ATLANTA (Nov. 19, 2023) – Habitat for Humanity is deeply saddened by the passing of former U.S. first lady Rosalynn Carter, who was a champion and strong voice for affordable, decent housing for all. For more than three decades, she and President Jimmy Carter donated their time and leadership to Habitat each year to build and improve homes around the world. She died peacefully on Sunday at her home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 96, with family by her side.

“We grieve the loss of Mrs. Carter and our prayers are with President Carter and their family. Mrs. Carter has helped change the lives of thousands of homeowners, empowered countless women and inspired millions of people. Over the years, she has blessed us with her compassion for serving others and commitment to improving housing conditions,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. “The Carters lent a hand to Habitat for Humanity as a young, fledging organization and created global awareness of our work and of our mission. We are grateful for the incredible impact she and President Carter have had on Habitat and on the families who have benefited from their shining example.”

After leaving the White House, the Carters planned for meaningful ways to continue their commitment to social justice and basic human rights. Their first volunteer experience with Habitat for Humanity was in March 1984 near their home in Americus, Georgia, where Habitat for Humanity was founded. Later that same year, the Carters joined Habitat volunteers in New York City’s Lower East Side to renovate an abandoned building in partnership with families in need of affordable housing.

That marked Habitat for Humanity’s first Jimmy Carter Work Project, which was later renamed to the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Since then, President and Mrs. Carter have worked with more than 104,000 volunteers across the U.S. and in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,390 Habitat homes. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has served more than 46 million people around the world.

In 2016, Habitat named President and Mrs. Carter as the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians for their extraordinary dedication to service in alignment with Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

For photos and videos of President and Mrs. Carter volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, visit habitat.ngo/CarterPhotoVideo.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia. Since its founding in 1976, the Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more

than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.

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For press:

Contact:

Sofía Trejos Lépiz

Hábitat para la Humanidad Internacional strejos@habitat.org

In the heart of the municipality of Poptún, in the department of Petén, lies the community of Nueva Jerusalén. A community that, until recently, faced significant challenges related to access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. However, thanks to the implementation of a comprehensive project by Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, the lives of 32 families have undergone a transformational change.

Nueva Jerusalén Community at a Glance

Prior to the project, the 32 families of Nueva Jerusalén lived in conditions of poverty and extreme poverty. Their homes were constructed primarily of materials such as wood and sheet metal, and many lacked full or partial access to basic water, hygiene and sanitation services.

Selection of Beneficiary Families

The selection of beneficiary families was carried out with the support of the HPHG technical team and the Community Urban and Rural Development Councils (COCODEs). The families most in need of support were identified, ensuring that they met the foundation’s selection criteria. This ensured that resources were directed to those who really needed them.

Project Implementation

The implementation of the project involved the beneficiary families themselves at various stages. Adults participated in construction tasks, such as transporting materials and supporting the masons. In addition, capacity building activities were promoted to encourage positive changes in health, hygiene, savings and risk management.

Impactful Results

The project succeeded in providing housing solutions that promoted access to water, hygiene and sanitation for these families. As a result:

• All 32 families now have rainwater harvesting systems, water purifying filters, batteries, and filter system candela replacements.
• Five community rainwater harvesting systems were built to increase the community’s access to water resources.
• Families acquired knowledge and self-management tools on health, hygiene, savings and risk management.

Key Strategies

During project implementation, several strategies were employed, including:

Development of an action plan and timeline with established dates.
Identification and selection of families with the participation of community leaders.
Meetings with community leaders and beneficiary families to establish commitments.
Supervision visits of the construction process by technical staff.
Implementation of capacity building activities.
Active participation of community members in various tasks.

Lessons Learned

The project revealed valuable lessons, including:

• The importance of community engagement in the success of the project.
• The need to properly manage materials with suppliers.
• Consider weather factors in planning activities.

Community Impact

The implementation of the project has had a significant impact on the community:

• Fewer gastrointestinal illnesses due to access to safe water.
• Less time spent collecting water, allowing families to focus on other activities.
• Increased knowledge of hygiene and risk management practices.
• Increased quantity and quality of water available to households.

Sustainability

The project promotes sustainability through community training and empowerment. Families are able to self-manage new projects and address their identified needs. In addition, financial education is promoted to improve family economic management.

Support from Authorities and the Private Sector

The project received support from local authorities, the COCODEs, and the private sector, in particular Aliaxis by Durman, which donated essential materials for project implementation.

The Drinking Water System in Nueva Jerusalén is an inspiring example of how a committed foundation can change lives and entire communities. Thanks to this initiative, 32 families now enjoy improved access to water, hygiene and sanitation, which has had a positive impact on their daily lives and future. This project has not only provided concrete solutions, but has also sown the seeds of self-management and sustainable development in the community of Nueva Jerusalén.