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| The Haiti and Papua New Guinea Houses. Photo: Habitat for Humanity International |
Building Up Homes and Dreams
A visit to a theme park entertains the whole family. A visit to a museum is an education in history and the arts. But a visit to Habitat for Humanity International's Global Village & Discovery Center (GV&DC) in Americus, GA, inspires and enlightens as it demonstrates how the strength of the human spirit can dramatically impact and improve the lives of those less fortunate.
Addressing one of life's basic necessities—safe shelter—Habitat for Humanity International's mission is to provide adequate housing to those in need. At its core, Habitat's concept is very simple: The people who are in need of the new home work side by side with volunteers to build themselves a decent, safe and affordable house. To date, Habitat has built more than 350,000 houses that shelter over 1.75 million people worldwide. Located two hours south of Atlanta, the GV&DC's village shows how Habitat partners with families in its quest to provide adequate housing, opening guests' eyes to the devastating effects of poverty. Guests learn about the hope the organization creates via a collection of 15 life-size Habitat houses from around the world.
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Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical Christian organization, dedicates the completion of a house with prayer and a ceremonial presentation of a Bible and keys to the new homeowner. |
Houses from different parts of the globe require architecture and construction materials unique to their specific region. For example, the Guatemala House is designed to be disaster resistant—with concrete floors and block walls—to protect its occupants from the country's frequent natural disasters. The Ghana House's walls are made of sun-dried earthen blocks and plastered with cement, built onto a concrete foundation and cement screed floor. And the Papua New Guinea House is built to protect its occupants from rain and cyclones, constructed in a manner that saves on labor and conserves forestland (overharvesting there has led to erosion and unproductive soil).
Enlightening and inspiring, a visit to the Global Village & Discovery Center gives the whole family a non-traditional attraction experience that serves as a real-world alternative to the usual vacation stand-bys of theme parks, zoos and museums. It's an experience that will open your eyes and lift your soul.
For more information, visit www.habitat.org/gvdc or call 1-800-422-4828, ext. 7937.