Dignity and "Pride" in Participation
May 15, 2013
Hope Force International (HFI) has a goal to build 25 homes this year. For Hope Force, it is very important that recipient family members participate in building the house to instill pride and ownership, rather than creating a sense of dependency. HFI has strengthened its ?qualifying program? to encourage even more owner participation in the process.
Apart from ?sweat equity? in digging the foundation, transporting materials and providing water, participants attend workshops, engage in a community project and also contribute a valuable bag of cement.
The workshops cover topics based on Biblical worldview principles that include stewardship responsibilities and community health teachings.
The participants have been very involved so far and love René's Bible teaching using an old-fashioned ?flannel board?. René was also able share the story of Creation all the way through Resurrection in the weeks leading up to Easter.
Participants also engaged in a community garbage collection project as a practical expression of man?s God-given stewardship of the earth responsibilities. Most recently, the four newest participants have all contributed their bag of cement.
René reports: ?Madame Monique and her son proudly presented us with the first bag of cement contributed to the project; equivalent to two days wage. Shortly thereafter the foundation was set up and dug by the family. They really are investing into their home and into progress for their family!? 
The same day René and Marianne visited Widelyne. Still living in an HFI donated tent with her three children, she too had a bag of cement waiting for them in a wheelbarrow. Later in the week, cement was also collected from Virginia and Islande. Both had already done some preparation work on their building site, and soon the first load of sand was delivered by truck.
In addition, the trucks bringing the materials are now using the newly carved out road, making the transportation process much easier than before.
View a brief video of the road construction here.
