Volunteering in INDIA ...0ne brick at a time

Habitat for Humanity Canada

Global Village Program

April 10 – May 2, 2011

Building Homes. Building Hope.

Habitat for HumanityGlobal Village Program

• Canadian Global Village program started in 2005• Over 3,500 people have volunteered in more than 30

countries around the world• Assists low-income families to build their home by providing

volunteer labour, donated materials and no-profit, no-interest mortgages

• Volunteers work hand in hand with homeowners to eliminate poverty housing around the world one house at a time

• Gain a greater understanding of development issues, learn more about another culture and about yourself

www.habitat.ca/globalvillagehomec1532.php

INDIA• 7th largest country in the world – Canada is the 2nd largest• 2nd largest population – 1.1 Billion• New Delhi is the capital city• Hindi is the dominant language – English is the secondary

official language• Four major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and

Sikhism• Indian Rupee is the currency – 42 INR = $1 CAN• Four seasons: winter, summer, monsoon, post-monsoon• Yoga originated in India over 5,000 years ago• Chess was invented in India• The Indian Railway System is the largest employer in the world –

employs over 1 million people!!

Saket/Delhi – Agra – Fatehpur Sikri

• NS to Delhi - 30 hours of travel time (15,000km)• Delhi – 14 million people• Delhi to Agra – 250 kilometers• Agra – 1.6 million people• Agra is home to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort• Agra to Fatehpur Sikri - 40 kilometers• Fatehpur Sikri is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Sake

t

Agra Fort / Red Fort

• commissioned in 1565 by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar

• constructed of red sandstone

• Emperor Shah Jahan, Akbar’s grandson, was imprisoned by his son in Agra Fort

Amazing craftmanship

Taj Mahal

• built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife who died during the birth of their 14th child

• took 22 years to build and 20,000 people

• completely symmetrical

Time to gather

Fate

hp

ur

Sik

ri

the mosque

Pondicherry / Puducherry• Puducherry means “new village”• Former French colony• Languages: Tamil and French • 1.2 million people• Agriculture and fishing economy• Temperature: 30°C - 40°C• 135 km south of Chennai and 2,350 km south east

of Delhi

http://tourism.puducherry.gov.in

tuk tuk

Neh

ru S

treet.

..

shop

pin

g!

The M

ark

et

Textiles

The Village• Seyakuppam village in Tamil Nadu• 350 families• Agriculture labourers• Average monthly income: $100• Habitat partnering with the Rural Education and

Action for Liberation (REAL)• 32 homes identified to be built…325 ft2 each• First build in this village…all women homeowners• Cost of home: $2,500

NA

ZA

R B

AT

TU

Evil E

ye W

ard

er

The toilet!!!

Homebase

House #1

Rebar

Progress!!

Walls

House #2

Digging Holes

House #3

House #4

Destruction

Poverty Home Wall

House #5

Moving bricks... all day

long!!!

The Team

Celebrations

Music

and

dance

Pro

ud

Hom

eow

ners

!!

The People

Goodbyes

Cultural Activities

ChidambaramTemple

Pichavaram Mangrove

Forest

Rice and peanut Fields

Agri

cult

ure

Laboure

rs

Cooking dosa and chapati

henna

sari

The School

MamallpuramThe Five Rathas

Stone carvings

Shore

Tem

ple

The B

each

Chennai

Un

til N

ext

tim

e .

..…

hab

itath

um

an

ityin

dia

.blo

gsp

ot.

com