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해비타트는 열악한 주거환경과 주거비용으로 어려움을 겪는 무주택 가정의 서민들에게 자원봉사자 들이 무보수로 설계와 노동을 제공하여 집을 지어 주는 전 세계적인 공동체 운동이다. 1973년 미국의 밀러드 풀러(Millard Fuller) 부부가 아프리카 자이레에서 가난한 흑인들을 위해 집을 지어 주었던 것이 시발점이 되어 1976년 국제해비타트(Habitat for Humanity International)가 창설되었으며, 기독교 자원봉사운동단체의 성격으로 주택 신축ㆍ보수를 통해 무주택 서민의 주거문제 를 해결해 준다. 현재 세계 곳곳에서 24분을 주기로 해비타트 주택이 1채씩 지어지고 있으며, 2011년 아프리카 케냐에서 50만 번째 해비타트 주택이 건축되었다. 95개의 국가의 2000개가 넘는 지회에서 활동이 이루어지고 있다. 한국에서도 1989년부터 한국지회가 설립되어 현재까지 약 3천여 세대의 집짓기와 집고치기 성과를 이루었다. 해비타트의 목적은 무주택가정에 수수하지만 안락한 보금자리를 제공함으로써 자립에 대한 꿈을 심 어주고 건전한 사회의 구성원이 되도록 하여 국가의 이익에 이바지할 수 있도록 하는 것이다. 이들이 지어 주는 집에 투입되는 토지와 일체의 비용, 장비 등은 후원자의 기부로 이루어지고, 노동력은 자 원봉사자ㆍ후원자ㆍ입주가정(홈 파트너) 등이 제공하고 있다. 해비타트에 입주하는 가정은 건축원가 의 5% 정도를 선금으로 지불하여야 하고, 집이 다 지어질 때까지 현장에서 함께 일하며, 자신의 집이 나 다른 이들의 집을 짓는 데 최소한 500시간 이상 노동으로 동참해야 한다. 또한 건축원가를 15년 이상의 장기간 무이자로 상환하면 된다.
<자원봉사자들이 골조를 세우고우고 있는 모습 >
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< The story of 'Habitat for Humanity sharing program' to make kids happy adults >
Jiwon, a son whom his parents got after seven years since their marriage, is a treasure that doesn't hurt them to put him in their eyes. Like any ordinary parents, they, Mr. and Mrs. Choi, considered how to raise him for a long time. The answer to the question was more difficult, because there is no fixed answer. However, they obviously rated 'happiness' the most important virtue. "As obtaining him at the end of a long time, we promised to raise him a happy child. Happiness, we think, does not mean eating well and living rich but being satisfied with what he has and sharing his own things to other people. The secret of happiness the couple chooses is just 'sharing'. They already know there are limits on satisfaction from material, but sharing gives us great happiness. "We think it is important that we give him an opportunity to share, as a maxim says 'Do not catch fish to your kids, but teach how to catch fish by themselves'." The couple started looking for a way how to give their son sharing opportunities and how their son feels happy.
Sharing program of Habitat for Humanity was perfect for their son dreaming to be an architect. "This program is good for Jiwon, because he dreams on to be an architect. Furthermore, it is attractive that there are step-by-step programs to learn how to share such as Kids Builder in childhood, club activities for high school and college student, and adult volunteer programs." The couple has been largely sympathetic to Habitat for Humanity's vision and principles of sharing, so they chose Habitat for Humanity as a way of sharing. "Building or repairing someone's house is not just giving a simple environmental change but providing the foundation for independence, so it was very meaningful. Actually we have seen the vulnerable residential improvement activity. We thought how tough they were to see the mold on the ceiling and tattered wallpaper, but they continuously laughed and thanked to volunteers. Then I felt 'Oh, this seems to be simply changing environment but changing their lives'." By any chance, is it the effect of this experience? The couple says that having their son feel directly is more effective than their talking or showing activities.
Jiwon is ten years old this year. His dream is to be an architect like Antonio Gaudi, the great Spanish architect, having his own unique philosophy and imagination. "Jiwon enjoys assembling blocks to make a house model. Jiwon sometimes says it is unfair that some people live in luxury houses meanwhile others live in poor clay houses in risk of collapse."
Jiwon says, "Grown up to be an architect, I would like to build houses for poor friends and their families. Abroad kids on TV have been living in very small and shabby houses." He makes up his mind to build houses for neighbor friends with virtue of sharing that he has naturally learned from his parents.
"Home is the space where there are family members, rest, and recovery. I think that a nice architect is a man who realizes something like this. If Jiwon really grows up to be an architect, I hope, he would be an architect that build houses, truly considering people who will live in them."
Their conversation seemed to wrap around the world to be mild. Someday the experience of sharing, Mr and Mrs. Choi choose as a way for happiness, would be his assets. Besides, Habitat for Humanity cheers all the children around the world including Jiwon.
'My son, Be a happy child, and Grow up to be a happy adult.'
Habitat for Humanity is a world-wide community movement that volunteers design and build houses with their unpaid labor for the people in a poor residential environment and for homeless families suffering from housing costs. Habitat for Humanity International was established in 1976 by Millard Fuller who built houses in Zaire, Africa, for the poor black people since 1973. It is a Christian volunteer group and solves the problems of homeless people through building and maintaining houses. At this moment Habitat for Humanity house is built every 24 minutes somewhere all over the world. In 2011 500,000th house was built in Kenya. It has about 2,000 branches in 95 countries. Also, Korea branch has built and repaired about 3,000 houses since it was founded in 1989. The purposes of Habitat for Humanity are providing cozy shelters for homeless families, bedding in dreams to be healthy self-reliant members of society, and helping them contribute to society. They build houses on the land and costs, equipment donated by sponsors, and labor is provided by volunteers, supporters, and home partners (beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity's support). Home partners should pay 5% of the construction cost in advance, work together until the house completes, participate in at least 500 hours for building their houses or others', and repay construction costs in 15 years in interest-free condition.
<Volunteers setting the frame of Habitat for Humanity House>
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첫댓글 어릴적 부터 성인이 되어서도 나눔을 실천하는 계획이 맘에 듭니다^^