Habitat for Humanity

When considering what Service to join at the beginning of this year I decided the most important factor was hands on work. I wanted an elective where I really felt i was making a difference or helping people in a meaningful way. Habitat was by far the best option. Habitat for humanity is a global network founded about 40 years ago with mission statement:

"What the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers but co-workers. And what the rich need is a wise, honorable and just way of divesting themselves of their overabundance. The Fund for Humanity will meet both of these needs. Money for the fund will come from shared gifts by those who feel they have more than they need and from non-interest bearing loans from those who cannot afford to make a gift but who do want to provide working capital for the disinherited . . . The fund will give away no money. It is not a handout.

The houses would be built at no profit and interest would not be charged on the loans. Building costs would be financed by a revolving fund called “The Fund for Humanity.” The fund's money would come from the new homeowners' house payments, no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses."

I think it's a fantastic concept. Joining habitat also means through them i can engage in an issue of global importance: shelter is one of the three basic human needs for survival yet around the world is a luxury many do not have. We actually get to go to the build sites and spend the day constructing a house, its an incredible opportunity. We help by tiling the roof, digging foundations, filling in a concrete floor, and whatever else needs to be done. (Undertake New Challenges and Develop New Skills:i must say I've never tried to build a house before) I was incredibly lucky to get in when i went to my first meeting i was told that they had over-booked the activity and so i couldn't join, it was only at the last minute an exception was made for me.

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Six months later, Ali Khan, our current president, and all the other leaders stepped down so they could focus on exams. I volunteered to take their place and am now the new president with Camie Raguin. One of the biggest problems we had last semester was the cancellation of builds.The entire 6 months i believe only 3 or 4 actually happened. Now many interrupted because of the rain and generally terrible whether but also a significant number because of miscommunication and disorganization. Our liaison from habitat, a man named Francis was terribly inconsistent, he took weeks to reply to emails, changed the location of build sites at the last minute, and generally was difficult to work with, and as a result many of our trips where simply cancelled. (However as luck would have it this Saturday we have a build planned if the weather holds up)So as our first order of business me and Camie are going to meet the president of habitat for humanity this Monday to try to build better relations between us. (Helping to improve my ability to work collaboratively with others) Our other plans include getting our service officially licensed as a branch of Habitat, which would make us eligible for funding with some of our projects and many other benefits and also taking the skills we have developed on the builds and using them to Plan and Initiate out own activities. For example close by to the school is a home for the deaf. We plan on using what we learned from our builds and the funds we attained from various fund raising activities earlier in the year to go fix up the home and other similar projects.

Week Without Walls Reflection

Week Without Walls Goals

Guitar

I've always wanted to learn how to play an instrument, im a massive fan of music in all genres but lessons I've never had the oppertunity to take until now. OSC has begun offering beginners guitar and I jumped on the oppertunity.

I've been going for a few months now and as of i now i can play:

Ironman - Ozzy Ozborne

Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple

Saisa Basketball

This year my goal is to make the team and compete abroad in at least two Saisa events. I also on a personal level want to know I've tried my best, and worked my hardest at every training session and every game i compete in. I have already made the basketball and we are well on our way to Saisa. I started out an extra on the bench because im not especially good and basketball particularly on offence but i recently i made the starting line up because im always where i need to be running up and down the court and on defence i can often stop the other team scoring. My other strength is assist and setting picks. My fitness has also dramatically improved when i began i ran three suicides the first practice and felt dizzy, lightheaded, and sick. Generally like i was going to pass out, today we had to do twelve and i was better off that that first day. Good progress. My biggest goal though for basketball specifically is to improve my skills of offence.

The Martin Marathon

Classification - Action and Service

I have always enjoyed long distance running and have slowly been building up my stamina to ultimately run a marathon. My dad gave me the idea of using it as a chance to help the community. I'm hoping to organize my own run from negumbo to chillow, mark out 26 miles and use sponsorship forms to help raise money for charity. Even better, i know a few marathon runners who may also join and if i advertized enough a may start a proper registered marathon. Another idea for those who don't like running particlularly long distances I could organized a few relay teams who would take turns running with a baton while the rest of the team followed behind in a bus. Personally i would love to have run my marathon before i turn 17 however because this is in too months logistically this may not be possible unless i kept it really small. We will see.

As possibly the most physically demanding challenge i will ever undertake i hope to increase my awareness of my own strengths, I have never tried running any distance close to this far so I'm undertaking a new challenge It's a new activity im planning and initiating by myself. Through the charity im donating to im engaging with an issue of global importance, the most clearly demonstrated, and difficult, criteria would have to be showing preserverence which is really the basis for distance running. I must show preseverence in sticking to my training schedule and not giving up when the day comes

SGA

Classification - Creativity and Service

I am currently serving as the Treasurer for our student government. I've never been in a school leadership position before so this is a new challenge i have undertaken. A major part of SGA is planning and initiating new projects in the school, for example the dances or other socials. Collaboration is a major part of the SGA, we all need to pull our weight and work together as a unit to succeed whatever project we are working on. At all the socials we have had this year so far I have made sure we have made a profit, all this surplus money we are donating to various charities aid projects to help those in need arround the world in this way i hope to engage with issues of global importance. Being treasurer requires taking detailed notes and staying organized two skills i definately don't have. However i have started a file for all the receits etc. and this is new skill i definately hope to develope as it will help me in every facet of my education.

As you can see through the SGA alone i can meet a lot of the criteria for this two year program. Personally my goals are to...

#1 From a Creativity standpoint come up with new engaging ideas for projects SGA can work on, themed dances, maybe new interhouse competitions, and the like. I also want to help out where ever i can on the decorations for our dances.

#2 From a service standpoint i would like to make a difference in the school, I hope our work as SGA this year our ideas will help make it a better place for students, i also want to as treasurer raise as much money as possible as is our obligation to donate to those in need.