Habitat For Humanity (Kyrgyzstan) wins at World Bank Development Marketplace
Habitat for Humanity (Kyrgyzstan) innovative Cane Reed project is one of thirty winners at the prestigious World Bank Development Marketplace competition in Washington DC. HFH (Kyrgyzstan) will now receive US$116,389 from the World Bank to further fund the project.
Nurlun Moldosherip and Natalie Grant of Habitat for Humanity received the award from World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.
Habitat for Humanity (HFH) was among 118 finalists, chosen from 2,500 applicants from 55 countries worldwide for two of their projects.
Firstly, for HFH Armenia's "Harnessing the Sun: Energy for the Armenian Poor" and secondly for Kyrgyzstan's "Cane Reed: 19th Century Idea, 21st Century Solution".
Don Haszczyn, Area Vice President for Habitat for Humanity's Europe and Central Asia Regional Office said:
"To place in this prestigious competition is quite an achievement for these local initiatives, and for Kyrgzstan to win is fantastic. The Armenian and Kyrgyzstan leadership and innovation of these sustainable, innovative projects can only enhance our mission to provide simple, decent, affordable homes for families in need".
In Kyrgyzstan, where 70% of the population lives in poverty, innovative solutions to poverty housing are needed. HFH has harnessed the cane reed and clay technology used in the 19th century but forgotten in the 20th. These environmentally friendly materials keep house costs down by 40%, and also serve as better insulators against harsh Kyrgyzstan winters. HFH has coupled this technology with an under-floor heating system, which keeps heating costs down further, saving a family $60 per month in energy costs: that equates to 490 loaves of bread, 20 kilos of meat or 160 litres of milk.
In Armenia, 45% of the population lives in poverty and often unhealthy and dangerous forms of water heating are used. This can lead to illness, indoor pollution and accidents and fire. To address these issues, HFH has harnessed the power of Armenia's average of 300 sunny days per year, and teamed up with a local company to install solar panels for water heating. There is potential to develop this project to 10,000 homes. Solar energy saves a family approximately $252 per year, which could buy 740 loaves of bread, 222 kilos of tomatoes or 55.5 kilos of meat.
Since being established in 1999, HFH Kyrgyzstan has developed more than 130 homes for families in need. Habitat for Humanity Armenia has housed more than 1,000 people in need since 2000.
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Date: 15 May 2006
Contact: Rachel Done, Left Field
Tel: 07889 152463 Fax: 0208 8762895
Email: Rachel@left-field.co.uk
---Notes for Editor---
Habitat for Humanity is a nondenominational Christian charity dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. It has built more than 200,000 homes; more than one million people are living in Habitat homes they helped build and own through low-cost, no-profit mortgages.
HFH have positively affected lives in 100 countries around the globe. HFH's Europe & Central Asia regional headquarters are in Budapest, Hungary. The ECA region is actively fundraising, building and renovating homes with families in need.
