scott, Katharine & James, 1).

            Service learning is a significant teaching methodology that facilitates community partnership opportunities (Scott, Katharine & James, 2). This benefits the students, communities, and the faculty. As a result of this engagement, there have been positive impacts as it has resulted in better understanding, problem analysis and solving, critical thinking as well as cognitive development. It has also led to improved understanding of complexity and ambiguity. Personal outcomes are also evident such as a great sense of personal identity, personal efficacy, and moral development. The ability to build team leadership and work well with others has also been developed (Scott, Katharine & James, 5).  This has also lead to a reduction of stereotypes and improved social responsibility with intercultural understanding. This has also resulted in greater and stronger relationship with the institution. It has also led to the satisfaction of the student and the faculty. A strong commitment has been developed through community engagement. This help the student to form a habit of volunteerism as they are more engaged as students that will assists them in becoming volunteers when adults (Scott, Katharine & James, 7).

            Integrating community engagement can be achieved in a service project. This will see the students take the opportunity to interact with the community through a certain project. For instance, a project of human habitat will be a common service. This will involve a research on the community and the various party to be involved in order to make it successful. This will revolve around volunteering of resources and time in order to make the project successful. Putting together the project will first see partnering and setting out meetings to find the possible resources ((Scott, Katharine & James, 8). It will affiliate its uniqueness the size and the geographical location. This will be achieved by putting up ways that will see the students and the homeowners benefit. Planning for the project will have to incorporate a research and meeting with the habitat families and identifying their need. Setting the goals to meet and the preparedness of the service activity has to be planned. This will be enhanced by the presence of role models and coaches and the involvement of all students. Reflecting what has been learnt in class and showcasing their hard work in such project will make it successful. Youth programs such as habitat for humanity will determine the greatness and the success of the course (Scott, Katharine & James, 18).

Conclusion

Habitat for humanity entails community service that revolves around a lot of volunteering and partnership among members. This is done to provide decent habitats who individuals that are needy and cannot do it on they own. To make it successful there must be donation since the various organization who are involved in this work do not aim at making profits. Through community service students become aware of the need to get involved in such work. Through this families and communities in need get assistance and are able to cope with life better since other projects that involve hospitals and churches are carried alongside the human habitat project that results in a better services to the community at large.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

  Ouellette, Jeannine. Hurricane Katrina. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub, 2008. Internet resource

Karlin, Adam, and Tom Downs. New Orleans. Footscray, Vic: Lonely Planet, 2009. Print.

Scott, Katharine E., and James A. Graham. "Service-Learning." Journal Of Experiential   Education 38.4 (2015): 354-372. Professional Development Collection. Web. 25 Apr.        2016.

Kanaani Mitra & Kopec Dak; The Routledge Companion For Architecture Design and Practice; (2015); Routledge

Perera Nihal; People Spaces: Coping, Familiarizing, Creating ;( 2015); Routledge