Habitat for Humanity are building 50 houses in partnership with Brothers Integrated Rural Development Society (BIRDS) which is part of the Sacred Heart Brothers Society, a Catholic congregation helping communities living in difficult conditions. BIRDS have been helping a community of quarry workers who live in rented houses around the stone quarries in Geddalahalli area, approximately 20 kilometres from Bangalore City. Their temporary homes are in very poor condition and are not being maintained. 

BIRDS has formed self-help groups (SHGs) within this community which has empowered women and enhanced their standard of living. Self-help groups act as agents of social and economic development in the community. The habit of saving and spending judiciously has developed as a result of these groups. Most of the home owners have received land as a grant from the Government and will build their own houses with the partial support from Habitat for Humanity as a ‘soft loan’.  Home owners for the housing project are all members of the SHGs. BIRDS as an association ensures the repayments of soft loans by the SHGs. 

The homeowners are involved in the design and construction from the planning stages right until the end.  Habitat for Humanity carries a high expectation with the future owners on the subject of owner participation.  The beneficiaries are expected to be involved giving whatever unskilled labour they can and other family members are expected to assist as well.  The approximate cost of the houses is between $US1,500 - 2,000.  The level of volunteer participation is high with individuals participating in all aspects of the housebuild such as the foundations, walls, floors, and roof.

A Typical Day!

Once we are there we will work on a project with the local community to assist with the building of houses for the children who have been orphaned. We will be involved in clearing and levelling the site, hauling dirt, digging foundations, transferring delivery of materials such as sand, gravel, cement blocks and bags of cement, manually pressing cement blocks, manually mixing cement, finishing floors and filling masonry joints with cement.

The houses are made with large blocks and have a granite foundation, windows and doors, a poured concrete floor, and rooms that serve as a sitting room, bedroom, and kitchen.  The bathroom is attached or unattached.  The roof is slanted, with a light metal framework and either tile, asbestos-free sheets, or cement micro tiles.  Some houses are stand alone whilst others are an extension of an existing house which could include another family member.

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