Habitat For Humanity Information page
Habitat for Humanity Saga is a group of dedicated volunteers from around the prefecture who, this Golden Week, will be travelling to Darkhan, Mongolia to aid in the construction of homes for Mongolian families in need. This page details our mission, activities, and upcoming events. Your support towards our efforts is greatly appreciated!
What is Habitat for Humanity?
Habitat is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the proposition that all families deserve the opportunity and stability that home ownership brings. Habitat partners with these families, volunteers, and donors to build simple, decent, and affordable houses. Offering “a hand up, not a hand out”, Habitat partner families are chosen according to their need, their ability to repay a no-profit, no-interest mortage, and their willingness to contribute “sweat equity” towards the construction of their and other families’ homes. Mortgage payments and charitable donations are deposited into a revolving “Fund for Humanity”, the proceeds of which go towards future construction. Founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia, Habitat currently operates in over 100 countries. All such national programs are established and operated by local volunteers with assistance from the international headquarters; today more than two thirds of Habitat’s work takes place outside the United States. As of 2005, Habitat’s work has brought home ownership to over 200,000 families and more than one million people worldwide.
For more information on Habitat, please see the international organization’s website or find a Habitat program in your area.
What is the need for housing in Mongolia?
Although historically a nomadic people, an increasing number of Mongolians live in cities today; over half the population now reside in the capital city of Ulaanbataar or other provincial centers. 36% of the population lives below the national poverty line and the high cost of rent, interest on mortages, and building materials makes home ownership an elusive goal for many. The lack of adequate housing infrastructure — much of which dates back to the Soviet era — leaves overcrowded, aging, and unsafe homes the only recourse for many families.
For more information about Mongolia and Habitat’s program there, please see the Mongolia Habitat website.
2007 marks the third year Saga’s JET community, in partnership with HFH Japan, has traveled to countries in the Asia-Pacific region as part of Habitat’s Global Village program; we have built in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and this year will volunteer in Mongolia. In addition to raising awareness about issues of poverty housing in our schools and communities, our teams raise money from donors in Saga and participants’ home countries to help support HFH Mongolia’s ongoing programs. Our fundraising goal is at least ¥572,000; this money will be split between a number of houses, supplementing partner families’ savings, local fundraising, and homeowner mortgage payments to give a big boost to HFH Mongolia’s building capacity. While in-country, our team of volunteers works alongside partner families on construction, donating our time and labor to help a Mongolia family achieve a home of their own.
To see where our donation goes and learn more about how Habitat houses in Mongolia are financed, please see HFH Mongolia’s How Habitat Works page.
Our team roster is currently full but if you would like to show your support there will be a number of events taking place in Saga over the coming months to raise funds and awareness for our mission — please see the calendar of events below. You can also make a donation through the paypal buttons below, or through a money transfer to our Japanese postal savings account (account code 17700, number 10791).
If you’d like more information about any aspect of Habitat or our trip, please contact Colin Cookman: ccookman [at] gmail [dot] com (or) mcmasterchef [at] docomo [dot] co [dot] ne [dot] jp.
More to come!
Past Events
Sunday, March 18th — SAGAN TOSU GAME
Where: Tosu Stadium, Tosu City
When: Start 4pm
Muffin and cookie sales to benefit HFH — come out and see the game!
We raised over 6,4000 yen!
Saturday, March 17th - AJET/HFH PUB QUIZ
Where: The Celtic Heart, Saga City
When: 7 PM onward
Quizmasters from AJET and Habitat Saga will test your trivia team’s command of obscure knowledge, for a chance to win prizes and bragging rights; afterwards, a St. Patrick’s Day party with DJs from around Saga! Team registration is 1000 yen per person, for a maximum of four per team.
We raised over 9,1000 yen!
Saturday, March 3rd- OPEN MIC NIGHT
Where: Rebeers, Saga City
When: Doors open at 6, Music starts at 7
Local talent and bands from all across Kyushu rock out to benefit HFH.
We raised over 87,000 yen!
Saturday February 23rd — PAIX PAIX DJ BENEFIT NIGHT
Where: Paix Paix, Saga City
When: 10:00 PM doors, DJs start at midnight
HFH volunteers will be selling concessions, and the night’s DJs will be donating a portion of cover charge proceeds to our trip.
We raised over 35,000 yen!