Samsung partners with Habitat for Humanity to build homes and communities
ATLANTA (March 22, 2016) – Habitat for Humanity and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced the third consecutive year of their global corporate social responsibility partnership. In 2016, the partnership will support housing, water, sanitation and education building projects for communities in seven countries where Habitat operates.
Support for these programs includes the construction of “Smart” high-tech libraries in Indonesia, a secondary school in Kenya, housing and a community center in Argentina, and funding for water, sanitation and hygiene programs in Nepal.
“We are very pleased to support Habitat for Humanity and look forward to the positive impact that our partnership program will bring to smart education and community development,” said Yim Sangmo, senior vice president, Global Public Affairs Group, Samsung Electronics.
Samsung will also support the Asia-Pacific Habitat Young Leaders Build as a platinum sponsor. The annual spring campaign brings together youth from across the region to work together to build homes and communities, advocate for decent shelter, and raise funds and awareness on the need for affordable housing. Samsung will support Young Leaders Build projects in China, Hong Kong, India and the Philippines.
“We are grateful to Samsung for their support to further the mission of Habitat as we work together for a world where everyone has a decent place to live,” said Rick Hathaway, vice president, Habitat for Humanity, Asia-Pacific. “We share a commitment for helping families in need of affordable housing. This support will enable Habitat for Humanity to improve the lives of many families throughout our global mission.”
Samsung’s global CSR partnership with Habitat for Humanity began in 2013, completing renovations for 104 homes in Egypt and constructing 28 houses in South Africa. In 2014 in Vietnam, two schools each received a high-tech IT classroom, and in Zambia 18 houses were built, along with a Solar Powered Internet School. In 2015, 50 houses were improved and a community center was built in Argentina. During that same year six houses were built in Vietnam, while in Kenya, new technology using interlocking stabilized soil blocks was used to build a secondary school and two demonstration houses.
Habitat for Humanity works in more than 70 countries around the world, and has supported programs benefitting an estimated two million people in the Asia-Pacific region, where it has been active since 1983.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity has grown from a grassroots effort that began on a community farm in southern Georgia in 1976 to a global nonprofit housing organization in nearly 1,400 communities across the U.S. and in over 70 countries. People partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies that redefine the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. It is also leading in the Internet of Things space with the open platform SmartThings, its broad range of smart devices and through proactive cross-industry collaboration. It employs 319,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of US196 billion. To discover more, and for the latest news, feature articles and press material, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com. There are many initiatives by Samsung around the world aiming to give people improved access to the possibilities of the digital world, improving living standards and helping the communities. Samsung Citizenship programs are designed to address societal issues where Samsung is best placed to make a positive difference. Education and employment are areas where it works to help young people to learn how digital education can open new opportunities to their future. Samsung provides mobile health solutions to remote communities to get access to quality health care and PlanetFirst is its corporate initiative to reduce its impacts on the environment. Creating a better and sustainable society is ultimately what Samsung is all about as a corporate citizen.