2018 Habitat Build Trip Volunteer Manual Yangshuo Guangxi, China Welcome Message from Habitat for Humanity China Dear volunteer, Welcome to Habitat for Humanity China’s build in Yangshuo, Guangxi province. Many families in Guangxi live in dangerous, dilapidated houses made of mud-brick walls. The conditions of ventilation and sanitary systems are extremely primitive while the houses are also vulnerable against the rainstorm and floods that regularly strike this area. During your trip, you can witness the tangible rewards of your effort in changing lives. Most importantly, you will help build not just a house, but also a home with stability, dignity and hope for a brighter future. Let’s make a pledge here. As a young and energetic generation with enthusiasm and compassion, we are leaders of today, and will contribute our efforts to a better and more harmonious world. I wish you a safe and fruitful time in Guangxi, making our dream of “a world where everyone has a decent place to live” come true. Thank you! Michael Chen Program Lead, Habitat for Humanity China 1.Overview of Yangshuo Yangshuo is a well-known town in the southern part of Guilin, about one hour from Guilin city. Surrounded by amazing rock formations and bordered on one side by the Li River, it is easily accessible by bus or boat from nearby Guilin. Over the years, Yangshuo has been developed into a popular tourist destination with a relaxed friendly atmosphere, similar to areas in South East Asia. However, the beauty about Yangshuo is that within a few minutes you can find yourself in a rural village watching water buffalo take a midday bath and farmers drying their produce on the ground without a single tourist in sight. Attractions in Yangshuo Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin Moon Hill Page 2 CNY Chinese 20 Yuan Bill Bamboo Rafting on Yulong River • Location: Southern of Guilin, North east part of Guangxi Autonomous Region • Area: 1,400 square meter • Population: About 300,000 • Geomorphology: Karts landform • Climate: Subtropics and monsoon, different variation on drought, flood, cold, heat. Average 18℃，27-38 ℃ in summer(May-Sept)，1-10℃in winter(Dec-Feb). Flooded easily in summer • Economy: Tourism, agriculture • Transportation: Guilin airport, Yangshuo Railway station, Guilin Railway station, Guilin North Railway Station Page 3 2. Habitat’s work in Yangshuo, Guangxi Typical village view in Yangshuo Typical dilapidated muddy houses Typical dilapidated muddy houses in the village Handicapped members According to government statistics, there are over 21,000 disabled residents in Yangshuo, which accounts for 6.7% of the total population. 60% of them are living under the poverty line. With the decline or loss of physical function, disabled people face many difficulties in their lives. Housing and the built environment are particularly significant to disabled people as they are generally more affected by safety risks posed by inadequate home design. Habitat for Humanity China (HFH China) works with the local Disabled Persons’ Federation (DPF) to support disabled families scattered in the countryside to build safe, new, affordable homes. The local government plans to support 1,000 impoverished families to transform existing dilapidated houses into safe ones, of which particularly some families are with disabled members. Families who qualify for this program will receive a subsidy of up to RMB 18,000 from the government. However, it is far enough for the cost of building a brick house covering an area of 60 ㎡ with reinforced concrete roof, which is approx. RMB 60,000. Many families especially for those with disabled members struggle with life, that hard for them to settle the huge fund beyond their financial capacity. With poor income, most disabled families used up the saving for new houses while they were rebuilding. They are eager to move into new house without any decoration even though houses aren’t equipped kitchen, restroom, water and electricity facilities. As a partner and catalyst for community transformation, HFH China has been working with the local government and project partners to help low-income families build safe, decent and affordable houses, besides, HFH China will continue to provide housing solutions to families, through a combination to enhance housing, water and sanitation systems and related health awareness Page 4 raising, HFH China aims to improve the overall health and wellbeing of beneficiary families and communities. From 2014-2017, HFH China has supported 100 disabled families to build new, decent and safe houses and renovation. With the help of Habitat, sponsors and increasing generous volunteers, more disabled families will live in safe and comfortable houses and their lives will be changed greatly. New mission for this project for Habitat is to support comfortable living condition for disabled families. In 