Sendai Habitat

Sendai Habitat refers to the annual charity projects undertaken by JETs in Sendai for Habitat for Humanity International.

Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is a non-profit organization that has helped build over 100,000 houses around the world. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and renovates simple, decent houses with the help of the home-owner’s family. This year a group of ALT’s from Miyagi are going to the Philippines.

Philippines - 2007
This year sees teams assist local volunteers and home partners with a variety of unskilled tasks such as mixing and passing cement, carrying and laying blocks, digging and landscaping. No prior construction experience is necessary.



Hosting history
Since 1996 HFH Philippines has hosted about 200 Global Village teams, including youth teams from Japan, Korea and New Zealand; JET (Japan Exchange Teaching) teams from Japan; corporate teams from the Netherlands and adult teams from Northern Ireland and the USA

Sri Lanka - 2006
Volunteers living in Sendai and Miyagi (Japan) donated their time and money and traveled to Anuradhapura (JPN) to build a house for an under-privileged family.



Fiji - 2005
In 2005, 13 JETs traveled to Vunidawa in Fiji to complete a building project.



Photo gallery




Bangladesh 2004
A group of 6 English teachers ALTs living in Sendai, Japan traveled to Jessore in Bangladesh to assist with a Habitat for Humanity 'Global Village' building project. Each volunteer donated their time and money so that families in Bangladesh may have safe and decent housing. The group traveled to Bangladesh in late April 2004, and spent one week laboring and another week visiting local communities and schools while traveling around Bangladesh. This volunteer project was only made possible through the many personal donations and group fund raising events.



Borneo - 2003
This year, 8 ALTs spent two weeks in Borneo, the first week as a volunteer on a building project for a Muslim family in need of better housing. With a family of about 20, Jaya (below right) was living in a house with only a kitchen, a living area and one small bedroom. The plans (Below left) show the new house which we helped construct. We arrived to only 9 concrete foundations set into tidal mudflats. Although we didn't finish the house we were able to see it take shape into a house that more than doubles his family's living space.



Volunteer info page
To help you guys out. I will try put all the information here, so it is easier to find, than in a hundred e-mails. Hope it helps..

Preparation
Insurance: The insurance covers medical expenses incurred by diseases and injuries during Global Villae. However, it does NOT cover baggage loss or flight deals. It is up to YOU if you want to purchase your own overseas travel insurance.

Re-entry permit.

WORK SITE
sturdy work shoes with closed toes loose, comfortable clothing: t-shirt/long sleeved shirts (sunburn/mosquito protection) long, heavyweight pants modest shorts are permitted, but not recommended. Abrasion, cuts, scratches and sunburn are most common injuries at a build. broad brim hats or caps sturdy pair of working gloves (Kelso arranging) rain coat

EXTRA: Something semi-formal for orphanage visit / culture night / welcome dinner / farewell dinner. Maybe a skirt for girls / shirt for guys. Doesn't have to be super smart, just not your dirty work clothes..

Swimwear
Rubber slippers for shower and beach

Sweater-airports and most hotels will be air conditioned, and apparently get carried away.

Toiletries / Medical
Suncream / aftersun Towel Insect repellent (with DEET) alcohol hand wash / alcohol wipes. toilet paper -Rehydration powder. You mix it with water if you need to use it. or salt tablets -anti-diahorrea tablets / diahorrea recovery tablets -first aid kid - plasters / bandaids / antiseptic / paracetamol -sterilising water tablets -current medication, with the prescription.

Other useful things to bring
sunglasses camera torch (and batteries) alarm clock voltage converter / adaptor plugs anything of interest to show the local villagers - postcards / Japanese toys / your talents. evening entertainment - cards / travel games

Health guidelines/ Advice
-Always wash your hands thoroughly before eating (hand wipes/ alcohol solution ESSENTIAL so you aren't washing your hands with dirty/contaminated water)

-Be careful using tap water : brushing teeth / in ice cube / restaurants.

Non purified water has to be boiled for 5 minutes to kill bacteria and parasites before drinking.

Water contamination may apply to bathing. Make sure you disinfect cuts and sores afterwards. Don't shave while bathing in such water.

-It is a good idea to peel fruit or vegetables, if they can't be washed with "safe" water.

-Dehydration symptoms: fatigue, lack of energy, headaches, dizziness, little urine, highly colored urine, little sweat, stomach cramps, inability to use the toilet. Cure: Rest out of the sun, drink lots of fluid, rehydration solution.

-To avoid the danger of rabies: Stay away from animals, no matter how cute and cuddly they seem. They coudl have fleas, or worse!

Currency
Philippine Pesos. Exchange rate:

10.00 USD = 479.650 PHP

10.00 GBP = 948.278 PHP

1,000.00 JPY = 402.319 PHP

10.00 NZD = 349.432 PHP

Where to exchange money: http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/service/list/svc_11.html

"Greenport Agency" (GPA) in Terminal 2 (main building 3rd floor, 1st floor) BEFORE passport control.

(Or at the Keiyo Bank AFTER passport control (in the Satellite building 3rd floor).)

Flight details
Narita Airport, Terminal TWO. Cathay Pacific!

For anyone who uses a JAL mileage card or has a mileage card that participates in the 'one world' alliance, you can use this Cathay Pacific flight towards your mileage program.

It will be an e-ticket, so we will all need to meet at the airport to go through together.

