Costa Rica January 2012: The simplicity of a home

We dumped one more wheelbarrow full of dirt, excavated one final spade full of crimson clay, and filled in one last wall seam with mortar.  It is hard to believe that a week can pass so quickly.  Lots of memories, lots of stories, lots of tired volunteers.

This is the 8^th Habitat Global Village trip I have led over the past 13 years.  Each one has been unique in its own special way.  And this year’s trip to Costa Rica was no different.  I met four extremely motivated and dedicated Habitat partner families.  And I have been surrounded by a team of equally hard working and generous volunteers.  This combination is the essence of Habitat for Humanity.

Over the week, our group discussed the concept of land tenure, the importance of land rights, and Habitat Costa Rica’s successful model of being able to serve families living in “extreme poverty”.  We talked about solutions to solving the global housing crisis and ways we can all continue to support Habitat’s mission across the globe.  However, what will stick with me for years to come is really a quite simple concept.

On Friday I was talking with Jackson—the five-year-old son of a future Habitat homeowner.  To really understand this story, you need to know Jackson.  Jackson was the star of the show this week.   He charmed us with his sense of humor, amazed us with his energy and entertained us as 5 year olds tend to do (chasing us around site, slapping high fives, trying to douse us with water, etc.).  He is the type of kid you can picture being the mayor of his town later on in life.  I asked him what a new home would mean to him.  He didn’t beat around the bush.  He hardly blinked as if he had been preparing his response for years.  His response was, “un lugar para jugar.” (A place to play—in English).   

I was taken aback by the beauty in the simplicity of Jackson’s response.  Un lugar para jugar. Sometimes we look for in-depth and profound ways to explain the importance a safe, affordable home can play in one’s life.  Sometimes all we need to do is shift our perspective by looking through the lens of a 5 year old.  All Jackson wants is a place to play.  And later this summer, this is exactly what Jackson will get. 

--Jeff Smith, Global Village Team Leader