Over the past decade of the Habitat Young Leaders Build, volunteers had actively worked on home construction until the global COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to in-person activities. But all is not lost. Vas Menon, 17, said: “There is more to helping Habitat for Humanity than going out for a build.” A volunteer with Habitat Indonesia since 2017, the high school student had helped build homes, painted walls and laid foundations in various locations in Indonesia. He also took part in fundraising activities.
In Indonesia, where the number of new COVID-19 infections has dropped to over 4,800 a day on April 12 from a high in January 2021, the role of housing as the first line of defense against the pandemic remains crucial. “Housing is more important than ever; housing keeps people safe from the pandemic,” he said.