Thousands of shacks, similar to this one, once occupied the site where the Habitat houses were built. According to the JCWP 2002 Volunteer Manual, Indians and black Africans were forcibly removed from this area in the early 1960s by the apartheid authorities. Their houses were torn down and the land was cleared to reinforce racial separatism. This land has now become a place where people of all races came together to build simple, decent, and affordable houses for those in need.
After breakfast and devotions, around 8:00 a.m. on the first day of work, the crew responsible for building House 936 met at the site. Before we arrived, the concrete foundation and floor had been poured and cured and the corner blocks (red arrows) set in place. Part of the front wall and the door frame (yellow arrow) were also in place. The future homeowner, Jenny (orange sweater), was there to greet us. The early arrivers from left to right include Arpad, Sue, Jan, Robin, Rob, and Dave.
Jenny and Sue check out the back of House 396 on the morning of Day 1. All the blocks for the outer walls of the house are stacked on the floor inside the house and the scaffolding is in place ready for wall-building to begin.
Rob, the house leader (facing camera), organizing the crew early on the morning of Day 1. Crew leaders are in the yellow caps. Crew members listening to their instructions are (left to right) Andy, Sue, and Kelly on the left of Rob and Robin, Jenny, Dave, Norman, Ursula, Eric, Jan, Marina, and Arpad to the right of Rob.
Gene sits outside the house early on the morning of Day 2. As can be seen, all the walls were completed and the window frames installed by the end of the first day. Gene was on the crew that completed the front wall on the first day.
Here's Sue standing by the back wall on the morning of Day 2. Her crew on the first day was assigned to the back wall; the one without windows.
Instructions are once again given to the crew assembled on the morning of Day 2. Eager to begin work are (left to right) Andy, Jan, Ursula, Norman, Jenny, Rob, Kelly, Arpad, Robin, Eric, and Sue. Gene was taking the picture.
Preparing for work on Day 3 are (left to right) Norman, Eric (behind Norman), Dave, Rob, Jan Ursula, Jenny, and Gene. Note that during Day 2 the outside of the block walls were painted; the roof trusses erected and braced; and the purlins (red arrow), used to attach the roofing tiles, were nailed into place. On the inside of the house, the ceiling battens were nailed in place, the ceiling boards screwed into the battens, and the framing for the interior walls and doors was completed.
On the morning of Day 4 we took a crew picture in front of the house. Left to right are Cecil, Tracy, Dave, Marina, Kelly, Andy, Norman, Wayne, Rob, Arpad, Jenny, Jan, Robin, Ursula, Eric, Tonia, Sue, and Gene. During the third day we insulated the ceiling, installed the roof tiles, enclosed the triangular ends of the attic with cladding, put the electric wiring in the walls, and installed most of the wall board on the interior walls.
This is the back of the house on the morning of Day 4.
Sue, Jenny, Dave, and Cecil pose in front of the completed house near the end of Day 5. On the fourth and fifth days the interior wall board joints were taped and mudded with plaster and the nail and screw holes were filled with plaster; the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet, the kitchenette sink, the electrical outlets, and the lights were installed; the doors were mounted in the frames; the cladding and the interior walls and doors were painted; the window frames were painted; molding was placed around the top and bottom of all the walls; the scaffolding was removed; the site was cleaned outside and the house swept inside; a few flowers were planted; and a small porch was made of leftover wall blocks. Jimmy Carter's crew came around and installed the awning over the porch. The house was complete and Jenny was ready to move in two days later.
After breakfast and devotions, around 8:00 a.m. on the first day of work, the crew responsible for building House 936 met at the site. Before we arrived, the concrete foundation and floor had been poured and cured and the corner blocks (red arrows) set in place. Part of the front wall and the door frame (yellow arrow) were also in place. The future homeowner, Jenny (orange sweater), was there to greet us. The early arrivers from left to right include Arpad, Sue, Jan, Robin, Rob, and Dave.
Jenny and Sue check out the back of House 396 on the morning of Day 1. All the blocks for the outer walls of the house are stacked on the floor inside the house and the scaffolding is in place ready for wall-building to begin.
