The team had an amazing week in Jordan, spending time with families and assisting Ahmed and Olefat to build their future home.
Due to economic necessity and tradition, extended families in this country tend to live together, resulting in 12 to 15 family members oftentimes sharing a small two-room house. Overcrowded living conditions and a lack of privacy endanger the health and well-being of families. Additionally, women struggle to cook in makeshift kitchens with dirt floors, which results in improperly stored food that can attract pests and rodents. Habitat for Humanity Jordan works with the local community to provide housing solutions to these families in need of healthy, affordable homes.
With 80 percent of the population currently living in cities — 63 percent in Amman, Zarqa and Irbid alone — Jordan is also faced with an urban housing crisis. Continued migration into the cities, combined with an influx of refugees from neighboring countries and the high level of urban poverty, have left many families without adequate shelter. These families are struggling with unsanitary conditions and social alienation. Inadequate housing fosters a sense of helplessness and marginalization among the poor, most of whom believe they are powerless to improve their living conditions.
Habitat for Humanity Jordan operates in 11 communities, bringing opportunities for families to lead safe, healthy and productive lives. A typical Habitat house in Jordan averages 55 square meters and is made of concrete blocks. The houses represent opportunities to build relationships across cultures, religions and classes, which consequently builds peace in the country.
Global Village is Habitat for Humanity’s international volunteer program. Teams travel to over 40 countries to work alongside communities, build housing solutions, and experience local culture. Our goal is to change the lives of the people we serve, as well as the lives of the volunteers. To join a team or learn more, visit www.habitat.org/gv.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.