Habitat for Humanity Sudbury District is a community based, non-profit, faith-based organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and healthy place to live. Our mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty. With Habitat we build more than just houses. We build families, communities and hope.
By Canadian standards, they won't seem like much. But the 193-square-foot homes
a group of Confederation Secondary School students, teachers and a volunteer parent
will build in Chile next month will change lives.
"By North American standards, the homes being constructed are quite modest," teacher Jana Armstrong
said in a release. "Many new homes in the Sudbury area easily exceed 2,000 square feet and are comprised of many extravagances.
"The homes being constructed under this program are a very tiny 193 square feet and will consist of
two rooms. After the home is complete, the owners can build their own bathroom facilities, if they wish
to do so."
Teacher Jennifer Stobo says although very spartan by Canadian standards, the homes will ease the
sense of poverty felt by its inhabitants.
"Participating families benefiting from this program are typically single-parent homes or those that
have a very low income," Stobo said. "Many currently live in dilapidated shacks, so these houses will
certainly enhance their quality of life."
The group from the Valley East school will build the homes during the March break, from March 7-14.
Steven McAnulty, Erica Richard, Jessica Carson, Tammy Beaton, Kayla Aelick, Elizabeth Beattie and
Michelle Leger, all students in Grades 10 to 12, will go to Chile in the first project of its kind for Confed.
They'll be part of a Habitat for Humanity project in one of the poorest areas of the world.
From a teaching perspective, the trip will enhance what's taught in the classroom in a number of subject
areas, from citizenship and history to geography and technological education.
"Character development is also an important part of what we teach students in Rainbow Schools",
Confederation principal Mike Mirka said.