What drives a woman to pick up a hammer and demolish the second floor of a house? For Katrina Sullivan, the catalyst was Habitat for Humanity, as it is for thousands of women across the country. While helping low-income families build homes of their own, volunteers like Katrina are becoming adept at everything from demolition to laying floor tile.
Using Constructive Energy
With no background in home building or remodeling, Jane Anderson dove right into her first Habitat project, doing tasks such as mixing concrete and hanging drywall. "It's back-breaking work but a lot of fun," she says. While some of the tabor seemed scary at first, she was quickly reassured. Habitats construction supervisors and crew leaders are adept at teaching volunteers.
Empowering Women
"Women don't always feel comfortable taking on the more technical jobs on a build," explains volunteer Kori Connelly. "And due to time constraints, men who already have the know-how tend to take them on." Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program is designed to engage women in construction and give them a chance to learn new skills. As Jane notes, Habitat for Humanity has always been about instilling confidence in women by giving them the opportunity to help build their own house and make a better life for themselves and their families.
Building Relationships
All three women agree that one of the most rewarding aspects of building a Habitat house is working alongside the family who will live there. Habitat for Humanity's philosophy of giving "a hand up, not a hand out" means that the family is required to invest "sweat equity" by spending 350 hours on building Habitat houses. "Often the family has a single working mother at the helm who has to make an incredible commitment to the project. This makes the house dedication so satisfying, rewarding and exciting," says Katrina.
"There is a lot of camaraderie on the work site, You work with all kinds of different people and everyone acts as a team," explains Jane. A typical build brings together people from all walks of life and is the source of many new and long-lasting friendships.
Habitat building projects attract volunteers of all ages and abilities. "There will be a 20-year-old working next to a 80-year-old," says Kori. "And at the end of the day, everyone walks away feeling good about what they've done."
Muscling Through
There's no question that building a house is physically demanding. "I'm usually exhausted, but its the good kind of exhaustion," says Jane. "The next day I feel it in every muscle I have." Still, the sense of accomplishment she feels far outweighs the bodily aches and pains. "Seeing a house built from start to finish is amazing," she adds, "and then seeing the family move in is the ultimate reward."
The benefits also extend beyond individual houses and families. As Kori puts it, "Habitat for Humanity improves entire neighborhoods and communities that were once destitute. Now they are desirable places to live."
Do Something Constructive
Feel inspired? Want to get involved with Habitat for Humanity?
Hundreds of local affiliates across the U.S. are working with people like you to help low-income families build their own homes. Habitat welcomes all volunteers who are committed to the goal of eliminating poverty housing. To learn more, make a donation or volunteer on a Habitat for Humanity build, visit www.habitat.org or call 1-800-422-4828.
The makers of Motrin[R] IB are proud to be working with Habitat for Humanity to help a family in need build their own home and a better future. Visit www.motrinhouse.com for a look at the Habitat for Humanity house we're sponsoring in Philadelphia.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Meredith Corporation
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