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Dedicated Habitat
Volunteers From Asia-Pacific Region Recognised
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International Board of Directors Name Seven New “Nehemiah”
Award Winners
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BANGKOK, 6th September 2004: An Indian lawyer, a husband-wife-team
from Singapore,
a five-start hotelier and a highly motivated single father
were among eight dedicated Habitat volunteers from around
the Asia-Pacific region honored for the big difference each
has made to the lives of families in need in their communities.
Stronger foundations, greater
impact: HFH Asia-Pacific leadership conference participants
at the IBOD awards evening
The special eight were nominees for the 2004 Nehemiah for
Distinguished Voluntary Service awards, a biannual award made
by the Asia-Pacific representative from the international
board of directors of Habitat for Humanity International.
The Nehemiah awards were announced at the 2004 Asia-Pacific
Leadership Conference held at the Thai seaside resort of Bang
Saen in early September.
The Nehemiah awards recognize individuals whose exceptional
service to a local grass-roots Habitat volunteer group –
an affiliate – has been inspirational and helped that
affiliate reach new heights of achievement.
Each Nehemiah award plaque comes with a cheque worth US$10,000
that winners may donate to the affiliate of their choice.
The judges made six awards. They were:
Indian lawyer Bibhudutta Das for spearheading the response
of HFH Cuttack, in the
eastern state of Orissa, to a cyclone disaster with an initiative
that also encouraged training for Habitat homeowners to get
decent jobs plus for helping establishing the first school
campus chapter in India.
Singaporean husband-and-wife team Teo Eng Tiong and Lim
Jen Nee used their expertise as professional video makers
to provide HFH Singapore with a powerful advocacy tool. The
couple created and donated a video of their experiences on
a Global Village trip to build in Mongolia. This is now used
as a prime tool for mobilizing volunteers
in Singapore and elsewhere.
Left : Habitat founder
and president Millard Fuller with video maker Lim Jen Nee
Right: Award-winning New Zealand grandmother Vera Farrant
with her late husband, George
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The dynamic general manager of the JW Marriott Jakarta hotel,
John Jaskula chaired a successful “100 Houses”
campaign in Indonesia and is leading a follow-up campaign
to raise funds for 1,000 new homes. As well as opening the
doors and resources of his hotel to Habitat, he has opened
doors to new corporate supporters, many of whose leaders and
staff are Moslems.
Michael Bourke from HFH Manukau, New Zealand, proved to
be a volunteer “par excellence” over a decade. A
Habitat homeowner and single father of three special-needs
teenagers, Michael still found time to become a skilled and
qualified builder whose skills are much in demand on habitat
work sites.
Lawyer Samuel Jonathan Hiponia leads HFH Butuan, on Mindanao
island in the southern Philippines. His drive and energy helped
create strong and innovative partnerships with city officials
and others to build hundreds of homes, and an efficient, well-run
affiliate.
New Zealand grandmother Vera Farrant was honored for
her long contribution for HFH Waikato, New Zealand. She has
personally helped dozens of families and continues to be a
highly energetic volunteer leader. In October, she is taking
a team of volunteer builders to the Jimmy Carter Work Project
in Mexico.
An honorable mention certificate was awarded to another New
Zealander, David Reyburn of HFH Northland. The retired
professional surveyor and dedicated Christian has been a local
politician, a Church elder and a founder and leader of a Habitat
affiliate.
The Asia-Pacific leadership conference attracted more than
100 board and staff representatives from national offices
and affiliates, and Habitat for Humanity International
staff members for a week-long conference that examined ways
for Habitat to strengthen its foundations and have a greater
impact.
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