Habitat for Humanity, which started in the United States, helped build about 300,000 homes for some 1.5 million homeless people in more than 80 countries ever since 1976.
Four years ago, the same organisation came into the shores of Singapore to spread the worldwide cause of giving shelter to the roofless. Since then, 390 “simple, decent” homes have been built due to the members of Habitat for Humanity-Singapore.
Today, Habitat for Humanity-Singapore Director Yong Teck Meng announced that the organisation is in terms with its Malaysian counterpart to discuss about helping the people in Johor.
Mister Yong also promotes the Habitat “hand up, not hand out” approach of the organisation by asking the home recipients to help in building their own houses for faster completion as well as to cut down costs.
Nine fellows from a power product company named Cummins, headed by Abdul Azli Bulat, 46, went to a village in Batam, Indonesia and helped the local community.
Upon reaching the said place, the group met Sarles Sinambela, 31, who was building a 6m x 4.5m house with his wife. This structure costing about 30 million Rupiah (S$3,800) is actually equivalent to a year and a half’s worth of salary.
Eventually, the group and some of Mr. Sinambela’s relatives from North Sumatra set a meeting for briefing and all the necessary preparations to aid the family in the said house-building.
At the end of the day, even though everyone was exhausted and even totally worn out, all were satisfied about the deed and Mr. Sinambela thanked them in joy and gratitude.