07.04.21 CX521  Tokyo Narita - Hong Kong  1700 - 2050

07.04.21 CX905  Hong Kong - Manila   2200- 2355

07.05.04 CX 906  Manila - Hong Kong  1105 - 1310

(You need to pay departure tax of 750 pesos upon departure)

07. 05.04 CX500  Hong Kong - Tokyo Narita  1500 - 2025

Accommodation
Peñafrancia Resort The resort is 20 minutes far from the Habitat site and 25 minutes from the city proper. Rooms of up to 2-4 people. Pay per room. He suggests 3 is the best. Breakfast served at resort. Dinner most nights at resort. Resort has 3 swimming pools, and a basketball court. Accommodation is from Sunday 22nd morning - Friday 27th morning / Saturday 28th morning. That will be decided very soon!

Itinerary
Saturday - arrive about midnight. Take a/c bus to Naga City / resort.

Sunday - arrive about 9/10am. Relax. Church if you want to go (more relaxing time if you don't). welcome / orientation / visit various habitat sites

Monday - Thursday: Building house. Wednesday afternoon - (ie. after lunch). Visit Malabsay Falls, for trekking/ swimming/ relaxing. Visit orphanage.

Malabsay Falls. It's a 40 meters crystal water falling down in a nice lagoon. It's good for swimming and sightseeing in a forested Mt. Isarog - one of our national park. from Naga city proper we can reach the place 30 minutes jeepney ride and 20 minutes trekking.

Friday -morning/afternoon Atulayan island. MAYBE travel back. MAYBE stay overnight.

Atulayan Island. The clear water is superb. This is a good place for swimming, snorkeling and even scuba diving. We can also stay overnight at the island because there are native cottages to stay. Travel time from Naga City is 1.5 hours by car and 20 minutes by boat.

Saturday - be left back to Naga airport by about 10am.

HABITAT PART IS FINISHED.

Taxi tips
You can take a taxi from the Manila International Airport to Malate for Php120-150 pesos (meter flags down at Php30).

a. Go up to the departure area and use a taxi that drops off passengers there. This way, you avoid taxis with fixed pricing of around 300-500 pesos. Do not forget to tell the taxi driver to turn on the meter. If he does not want to turn on the meter then get off the taxi and hail another one. You should pay around Php120-150 to Malate area (or to Friendly's Guesthouse).
 * Watch the meter from time to time as there is a new scam where the taxi meter jumps from a flag down rate of Php30 to Php100! ***

b. Or walk to the highway and hail a taxi from there. Always tell the taxi driver to turn on the meter, if he does not want to turn on the meter then get out of the taxi and hail another one. Even Filipinos do this.
 * Watch the meter from time to time as there is a new scam where the taxi meter jumps from a flag down rate of Php30 to Php100! ***

c. You can also take the Airport Taxi. I would advise this if you arrive very late at night. They cost Php440 (fixed price) to Friendly's Guesthouse.

Hotel for the last night
Windsor Inn 1748 A. Maceda Street, Sampaloc, Near 7-11 outlet of Dimasalang Street, Philippines. April 3rd. 350php (about 6 bucks) www.reservations.bookhostels. com/bootsnall.com/hosteldetails.php/HostelNumber.6239/PHPSESSID.os2n131dnaw9ivl1ahniwdp6kqdeq013?PHPSESSID=os2n131dnaw9ivl1ahniwdp6kqdeq013 Feel free to join us.. this website may disappear, so let me know, and I can give it to you.

Boracay: to get from manila to kalibo..flight takes one hour. there are flights at: 0900, 1200, and 1500. from Manila INTERNATIONAL airport (all AIR PHILIPPINES flights go from here)

you then have to take a bus to port, then a boat to Boracay.

go to wikitravel, type in Boracay, and read all about your options!

Air Philippines + (63) (02) 855-9000 Fax: +(63)(02) 851-7922 Email: reservations@airphilippines.com.ph"

(Near (ish) Naga City):Mt. Mayon is now calm. It is 100 kilometers (2 hours car drive) away from Naga City. Surrounding Mt. Mayon is undergoing rehabilitation projects of different government agencies and NGO’s including Bicol Habitat for Humanity. The government is allowing tourists now to climb Mt. Mayon in a certain areas and height only. But you must have a group of local climbers with you if you want to climb Mt. Mayon. We have a local mountaineering group here in Naga City. We can talk to them when you arrive here.

Pagsanjan (day trip from Manila):

Magdapio falls, some of the final scenes of francis ford coppolas epic Vietnam war movie apocalypse now were filmed along this stretch of river and a few relics from the movie can still be seen along the banks.

580 pesos per person, plus 50 for life jacket, 30 for cushion.

for the ride up to the falls, two banceros paddle each canoe for 1.5 hours against the fearsome flow of the river, through an asesome gorge hemmed by towering cliffs and vegetation. at the tip, the banceros will take you under the 10m-high falls on a bmboo raft for an extra 50 pesos. from here, you let the water do the work. the trip downstream is fast and exhilarating. best in aug-sep. you should bring a plastic bag for your camera, and prepare to get very wet.

cockfighting is the no.1 sport in the philippines.select birds are raised on special food, treated with special medications and even washed with special shampoos before being taken to the local cockpit for what will almost certainly be the fight of their lives... combatants are fitted with a lethal 3-inch ankle blade and are allowed to peck each other before a fight in order to generate fighting spirit. The squabble is brutally short. the winner is whisked away to a team of waiting surgeons. the loser usually makes his way into the cooking pot... the onlookers take gruesome pleasure in explaining the details of the sport to outsiders.