"As we grow in our consciousness, there will be more compassion and more love,
and then the barriers between people, between religions, between nations will begin to fall.
Yes, we have to beat down the separateness.” – Ram Dass
Every faith can be put into action. It's a simple statement that Habitat demonstrates every single day with our commitment to helping and working with everyone regardless of their backgrounds. It's also that same belief that compelled us to bring together youths from various faiths to put together Habitat Singapore's very first Inter-Faith Youth Build Team.
Nine passionate youths from diverse faith backgrounds - comprising Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and a Free-Thinker - came together to form the inaugural team. With a common goal to uplift families from poverty, our inter-faith youth volunteers joined hands across faith and borders to construct a new home for a young family in Batam's Kabil village from 7 - 8 December 2018.
In the course of 2 days, the team helped to hand-mixed cement to form the skeleton structure of the house and tie reinforcement bars that would hold up the soon-to-be-built walls.
For Dorce, every bucket of cement that was poured into the house meant her family was one step closer to having their new forever home. Even though the income her husband made as a port worker was enough to buy bricks for their old house, it was built without proper reinforcements and the house is on the verge of collapsing along the cracks that have appeared. Every mother needs to know her children have a safe place to call home. And for Dorce, that wish is coming true for her growing family with 2 young children and a third on the way.
The team is currently fundraising to hit their target of $5,500. Funds will be directed towards Habitat Indonesia's home-building programme to give safe & decent homes to even more families like Dorce's across the whole of Indonesia.
If you share the same passion but are unable to physically join a build, the team invites you to labour in support of them to donate and spread the word of the need for housing worldwide.
To make a contribution, please head over to their campaign page.
*Please note that donations directed for overseas use are not locally tax deductible. Donating is simple and secure, with an e-receipt generated from GIVEasia for your record.