U.S. Ambassador Promotes Habitat for Humanity Former President Carter to Join Volunteers in Building Homes

April 2, 2009

Embassy of the United States of America
Bangkok

U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, Eric G. John, hosted a reception on March 31 for potential donors for the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity. The project brings together corporations, individuals and partner organizations to build homes with local families in need. In November 2009, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Carter will join thousands of volunteers to shine a light on the scourge of substandard housing and demonstrate what can be accomplished when families, communities and nations come together to build a future where everyone has a place to live.

The reception was the first opportunity for project workers to meet and discuss the project with potential donors, who were able to learn more about the project's scope and watch a pre-recorded message from President Carter.

President Carter said, "I understand Ambassador and Mrs. John helped break the ground on the build site in Chiang Mai in February. At that time, the area was only an open and unturned field. But in November, you will see the birth of a community as people from every walk of life and various parts of the world work side-by-side with the citizens of Thailand to lay bricks, build roofs, and bring new life to families in Chiang Mai. We will build 82 homes, in honor of His Majesty the King's 82nd birthday in December. I can think of no better way to honor him or anyone than to help build futures and lift families out of poverty."

Ambassador John thanked the potential donors for their interest and saluted the project workers for their hard work. He summarized the purpose of the project by saying, "Habitat for Humanity does something amazing yet simple: they build houses for people who need them. But Habitat for Humanity doesn't just build houses, they build homes. And when you build homes, you create a community. And that's what we will see in Chiang Mai later this year: Thais and Americans coming together to build a community together."

For more information about the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, contact ap_info@habitat.org.

For more information about the U.S. Embassy, contact BangkokPAMediaUnit@state.gov, or call Khun Channarish Boonpharod at 02-205-4468.

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