HFH New Zealand Affiliate Dedicates 277th House

Children In Habitat family Say New Home Is A Place To Dream Great Dreams

WELLINGTON 6th December 2006: What does a Habitat house represent? To a child in the Jerard family in New Zealand, it is a place to dream great dreams. The child’s haven is also the 277th house dedicated by the Habitat for Humanity Porirua affiliate in Foxton town, north of the capital city Wellington.

Dream house: The Jerards’ home is the 277th house dedicated by the Habitat for Humanity Poirrua affiliate

A new chapter: The Jerards beaming in front of their new house.

The recent dedication ceremony in the North Island of New Zealand was held amid fanfare and witnessed by a 15-strong crowd. The ceremony started off on a high note with music for hymns and solo items provided by the Salvation Army. Anand Satayanand, governor general of New Zealand, and his wife Susan also graced the event which was broadcast by a local radio station.

Habitat home partner Debbie Jerard, 29, said the family can take more pride in the house as it is their very own home. The children – Danica, 10; Merrick, 6; Morgan, 5; Reif, 3; and Ocean, 2 – appear to be the greatest beneficiaries. With greater space, the kids are sleeping and behaving well, and the family is better organized to walk to the supermarket in town.

Debbie and her husband Mike, 38, worked together with the building team to construct the four-bedroom house, measuring 129 sq. m. in size. Along the way, there were other helping hands to fulfil the Jerards’ dream. For instance, a Global Village team from the United States stopped by for a week to help with the build. A Chevron group also volunteered for a day.

On the happy occasion, the family was presented with a Cerebos hamper and each member received a Bible from the local Bible society. The Jerards’ house was completed in late November.