Rob, the house leader (facing camera), organizing the crew early on the morning of Day 1. Crew leaders are in the yellow caps. Crew members listening to their instructions are (left to right) Andy, Sue, and Kelly on the left of Rob and Robin, Jenny, Dave, Norman, Ursula, Eric, Jan, Marina, and Arpad to the right of Rob.
Gene sits outside the house early on the morning of Day 2. As can be seen, all the walls were completed and the window frames installed by the end of the first day. Gene was on the crew that completed the front wall on the first day.
Here's Sue standing by the back wall on the morning of Day 2. Her crew on the first day was assigned to the back wall; the one without windows.
Instructions are once again given to the crew assembled on the morning of Day 2. Eager to begin work are (left to right) Andy, Jan, Ursula, Norman, Jenny, Rob, Kelly, Arpad, Robin, Eric, and Sue. Gene was taking the picture.
Preparing for work on Day 3 are (left to right) Norman, Eric (behind Norman), Dave, Rob, Jan Ursula, Jenny, and Gene. Note that during Day 2 the outside of the block walls were painted; the roof trusses erected and braced; and the purlins (red arrow), used to attach the roofing tiles, were nailed into place. On the inside of the house, the ceiling battens were nailed in place, the ceiling boards screwed into the battens, and the framing for the interior walls and doors was completed.
On the morning of Day 4 we took a crew picture in front of the house. Left to right are Cecil, Tracy, Dave, Marina, Kelly, Andy, Norman, Wayne, Rob, Arpad, Jenny, Jan, Robin, Ursula, Eric, Tonia, Sue, and Gene. During the third day we insulated the ceiling, installed the roof tiles, enclosed the triangular ends of the attic with cladding, put the electric wiring in the walls, and installed most of the wall board on the interior walls.
This is the back of the house on the morning of Day 4.
Sue, Jenny, Dave, and Cecil pose in front of the completed house near the end of Day 5. On the fourth and fifth days the interior wall board joints were taped and mudded with plaster and the nail and screw holes were filled with plaster; the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet, the kitchenette sink, the electrical outlets, and the lights were installed; the doors were mounted in the frames; the cladding and the interior walls and doors were painted; the window frames were painted; molding was placed around the top and bottom of all the walls; the scaffolding was removed; the site was cleaned outside and the house swept inside; a few flowers were planted; and a small porch was made of leftover wall blocks. Jimmy Carter's crew came around and installed the awning over the porch. The house was complete and Jenny was ready to move in two days later.
Jenny and Sue check out the back of House 396 on the morning of Day 1. All the blocks for the outer walls of the house are stacked on the floor inside the house and the scaffolding is in place ready for wall-building to begin.
Rob, the house leader (facing camera), organizing the crew early on the morning of Day 1. Crew leaders are in the yellow caps. Crew members listening to their instructions are (left to right) Andy, Sue, and Kelly on the left of Rob and Robin, Jenny, Dave, Norman, Ursula, Eric, Jan, Marina, and Arpad to the right of Rob.
Gene sits outside the house early on the morning of Day 2. As can be seen, all the walls were completed and the window frames installed by the end of the first day. Gene was on the crew that completed the front wall on the first day.
Here's Sue standing by the back wall on the morning of Day 2. Her crew on the first day was assigned to the back wall; the one without windows.
Instructions are once again given to the crew assembled on the morning of Day 2. Eager to begin work are (left to right) Andy, Jan, Ursula, Norman, Jenny, Rob, Kelly, Arpad, Robin, Eric, and Sue. Gene was taking the picture.
Preparing for work on Day 3 are (left to right) Norman, Eric (behind Norman), Dave, Rob, Jan Ursula, Jenny, and Gene. Note that during Day 2 the outside of the block walls were painted; the roof trusses erected and braced; and the purlins (red arrow), used to attach the roofing tiles, were nailed into place. On the inside of the house, the ceiling battens were nailed in place, the ceiling boards screwed into the battens, and the framing for the interior walls and doors was completed.
On the morning of Day 4 we took a crew picture in front of the house. Left to right are Cecil, Tracy, Dave, Marina, Kelly, Andy, Norman, Wayne, Rob, Arpad, Jenny, Jan, Robin, Ursula, Eric, Tonia, Sue, and Gene. During the third day we insulated the ceiling, installed the roof tiles, enclosed the triangular ends of the attic with cladding, put the electric wiring in the walls, and installed most of the wall board on the interior walls.
