Going global through tithing: How Flatirons Habitat makes an impact beyond Colorado
Flatirons Habitat for Humanity is gearing up for its 2018 Global Village Trip to Vietnam. Our team of seventeen adventurous Coloradans will join more than 200 fellow volunteers in Dong Thap Province for a week of building safe, decent, and affordable housing. Throughout the month of October, check out our blog to learn more about Global Village Trips and how our local affiliate makes a big global impact.
As the affordable housing crisis endures in Colorado, Flatirons Habitat works hard to make a local impact. By empowering Boulder and Broomfield families through homeownership, we help build a community that is engaged, educated, and equitable.
But we also know that decent housing is a human right, and that need is certainly not restricted to our own hometowns. We participate in Habitat for Humanity’s tithe program to support the creation of safe, decent, and affordable housing on a global scale. So far, through tithing, we have funded the construction of more than 130 homes abroad.
What is tithing and why does it matter?
Habitat for Humanity’s tithe program encourages Habitat affiliates to donate 10 percent of all unrestricted cash donations to further the organization’s work in other countries. By participating in this program, affiliates support carefully-chosen building and shelter projects providing housing in the world’s neediest places.
Where does Flatirons Habitat for Humanity tithe?
We tithed to Habitat Guatemala until 2016. In 2017, we began tithing to Cambodia and Vietnam, which are considered higher-need tithe countries by Habitat for Humanity International.
In Vietnam, nearly 11 percent of the population lives on less than US$18 per month. Many low-income families live in poorly-built housing and are forced to constantly rebuild their homes due to typhoons, torrential storms, and flooding which hit Vietnam annually.
Habitat Vietnam partners with low-income families to build, repair, or upgrade their homes. Families contribute sweat equity and typically repay the costs through microfinance loans. Habitat Vietnam offers its partner families training in construction technology, financial management, hygiene, and community-based disaster risk management.
In Cambodia, it is estimated that at least 10 million people are in need of decent housing. Due to population increase and rural-urban migration the housing need is only expected to increase.
Habitat Cambodia partners with international and local non-governmental organizations, microfinance institutions, corporate partners, and government authorities to address Cambodia’s housing need. They provide housing solutions for the most vulnerable individuals but also work to improve national housing policies, expand access to housing finance loans, and promote disaster-resilient construction.
How do Global Village Trips tie in?
We amplify the impact of our financial contributions by sponsoring Global Village Trips in the countries to which we tithe. Global Village Trips bring together members of our local community make a difference abroad, all while experiencing a new culture.
How can I get involved?
Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get updates about our Global Village Trips. Or, if you’d like to support our tithe program, donate to Flatirons Habitat. Visit www.coloradogives.org/flatironshabitat to donate now.
