Workers and students from across the country participated in World Habitat Day, which provides an opportunity to focus on the dire need for adequate shelter for all, and the active search for solutions.
The symbolic campaign of NIL SHOBUJER BHALOBASHA (for love of blue and green) represented Habitat for Humanity colors – green for the home environment (habitat) and blue for family and community (humanity).
Nearly all the students from the International School Dhaka dressed in blue and green for the day. Other teams going to particular effort included the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the Participatory Development Action Program, the American Alumni Association as well as Habitat Staff from Mymensingh and Dhaka. See below for photographs of participating groups.
In rural Bangladesh, 84% of homes are inadequate or temporary. 54% of urban-dwellers live in temporary structures. Millions of Bangladeshi families live with insufficient electricity supplies, unhygienic water and sewerage connections, which lead to serious health concerns and a lack of human security.
“We understand perhaps more clearly than ever before that no-one can be excluded, especially the poor. On World Habitat Day, let us pledge to do our part to follow through on our plans for a better, greener, more sustainable future for our increasingly urban planet.” (United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon)
Though the current programs of Habitat for Humanity International - Bangladesh are rural and semi-urban focused, it recognizes the need to comprehensively address issues arising from exponential urban growth.
For the poor who live in overcrowded, unsafe, unsanitary, unacceptable conditions, planning must also be more equitable. To break the cycle of poverty means creating sustainable communities where people have access to affordable land and enjoy secure tenure rights.
HFHI-B is working tirelessly in achieving these goals and aims to serve 1,500 families before World Habitat Day 2010 comes around.
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