Habitat Hillsborough Celebrates World Habitat Day
Monday, October 3rd 2016, marked the 30th anniversary of the first World Habitat Day, celebrated in Nairobi, Kenya in 1986. Though embraced by Habitat for Humanity, World Habitat Day was voted into being by the United Nations General Assembly on December 17, 1985. The intent is for all people to focus on the state of their communities and the basic rights of people to have access to adequate shelter.
This World Habitat Day, Habitat Hillsborough joined with our partners in the community to help inform the public on the needs for affordable housing in Hillsborough County. Working with the Hillsborough County School District and doors donated by the Habitat Hillsborough East ReStore, we engaged Hillsborough County School Students and a USF group in a World Habitat Day educational art project. Students from the after school HOST programs of Ferrell Girls Preparatory Academy, Franklin Boys Preparatory Advisory, and Clark Elementary, the Riverhills Elementary School art class and The National Criminal Justice Honor Society were given the tasks of researching Habitat for Humanity and World Habitat Day with the support of parents, teachers or teachers aids. Students then turned their knowledge into expression as seen in the pictures of their finished projects.
Through this program, we were able to partner with educators and provide an opportunity for students (too young to volunteer on the construction site) an opportunity to support Habitat for Humanity in sharing our mission. Students learned about Habitat for Humanity; the work we do in the community and around the world. Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County Florida is committed to educating our community on the need for affordable housing. Each door was displayed in a different business located in Tampa.
A special thank you to Gulf Shore Bank, Florida Community Bank and Tampa Federal Credit Union for allowing us to place doors in your branches for public viewing.
Here are the groups who participated in our World Habitat Day art project.
The National Criminal Justice Honor Society –Alpha Phi Sigma: Placed in Gulf Shore Bank-Central Ave. St. Pete
Ferrell Girls Preparatory Academy- Placed Florida Community Bank -Tampa Village Center-Carroll Wood
Franklin Boys Preparatory Advisory-Placed in Gulf Shore Bank- South MacDill Ave
Clark Elementary-Gulf Shore Bank- S. Florida Ave
Riverhills Elementary School-3 Doors Displayed in the Habitat Hillsborough Office
