This is NOT a NICE scarf

This is NOT a NICE scarf.

Well, it is nice, but when you know the story behind it you will likely agree that calling it ‘nice’ is a huge understatement.

I unexpectedly received the scarf this morning when I attended Creative Mornings. As I walked home from the event, the significance of the scarf sunk in and I was moved to tears. These were tears of inspiration. I’ll explain the meaning of the scarf, but first you need to know about the project that makes this scarf possible. I received this scarf from Peter Dupuis, founder (co-founder) of World Housing and it was Peter who gave a presentation about World Housing at today’s Creative Mornings.

World Housing

In a nutshell, World Housing is this:

“World Housing was conceived and created to provide housing to the most disadvantaged people on earth: families subsisting in garbage dumps. The gap between wealthy and poor continues to widen. People living in dumps, scavenging through garbage to earn less than $2/day, are the most effected. World Housing exists to provide these people with homes.”

World Housing is “A Blueprint for Creating Third World Bottom of the Pyramid Housing Supply Through a First World One-for-One Real Estate Gifting Model”
This short video will give an even better sense of the project.

Vancouver House

Here in Vancouver, we have one of the first projects and simply by purchasing a home in Vancouver House, 395 people have also financed a home for individuals and families living in squalid poverty. World Housing has a goal of providing 30,000 homes by 2020.

Vancouver House – http://vancouverhouse.ca

Vancouver House – The first World Housing certified project was announced on April 30, 2014. This super prime project, located in one of Vancouver’s leading waterfront communities and developed by Canada’s leading developer, Westbank Projects, will create 395 homes for the Cambodia Children Fund’s community while offering international condominium buyers an unparalleled lifestyle.

The Scarf

The homes have all been pre-sold and each person who purchased or invested in one of the homes in Vancouver House received a scarf like the one I am wearing. The scarves were made from materials collected in landfills by the actual people in the garbage dump community who have qualified to received one of these new World Housing homes. The scarves were made by people who have lived in huts constructed with garbage and who are now, or will soon be, living in a new home provided by World Housing.

Typical Slum Home – Photo: Davehamilton.ca & CCF – Cambodian Childrens Fund

World Housing Home – Photo: Davehamilton.ca & CCF – Cambodian Childrens Fund

So, like I say, this is NOT a NICE scarf. It represents the transformation and betterment of peoples lives. It is a tremendous honour and pleasure to have one and if anyone ever compliments me on my new scarf, you know what I’ll be telling them.

What would it be like for you to purchase a home knowing that you were radically improving another person’s or family’s life?

• Learn more at World Housing’s website: http://www.worldhousing.ca
• Follow them on Twitter: @worldhousingCCC
• Follow them on Instagram: worldhousing