It is one of the most ambitious charitable projects the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA) has been involved with. As the organizer for the construction of new homes for six families in the Dominican Republic, this is the biggest initiative by the association to date.

It is the brainchild of past President James Bazely who has a penchant for thinking big. When an earthquake devastated Haiti a few years ago, the wheels in Bazely’s head began turning. He looked around for a place that needed hands-on help. After all, building is what OHBA members know. The Dominican Republic was such a place. “There are hardworking families living in conditions we would consider deplorable. In fact, many of us would hesitate to even enter some of these ‘homes’ – small, crudely built houses with no floors, leaky roofs and no front door. Some are flooded each time it rains and with a bathroom that may be shared by four or five other households – health problems abound,” Bazely says. 

The neighbourhoods around Puerto Plata are typical of the abject poverty that plagues many of these islands and through Absolute Hero Holidays and Marlin Travel, Bazely’s dream of personally giving back will soon become a reality.

In November, 189 OHBA members and their families will fly to Puerto Plata and for one week they will stay at the Riu Bachata resort and build homes for six needy families in the extremely poor barrios around Puerto Plata.

Those participating will be divided into teams of 15 workers and will work in shifts during the cooler hours of the day. In four days, six families will be proud owners of new homes.

“Being a home builder, helping those who are less fortunate to build houses was the perfect fit. Having two young sons, it would be a wasted opportunity not to bring them along for the build,” says Mike Memme of Mountainview Homes.

“It has certainly made our family consider what we have and appreciate. We’re excited to be a part of it,” adds Christian Caswell of Caswell and Associates. “It took a lot of work and a lot of people to make this happen, but I’m proud to say we are able to accomplish something special and will leave a legacy for future generations,” Bazely says.

A Word from a Sponsor
For Lafarge, North America’s largest diversified supplier of building materials, OHBA’s Humanitarian Build in Dominican Republic is right up the company’s alley.

“We’re excited to be involved,” says Dale Hollingsworth, Regional Vice-President for Eastern Canada. “Locally, we’ve supported Habitat for Humanity, but this will be our biggest endeavour at this level.”

Internationally, Lafarge has been involved in some major projects that include a girls’ school in India, restoring 7,000-year-old buildings in Iraq that had tremendous cultural significance and housing initiatives in South Africa and India.

“Lafarge has a global perspective and a very ambitious initiative for sustainable development. There are more than four billion people without access to proper shelter in the world. We live in a wealthy country and so we are determined to do something good in the world. The Humanitarian Build in the Dominican Republic fits the criteria,” Hollingsworth says.

What is his advice to other corporations?

“You have to decide how you want your corporate image to be perceived. If you want to be viewed as a caring organization – you get involved in causes that will best reflect your philosophy. A positive image will earn a company goodwill from the community it serves and attract good people to the organization.”

It also builds a healthy and positive spirit within the company, he points out, adding that good morale is good for business.

Three Lafarge officials will be at the Dominican Republic build and hope to bring home some valuable lessons, Hollingsworth says. “There are disadvantaged communities in Ontario and we hope to take whatever we learn in the Dominican and apply the lessons in our own backyard.”

The Sponsors
We are very excited to partner with the Ontario Home Builders’ Association and the 2011 Humanitarian Build. Federated Insurance has been a sponsor of the OHBA annual convention for the past 10 years, but this year we are particularly thrilled to be involved and have the opportunity to make a difference in these families’ lives. 

Earlier this year, at our own President’s Council meeting in Mexico, we built bicycles and donated them to the local orphanage. 

It was incredibly emotional and gratifying to see the smiles on the children’s faces. Congratulations OHBA for initiating such a wonderful endeavour. 

Mauro DiTullio, Federated Insurance

For several decades the Waterloo Region Home Builders’ Association (WRHBA) has supported local, provincial, and national charitable and not-for-profit organizations through a variety of means. WRHBA member companies also make outstanding contributions for the betterment of our community and beyond our regional boundaries and, as such, the timing of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association’s Humanitarian Build project was the ideal initiative for WRHBA to step up and join the global community in alleviating some of the world’s harshest living conditions.  

WRHBA’s President, Jamie Adam, who is a third-generation renovator, will join other HBA volunteer members across the province in a four-day builder blitz that will benefit six impoverished families that are in desperate need of safe and secure housing.

Marie Schroeder, Executive Officer, Waterloo Region Home Builders’ Association

Over the years the Brantford Home Builders’ Association has raised funds and donated to many worthy causes in our own community. The support for the Humanitarian Build has been unbelievable. We have about 16 participants from our association going down.

We also have contributions from many members who cannot participate directly, but whose donations can still help in the Dominican Republic. We make a difference as an industry every day by building homes and communities for families. We are now reaching out to the world and helping those in need. It is wonderful and humbling to be involved in something as special as the Humanitarian Build.

Rick Martins, President, Brantford Home Builders’ Association

Heathwood Homes has a long history of community work and we felt this was a great example of giving back on a large scale, as well as being something different. These are extremely underprivileged people we will be going to help in the Dominican Republic. 

Seeing the conditions there, we have to thank our lucky stars for where we live. We also felt that tying this in with the Mikey Network, which promotes heart-healthy lifestyles, made sense. 

The Mikey Network is our biggest cause and I’ll be taking a defibrillator down with me – and hope we don’t have to use it. 

This is a great opportunity for the building industry to do something special – something different.

Bob Finnigan, COO, Heathwood Homes
President, Ontario Home Builders’ Association

A few years ago, James Bazely’s daughter Melissa spoke to us about the work she was doing in the Dominican Republic. Many of us sponsored her trips down there, but her story really touched us. 

I thought what she was doing was just tremendous. When James initiated the idea that we go down as an industry to help, we were immediately on board. We’re in the industry of building and what better way to give than to provide new homes to those who desperately need them. 

The standard of living there is something many of us can’t imagine – it will be a real eye-opener. We live in one of the best countries in the world and this is our chance to help. We have a history of helping our local community; we’ve been involved in two builds for charity in the past few years. This is just one more opportunity to give back. We have about 20 people going down and we’re all excited to be taking part in something this special.

Heljar Hansen, President, Pratt Hansen Group 
President, CHBA – Simcoe County

To learn more about the Humanitarian Build, including the families involved, visit www.humanitarianbuild.com.

To purchase a copy of Ontario Home Builder - Fall 2011, click here.