2018, Habitat continue to support more families in need and get help and support from more and more local and global volunteers to build new house and communities. Project Model: 1.Transforming Existing Dilapidated Houses into Safe Shelters for Disabled Family 2.Renovation Support for Disabled Family(Repair) Site Brief: Hosting season: All year except month of Chinese New Year (possible Jan-Feb) House size: 60-80 ㎡ brick house Trip duration: 3-7 days (including travel 2 days) Team size: Min.10 pax- Max.20 pax Construction work: Dig foundation, fill up foundation, move and lay bricks, mix cement, plaster wall, paint, dig drainage ditch, build kitchen and toilet, harden ground Sample of new houses for disabled families supported by HFHC Page 5 Sample of the Construction Process for a New House 3.Family Information (Sample family) (Tentative family only if any change will be updated according to closing schedule) Page 6 Site Map Home partner: Mr. Li Xiyou (handicapped family member) Family Members: Mr. Li Xiyou (36 years old) and his parents (father 59 years old and mother 58 years old) Site: Huangtuba village, Gaotian Town, Yangshuo (40mins bus trip) 阳朔县高田镇黄土坝村 Housing progress: main building was completed with an area of 74 ㎡, further to involve with hardening floor, digging drainage ditch, building washroom, laying septic tank Page 7 Mr. Li Xiyou is a 36-years-old resident in Gaotian town of Yangshuo. He was once a house interior decoration worker before. He fell down and got injuries when he was doing house decoration job years ago. His life got into trouble from the accident. The family spent a lot expense and energy on his cure. With years’ surgery and treatment, he is unable to walk as normal people. He depends on the walking stick or wheelchair and needs the care from parents. Only depending on the farming, the income can’t support the family life. To make a living, his parents have to do short-term hired labor work like construction, picking fruits for other villagers. Parents are getting older and older. It should be the retirement time for them to enjoy life as other same age elderly. However, for the sake of family and their beloved son, they insist working hard and support their son. In the past, the family have lived in the old house more than fifty decades. Their dilapidated house was built in 1950s with an area of 50 m² with cracked mud wall and leaking tile roof now. Original mud bricks exposed outside. Old house is lack of sanitation and ventilation. dark and damp house with uncomfortable environment. The old house undertakes the risk of collapse due to too much rain in recent years. It was not safe and comfortable for the family to live in any more. There isn’t tap water in both old house and new houses. The aged mother shoulders water by heavy buckets from a pond and carries back home a long muddy road. The family suffers from a hard life without enough income and a safe house. It is even difficult for Mr. Li to get married without a safe and decent home. The family only can count on annual income about CNY5, 000 and a small part of allowance secured by “household enjoying the minimum living guarantee” from local civil administration department. The family are long for a new and safe house. Due to lack of large sum of fund, the family can’t build a new house until July 2017. The first floor was completed at the beginning of this year. For further improvement for their new house, volunteers will involve with hardening floor for living room and doorway, digging drainage ditch, building washroom, laying septic tank, moving construction material. Overview of the old house Home partner Mr. Li’s mother Page 8 The family in the new house (Li Xiyou, right ) Daily use of water from far away pond Possible Work Help for the Family Digging hole for septic tank Mixing cement for hardening floor Moving bricks Laying bricks Page 9 4.Itinerary (HFH China aims to keep the itineraries as accurate as possible, however details may change due to weather, construction process or other unanticipated situations. We will keep you informed of any adjustments) Sept ---Day 1: Arrival (A short welcome briefing of the project, family profile, Safety orientation PPT will be given according to discussed time will be launched) Sept---Day 2-4: Building days 7:00 Morning call/Wake up 07:30—08:15 Breakfast 08:30 – 09:30 Depart for the work site 09:30 – 12:00 Safety orientation & Warming up /Construction work 12:00 -13:30 Lunch & rest /village tour / visit and communicate home partners 14:00 – 16:15 Construction work 16:15-16:30 Site/tools clean up 16:30 – 17:30 Return to hotel 17:30 – 18:30 Wash up 18:30 – 19:30 Dinner/feedback /free time Sept----Day 5 Departure 4.Activities for Volunteers in Site Most of the work that volunteers will be doing is fairly simple but nonetheless vital to our timely and efficient completion of new homes.