This is the back of the house on the morning of Day 4.
Sue, Jenny, Dave, and Cecil pose in front of the completed house near the end of Day 5. On the fourth and fifth days the interior wall board joints were taped and mudded with plaster and the nail and screw holes were filled with plaster; the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet, the kitchenette sink, the electrical outlets, and the lights were installed; the doors were mounted in the frames; the cladding and the interior walls and doors were painted; the window frames were painted; molding was placed around the top and bottom of all the walls; the scaffolding was removed; the site was cleaned outside and the house swept inside; a few flowers were planted; and a small porch was made of leftover wall blocks. Jimmy Carter's crew came around and installed the awning over the porch. The house was complete and Jenny was ready to move in two days later.
Rob, the house leader (facing camera), organizing the crew early on the morning of Day 1. Crew leaders are in the yellow caps. Crew members listening to their instructions are (left to right) Andy, Sue, and Kelly on the left of Rob and Robin, Jenny, Dave, Norman, Ursula, Eric, Jan, Marina, and Arpad to the right of Rob.
Gene sits outside the house early on the morning of Day 2. As can be seen, all the walls were completed and the window frames installed by the end of the first day. Gene was on the crew that completed the front wall on the first day.
Here's Sue standing by the back wall on the morning of Day 2. Her crew on the first day was assigned to the back wall; the one without windows.
Instructions are once again given to the crew assembled on the morning of Day 2. Eager to begin work are (left to right) Andy, Jan, Ursula, Norman, Jenny, Rob, Kelly, Arpad, Robin, Eric, and Sue. Gene was taking the picture.
Preparing for work on Day 3 are (left to right) Norman, Eric (behind Norman), Dave, Rob, Jan Ursula, Jenny, and Gene. Note that during Day 2 the outside of the block walls were painted; the roof trusses erected and braced; and the purlins (red arrow), used to attach the roofing tiles, were nailed into place. On the inside of the house, the ceiling battens were nailed in place, the ceiling boards screwed into the battens, and the framing for the interior walls and doors was completed.
On the morning of Day 4 we took a crew picture in front of the house. Left to right are Cecil, Tracy, Dave, Marina, Kelly, Andy, Norman, Wayne, Rob, Arpad, Jenny, Jan, Robin, Ursula, Eric, Tonia, Sue, and Gene. During the third day we insulated the ceiling, installed the roof tiles, enclosed the triangular ends of the attic with cladding, put the electric wiring in the walls, and installed most of the wall board on the interior walls.
This is the back of the house on the morning of Day 4.
Sue, Jenny, Dave, and Cecil pose in front of the completed house near the end of Day 5. On the fourth and fifth days the interior wall board joints were taped and mudded with plaster and the nail and screw holes were filled with plaster; the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet, the kitchenette sink, the electrical outlets, and the lights were installed; the doors were mounted in the frames; the cladding and the interior walls and doors were painted; the window frames were painted; molding was placed around the top and bottom of all the walls; the scaffolding was removed; the site was cleaned outside and the house swept inside; a few flowers were planted; and a small porch was made of leftover wall blocks. Jimmy Carter's crew came around and installed the awning over the porch. The house was complete and Jenny was ready to move in two days later.
Gene sits outside the house early on the morning of Day 2. As can be seen, all the walls were completed and the window frames installed by the end of the first day. Gene was on the crew that completed the front wall on the first day.
Here's Sue standing by the back wall on the morning of Day 2. Her crew on the first day was assigned to the back wall; the one without windows.
Instructions are once again given to the crew assembled on the morning of Day 2. Eager to begin work are (left to right) Andy, Jan, Ursula, Norman, Jenny, Rob, Kelly, Arpad, Robin, Eric, and Sue. Gene was taking the picture.
Preparing for work on Day 3 are (left to right) Norman, Eric (behind Norman), Dave, Rob, Jan Ursula, Jenny, and Gene. Note that during Day 2 the outside of the block walls were painted; the roof trusses erected and braced; and the purlins (red arrow), used to attach the roofing tiles, were nailed into place. On the inside of the house, the ceiling battens were nailed in place, the ceiling boards screwed into the battens, and the framing for the interior walls and doors was completed.
