THE Habitat for Humanity Philippines, a non-profit organization that provides shelter for homeless Filipino, had launched “The Plus Can Project” at the Seda Abreeza Hotel in Davao City on October 20 just to help raise funds to build houses for indigent citizens.
Present during the activity is the multi-awarded actor and Habitat for Humanity ambassador Derek Ramsay.
In his remarks, he bared that the “Plus Can” has a distinct and unique coin slot which is intentionally designed in a shape of a plus sign. This symbolizes that everyone can be a “plus” to humanity through every coin he or she donates.
According to Ramsay, what makes Habitat for Humanity close to his heart is the thought that he could help give decent homes for people who lost their shelter after being affected by a calamity and being deprived from their rights to have a home which they can call their own because of their socio-economic condition.
“There are so many ways you can help people. You can donate money, you can donate food but for me, the home is the most important thing for a family to have roof over their head,” Ramsay told SunStar Davao in an interview.
This fund-raising project is just among the ways where the organization can reach out to homeless families who are considered as one of the most vulnerable sectors of the society. This will also help strengthen their advocacy of building more healthy and sustainable homes for the families in need.
The foundation uses tin cans to collect donations from the public and engage them in a move for a cause. This simple innovation added new meaning to the empty can as every drop of the coin counts which could bring a new hope for the homeless families.
“More homes, more communities for people in need. Every coin is a plus to humanity,” Ramsay added.
Ramsay said the organization have already helped over 140,000 families nationwide.
He also said over 5 million families still do not have the comfort brought by having a home, adding that they aimed to change the figure by 2020 and decrease the number by 20 percent, thereby, providing homes to 800,000 families.
The project also encourages the public to partner with Habitat by donating, fund-raising, and advocating for the right of all Filipinos to have a decent place to live.
The objective of launching the can is to increase funds and awareness towards Habitat’s Vision 2020 in line with its “We Build” campaign adding a “plus” to society.
For information on how to get a Habitat Plus Can of your own, visit pluscanproject.org.