- Words by Angela Cowan Photographs by Lia Crowe
When Sharon Conway first encountered Habitat for Humanity almost a decade ago on Vancouver Island, she knew immediately sheB次元官网网址檇 found one of the great passions of her life.
B次元官网网址淚t was pure luck,B次元官网网址� she laughs when asked how she first became involved with the organization. Sharon, a certified human resources professional currently in private practice, was working at the time helping people transition back into the work force.
B次元官网网址淢y job was to help them figure out the next step in life,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淧art of that program was to give people the opportunity to see different kinds of work, and to do that through volunteering.B次元官网网址�
SheB次元官网网址檇 actually never heard of Habitat for Humanity before, but when the organization showed up to do a presentation, she was blown away.
B次元官网网址淢y children were young, and weB次元官网网址檇 been working so hard to get into a home,B次元官网网址� she remembers. B次元官网网址淲e couldnB次元官网网址檛 have done it if we hadnB次元官网网址檛 had help from my parents. And here was this organization doing it on a worldwide scale.B次元官网网址�
Despite having four young children, foster children and a career to manage, Sharon knew she needed to be involved.
B次元官网网址淎t first, it was literally just coming out with my kids and sweeping up, and it was amazing, and my children loved it. [Habitat] quickly realized I was a lot more useful on the board,B次元官网网址� she says with another laugh. B次元官网网址淲e all serve in the way that weB次元官网网址檙e best suited.B次元官网网址�
Sharon, whoB次元官网网址檇 had a wealth of experience in the construction and housing industries as a human resources professionalB次元官网网址攐ften involved in building affordable rental properties across the countryB次元官网网址攚as able to bring that knowledge to Habitat for Humanity. She served on the board on Vancouver Island for three years, and then a work opportunity arose for her and her husband in the Okanagan. With their four kids grown and away at university or travelling the globe, Sharon and her husband relocated to Kelowna in 2014. They both fell in love with the area, and very soon Sharon was invited to be part of the board for Habitat Okanagan.
Several years later, she took a sabbatical for a life-changing experience.
B次元官网网址淚 went overseas with Habitat to do a bucket-list build in Cambodia,B次元官网网址� she says, explaining she was part of a team of 200 people from all over the world. B次元官网网址淲e got together, and we found out immediately we were all very passionate about Habitat, and we instantly became a team. It was amazing. IB次元官网网址檓 excited to be able to do it again one day.B次元官网网址�
Her warmth and enthusiasm for what she does is palpable. Sharon seems to have that rare gift of inspiring those sheB次元官网网址檚 with to actually feel her passion, her commitment, and her heart-driven ambition to change the world for the better.
B次元官网网址淗abitat for me is the most holistic organization to be involved in. We create homes, and fundamentally, thatB次元官网网址檚 incredibly important. These homes create community, and in doing that we create stability,B次元官网网址� she explains. B次元官网网址淲e know that children who grow up in these homesB次元官网网址攖he statistics have been doneB次元官网网址攁re more likely to graduate, more likely to go onto post-secondary education and more likely to contribute back into the community. When we have families that move in, weB次元官网网址檙e seriously investing into the social fabric in our communities. WeB次元官网网址檙e holding onto that middle class.B次元官网网址�
In fact, she explains, Habitat for Humanity generates $175,000 of benefits to society per home, through reduced reliance on social housing and food banks, better educational and employment outcomes and improved health.
B次元官网网址淩esearch shows that for every dollar donated to Habitat, four dollars in social benefits are returned to the community.B次元官网网址�
And then thereB次元官网网址檚 the environmental factor, with literal tons of housing materials being diverted from landfills through the ReStore program, she adds.
Sharon, now chair of the board for Habitat Okanagan, lights up as she talks about the current project: a complex of 12 townhouses in Lake Country. Several years ago, a piece of land became available for purchase to Habitat, and after navigating the rezoning and building permit hurdles, they were able to break ground early this year.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an ambitious enterprise to raise funds to build 12 homes all at once. ItB次元官网网址檚 the biggest build weB次元官网网址檝e ever done in the history of Habitat Okanagan,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淏ut we still need to raise money to finish the build.B次元官网网址�
Of the 12 townhouses, the first three are at the painting stage and their families will move in next April. The next three homes are currently at the foundation stage, and the last sixB次元官网网址攁 four-plex and a duplexB次元官网网址攁re set to break ground early next summer.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lovely little community, and itB次元官网网址檚 near schools,B次元官网网址� says Sharon. B次元官网网址淭he children are so excited! They just did a tour and picked their bedrooms, and they walked the little distance to their school.B次元官网网址�
For those who are moved to get involved, there are a number of ways to lend a hand.
The second annual B次元官网网址淛ingle Bell BuildB次元官网网址� gingerbread photo contest kicks off in November, raising funds through B次元官网网址渂uild permitsB次元官网网址� and gingerbread house kits, with money going to the Lake Country build. Anyone wanting to get more B次元官网网址渉ands onB次元官网网址� can volunteer on site, either with their own team or by joining an existing group. Or people are invited to create their own fundraising event.
The easiest way to make a difference, though, says Sharon, is to just spread the word.
For Sharon, getting involved with Habitat for Humanity was one of the best things sheB次元官网网址檚 done.
B次元官网网址淔rom environmental impacts to social change, to the grassroots of a family who has security and children who have a home and can plant roots,B次元官网网址� she says, warmth filling her voice. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 no wonder Habitat is my passion.B次元官网网址�
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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