On the morning of Day 4 we took a crew picture in front of the house. Left to right are Cecil, Tracy, Dave, Marina, Kelly, Andy, Norman, Wayne, Rob, Arpad, Jenny, Jan, Robin, Ursula, Eric, Tonia, Sue, and Gene. During the third day we insulated the ceiling, installed the roof tiles, enclosed the triangular ends of the attic with cladding, put the electric wiring in the walls, and installed most of the wall board on the interior walls.
This is the back of the house on the morning of Day 4.
Sue, Jenny, Dave, and Cecil pose in front of the completed house near the end of Day 5. On the fourth and fifth days the interior wall board joints were taped and mudded with plaster and the nail and screw holes were filled with plaster; the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet, the kitchenette sink, the electrical outlets, and the lights were installed; the doors were mounted in the frames; the cladding and the interior walls and doors were painted; the window frames were painted; molding was placed around the top and bottom of all the walls; the scaffolding was removed; the site was cleaned outside and the house swept inside; a few flowers were planted; and a small porch was made of leftover wall blocks. Jimmy Carter's crew came around and installed the awning over the porch. The house was complete and Jenny was ready to move in two days later.
Here's Sue standing by the back wall on the morning of Day 2. Her crew on the first day was assigned to the back wall; the one without windows.
Instructions are once again given to the crew assembled on the morning of Day 2. Eager to begin work are (left to right) Andy, Jan, Ursula, Norman, Jenny, Rob, Kelly, Arpad, Robin, Eric, and Sue. Gene was taking the picture.
Preparing for work on Day 3 are (left to right) Norman, Eric (behind Norman), Dave, Rob, Jan Ursula, Jenny, and Gene. Note that during Day 2 the outside of the block walls were painted; the roof trusses erected and braced; and the purlins (red arrow), used to attach the roofing tiles, were nailed into place. On the inside of the house, the ceiling battens were nailed in place, the ceiling boards screwed into the battens, and the framing for the interior walls and doors was completed.
On the morning of Day 4 we took a crew picture in front of the house. Left to right are Cecil, Tracy, Dave, Marina, Kelly, Andy, Norman, Wayne, Rob, Arpad, Jenny, Jan, Robin, Ursula, Eric, Tonia, Sue, and Gene. During the third day we insulated the ceiling, installed the roof tiles, enclosed the triangular ends of the attic with cladding, put the electric wiring in the walls, and installed most of the wall board on the interior walls.
This is the back of the house on the morning of Day 4.
Sue, Jenny, Dave, and Cecil pose in front of the completed house near the end of Day 5. On the fourth and fifth days the interior wall board joints were taped and mudded with plaster and the nail and screw holes were filled with plaster; the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet, the kitchenette sink, the electrical outlets, and the lights were installed; the doors were mounted in the frames; the cladding and the interior walls and doors were painted; the window frames were painted; molding was placed around the top and bottom of all the walls; the scaffolding was removed; the site was cleaned outside and the house swept inside; a few flowers were planted; and a small porch was made of leftover wall blocks. Jimmy Carter's crew came around and installed the awning over the porch. The house was complete and Jenny was ready to move in two days later.
Instructions are once again given to the crew assembled on the morning of Day 2. Eager to begin work are (left to right) Andy, Jan, Ursula, Norman, Jenny, Rob, Kelly, Arpad, Robin, Eric, and Sue. Gene was taking the picture.
Preparing for work on Day 3 are (left to right) Norman, Eric (behind Norman), Dave, Rob, Jan Ursula, Jenny, and Gene. Note that during Day 2 the outside of the block walls were painted; the roof trusses erected and braced; and the purlins (red arrow), used to attach the roofing tiles, were nailed into place. On the inside of the house, the ceiling battens were nailed in place, the ceiling boards screwed into the battens, and the framing for the interior walls and doors was completed.
On the morning of Day 4 we took a crew picture in front of the house. Left to right are Cecil, Tracy, Dave, Marina, Kelly, Andy, Norman, Wayne, Rob, Arpad, Jenny, Jan, Robin, Ursula, Eric, Tonia, Sue, and Gene. During the third day we insulated the ceiling, installed the roof tiles, enclosed the triangular ends of the attic with cladding, put the electric wiring in the walls, and installed most of the wall board on the interior walls.
