FROM THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR’S DESK

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Habitat for Humanity India!

As we approach the last month of 2023, I am filled with gratitude and reflection on the incredible journey we have shared over the past year.

However, even as we celebrate our accomplishments, it is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge the passing of Mrs. Rosalynn Carter, Former First Lady of the United States of America on 19^th November 2023. At the age of 96, Mrs. Carter left behind a legacy of kindness, advocacy, and unwavering support for those in need. She was a true champion for affordable housing and for Habitat for Humanity world over.

For more than three decades, Mrs. Carter and Mr. Jimmy Carter (Former President of the United States of America) dedicated their time and leadership to Habitat, leaving an extraordinary legacy. Since Habitat’s first Carter Work Project in 1984 they have worked with more than 1,04,000 volunteers in 14 countries, building, renovating, and repairing 4,390 homes. In India, they led a team of over 3000 passionate volunteers to build 100 homes for low-income families in Lonavala, Pune district, Maharashtra.

As we mourn the loss of Mrs. Carter, we also celebrate the legacy she leaves behind. In the coming year, let us strive to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and work towards a future where housing insecurity is a thing of the past.

In closing, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each one of you - our supporters, volunteers, partners, and staff. Your commitment and dedication have been the driving force behind our success. Together, we can build not just houses but homes filled with love, warmth, and the promise of a better tomorrow.

Wishing you all a joyous holiday season and a New Year filled with hope and purpose.

In partnership, James Samuel National Director (Interim) Habitat for Humanity India

Employees of Bloomberg plant 150 fruit-bearing saplings in Karjat

On October 14, 2023, as cricket fans across India eagerly anticipated the India vs. Pakistan match in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, a group of 20 dedicated employees from Bloomberg set out on a different kind of journey. They travelled from Mumbai to Karjat, where they would spend their day in a meaningful way with the families living in Gerachiwadi, a village nestled in the heart of the Karjat block located in Raigad district of Maharashtra. Working side by side with the villagers and Habitat India's staff, the Bloomberg team planted a total of 150 fruit-bearing saplings, leaving a lasting mark on this close-knit community.

Reflecting on this experience, P. R. Sanjai, a devoted Bloomberg employee who has been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity for the past 8 years, shared Mahatma Gandhi's wise words: "India lives in its villages." He added, "It brings me immense happiness to be a part of Bloomberg and Habitat's joint efforts in reaching out to these villages. Becoming a part of these families, through these little efforts, evokes a sense of humility and gratitude."

Habitat for Humanity India has teamed up with Bloomberg with a clear purpose: to improve the living conditions of marginalised families in Maharashtra. The intervention includes the construction of 1 safe and decent home and access to household sanitation through the construction of 8 individual household sanitation facilities. Habitat India organised a plantation drive, bringing together passionate Bloomberg employees for a transformative experience through volunteering.

Ojal Mutyapwar's journey to join the team was an adventure. She missed the bus that transported her teammates to Karjat and had to find her way there alone. "At one point, there was no internet, and I was trying to figure out which way to go. Three hours later, I made it here. And I must say, it was all worth the hustle." Ojal remarked, "I am a fitness freak, and it looks like I burnt a lot of calories today. So, I think I don't have to hit the gym!"

Amidst the hard work, Saswati Banerjee, taking a brief break just before completing the last two of the seven homes allocated to her team, shared her thoughts, "Habitat never fails to reach the grassroots. It reaches those places that we otherwise only read and write about. My absolute favourite thing about today is interacting with the families, understanding their preferences, receiving their blessings, and them naming the saplings after the names of their children. It was a wonderful experience, and undoubtedly a Saturday well spent."

In total, 150 fruit-bearing saplings found their new homes in approximately 30 houses across the village. This joint effort by Bloomberg and Habitat for Humanity India not only enriched the landscape but also the hearts of those involved, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion and connection in the Gerachiwadi village.

Handover of 4 refurbished Health Centres in Palghar in association with SBICAPS

Habitat for Humanity India in partnership with SBI Capital Markets Limited (SBICAPS) – India’s leading investment bank, is proud to announce the successful completion of 4 refurbished healthcare centres in Dahanu block of Palghar district, Maharashtra.

The healthcare centres were handed over to the district medical authorities on 1^st December 2023 in the presence of Shri Rajay Sinha – Managing Director and CEO, SBICAPS; Mr. Shesh Ram Verma - President and Chief Operating Officer, SBICAPS; Mr. Krishnan Kutty – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, SBICAPS; Mr. Roshan Negi - Head, Corporate Communication and CSR, SBICAPS; Dr Rathod, Dahanu Health Department; Dr Vijay Thakkar – Medical Officer, Malwada Primary Health Centre; Dr Mahendra Navare – Medical Officer, Dabhadi Dispensary; and Dr Nitin Gosavi, Medical Officer, Chalani Dispensary. They were joined by the local community and Habitat India’s team.

The project involved repairing and refurbishing the Primary Health Centre of Malwada, the sub-centre of Ranshet, and the dispensaries of Dabhadi and Chalani.

These centres will serve over 71,000 individuals and provide essential healthcare services to the local community. The repair and refurbishment work included external and internal plastering, painting, improved sanitation units as well as overall plumbing, roofing, and electrical work.

Opinion Piece: Why Access to Safe Housing is Key

Training and Capacity Building

From November 13 to 17, 2023, Alex Fernandes, Director – Finance and Accounts and Neil Gonsalves, Senior Manager -– Finance and Accounts, attended the Regional Finance Workshop in Manila, the Philippines that focused on an efficient financial management.

From November 21 to 24, 2023, Varsha Sharma, Director – Safeguarding and Sameer Shrivastav, Associate Director – Resource Development, attended the Regional Advocacy workshop in Bangkok, Thailand that focused on understanding and developing advocacy strategies.

Habitat Young Leaders Build to Launch on 5^th December 2023

On International Volunteers Day celebrated globally on 5^th December every year, Habitat for Humanity India will launch the 2024 edition of its Habitat Young Leaders Build campaign. Currently in its 13^th year, the campaign is Habitat’s largest youth movement in Asia and the Pacific. In the 2022-2023 edition, we mobilised 8557 supporters to raise funds and speak out in support of decent housing in Asia. Volunteers have led their peers and their communities in the past decade to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Every #HabitatYLB volunteer has helped families access decent, affordable home, enhancing opportunities for a brighter future.

Stay tuned to know more about the campaign activities in India. To take part, write to Ms. Nikshmita Shetty, National Manager, International Baccalaureate School Partnerships on [email protected].

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