Habitat for Humanity International ― or Habitat ― is a nonprofit organization that helps people in need build houses. Since 1976, volunteers for Habitat have built more than 350,000 houses worldwide. According to Habitat, however, there are still more than 1.6 billion people in the world without decent housing. In the article below, Mariko Asano talks about her experience as a Habitat volunteer. She has traveled to the Philippines three times to help build houses for people who need them.
I am 24 years old, and I grew up in Nishinomiya, Japan. Several years ago, I went to Negros Island in the Philippines as a Habitat volunteer. This was the first of three trips I have taken to the Philippines as a volunteer. For me, the idea of building somebody's house abroad was very exciting. The next year I returned to Negros Island as a Habitat volunteer. This time, I went as a student leader with 28 classmates from Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.
Both the staff and the families on Negros Island became dear friends of the work team I led. Meeting these people was wonderful for each of us. Their lifestyle reminded us of the meaning and value of life. The people also helped us appreciate the more valuable things in life, such as spending time with your family, friends, and neighbors; developing close relationships; helping each other, and appreciating what you do have. These things are sometimes forgotten in an affluent country like Japan.