This is the back of the house on the morning of Day 4.
Sue, Jenny, Dave, and Cecil pose in front of the completed house near the end of Day 5. On the fourth and fifth days the interior wall board joints were taped and mudded with plaster and the nail and screw holes were filled with plaster; the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet, the kitchenette sink, the electrical outlets, and the lights were installed; the doors were mounted in the frames; the cladding and the interior walls and doors were painted; the window frames were painted; molding was placed around the top and bottom of all the walls; the scaffolding was removed; the site was cleaned outside and the house swept inside; a few flowers were planted; and a small porch was made of leftover wall blocks. Jimmy Carter's crew came around and installed the awning over the porch. The house was complete and Jenny was ready to move in two days later.
Preparing for work on Day 3 are (left to right) Norman, Eric (behind Norman), Dave, Rob, Jan Ursula, Jenny, and Gene. Note that during Day 2 the outside of the block walls were painted; the roof trusses erected and braced; and the purlins (red arrow), used to attach the roofing tiles, were nailed into place. On the inside of the house, the ceiling battens were nailed in place, the ceiling boards screwed into the battens, and the framing for the interior walls and doors was completed.
On the morning of Day 4 we took a crew picture in front of the house. Left to right are Cecil, Tracy, Dave, Marina, Kelly, Andy, Norman, Wayne, Rob, Arpad, Jenny, Jan, Robin, Ursula, Eric, Tonia, Sue, and Gene. During the third day we insulated the ceiling, installed the roof tiles, enclosed the triangular ends of the attic with cladding, put the electric wiring in the walls, and installed most of the wall board on the interior walls.
This is the back of the house on the morning of Day 4.
Sue, Jenny, Dave, and Cecil pose in front of the completed house near the end of Day 5. On the fourth and fifth days the interior wall board joints were taped and mudded with plaster and the nail and screw holes were filled with plaster; the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet, the kitchenette sink, the electrical outlets, and the lights were installed; the doors were mounted in the frames; the cladding and the interior walls and doors were painted; the window frames were painted; molding was placed around the top and bottom of all the walls; the scaffolding was removed; the site was cleaned outside and the house swept inside; a few flowers were planted; and a small porch was made of leftover wall blocks. Jimmy Carter's crew came around and installed the awning over the porch. The house was complete and Jenny was ready to move in two days later.
On the morning of Day 4 we took a crew picture in front of the house. Left to right are Cecil, Tracy, Dave, Marina, Kelly, Andy, Norman, Wayne, Rob, Arpad, Jenny, Jan, Robin, Ursula, Eric, Tonia, Sue, and Gene. During the third day we insulated the ceiling, installed the roof tiles, enclosed the triangular ends of the attic with cladding, put the electric wiring in the walls, and installed most of the wall board on the interior walls.
This is the back of the house on the morning of Day 4.
Sue, Jenny, Dave, and Cecil pose in front of the completed house near the end of Day 5. On the fourth and fifth days the interior wall board joints were taped and mudded with plaster and the nail and screw holes were filled with plaster; the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet, the kitchenette sink, the electrical outlets, and the lights were installed; the doors were mounted in the frames; the cladding and the interior walls and doors were painted; the window frames were painted; molding was placed around the top and bottom of all the walls; the scaffolding was removed; the site was cleaned outside and the house swept inside; a few flowers were planted; and a small porch was made of leftover wall blocks. Jimmy Carter's crew came around and installed the awning over the porch. The house was complete and Jenny was ready to move in two days later.
This is the back of the house on the morning of Day 4.
Sue, Jenny, Dave, and Cecil pose in front of the completed house near the end of Day 5. On the fourth and fifth days the interior wall board joints were taped and mudded with plaster and the nail and screw holes were filled with plaster; the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet, the kitchenette sink, the electrical outlets, and the lights were installed; the doors were mounted in the frames; the cladding and the interior walls and doors were painted; the window frames were painted; molding was placed around the top and bottom of all the walls; the scaffolding was removed; the site was cleaned outside and the house swept inside; a few flowers were planted; and a small porch was made of leftover wall blocks. Jimmy Carter's crew came around and installed the awning over the porch. The house was complete and Jenny was ready to move in two days later.