Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that works both to eliminate poverty housing around the world and to make adequate housing a matter of conscience and concern. Habitat for Humanity – Middle East – Jordan is in partnership with the poor to improve community housing, environment, and business opportunities. Habitat for Humanity Middle East – Jordan is a part of Habitat for Humanity International.

Habitat’s Jordan affiliate opened its doors in 2001, and has built homes with more than 150 families in five villages across the kingdom. Its unique community-based housing program combines credit, volunteerism, and “sweat equity” (the hundreds of hours that families contribute to home construction) to help impoverished families realize their dream of having a safe, decent place to live.

Habitat homes alleviate overcrowding, ease social tensions, improve health and hygiene, and provide a sense of security and safety. But they are more than just houses – they also give people a vision for what they can accomplish by working together to meet their shared needs.

Participants work side-by-side with a Habitat family and their neighbors mixing cement, constructing concrete walls, bending rebar, and pouring the roof. Delicious local dishes prepared by the homeowner’s family, frequent tea breaks, soccer matches with neighborhood children, and visits to other Habitat homeowners are all part of the experience. Habitat Jordan will also arrange a tour package that will showcase the historical, geographic, and religious significance of the crossroads of civilizations that is Jordan.

COME AND JOIN THE BUILDING CREW!

How about being a part of a building crew of 12 METS alums who travel to Jordan in June 2007 to build our third house!!!!*

Tentative plans are:

Habitat for Humanity (HFH) – Middle East–Jordan will select the building site, probably about an hour outside Amman. You will be aided and befriended not only by a patient professional work crew but also by the family who will live in the home.  During the build you will stay in a home for the building crew located close to the site.  You will get to know your fellow builders well!  And - there will be a lot of time for fun.  In Jordan and Israel, you will stay in quality hotels while you visit some of the most historic and exotic sites on earth. 

Philip Griffith, National Director for HFH-Middle East-Jordan, presented the organization’s story at the 25th Anniversary Celebration.

Philip Griffith says, “It is much better to have folks who are flexible and participatory than to have folks who are extremely skilled in hammer but not in spirit.  This is more about relationship building than house building.  It is about east and west coming together.

“Most of the work revolves around brick laying and concrete mixing, so if we have some people who have worked with trowels who are willing to help other people who haven’t, that would be perfect. Having those skills definitely gives us more flexibility in dividing up the work.  Also, there are jobs for any pair of hands, including hauling bricks, gravel and sand, preparing rebar, building wooden forms into which the concrete will be poured and cutting wire.  It is the kind of work that will get you in shape, so it’s good to come that way if possible.

“We also hope to have volunteers play a more active role in organizing activities for children alongside the work site.  Safety becomes a major concern when the children want to be part of the action, and a Habitat build is usually the most exciting thing happening in the village.  Therefore, we have decided to take advantage of their presence by involving them in the work to the extent we can and in other positive activities when there’s no work for them to do.  I see this becoming a very important component of our work because children are so shut out here.”

Is this a vacation?  Yes.  You are not at work and you are taking a trip outside your own country.  But is it your normal vacation?  No.  It offers a great opportunity for learning and building relationships.  You need to come with your humility and cultural sensitivity in high gear.  You need to have some fun learning a few words in Arabic and practicing them with the crew and the families.   You need to be healthy and positive and not compare everything with the way it is back home.  And – you need to have a valid passport.

2004 and 2006 METS builders include: – Al & Kathy Lopez, Nancy Noyes, Don Tirrell, Hoke Smith, Jim Miller, Bob Kelly, Christine Khouri, Bill & Susan Garrett   

For more information please contact Bill Garrett (L ‘01) at bgarrett@sjha.org or 404.851.5715 and check out the website - hfhjordannc@index.com.jo. 

Bill Garrett (L ‘01), Coordinator for METS HFH Builds, says, “Join us for the 2007 METS Build!”

* July 20, 2006 - METS leadership is deeply hopeful that the current situation in the Middle East will move towards peace and stability allowing for safe travel to the area once again. At this time we encourage you to consider the possibility of participating in the 2007 Build, knowing that Max and his team will monitor the situation closely. Closer to the actual time of the trip they will encourage travel only if they believe it to be safe.