Habitat KK to build new Habitat Resource Centre

21 Jan 2008: Our President Allen Tong (dark coat) receiving an initial fund of US $ 25,000.00 from Habitat National Board of Trustees Chairman, Chiew Chung Yee in Kuala Lumpur. This initial Capacity Building funding is for Habitat KK to identify, plan and implement its aforementioned project in due course.

Others in pix (from Left to Right): Samuel Phang, John Thomas, Dato’ Phang Kon Hee, Allen Tong, Chiew Chung Yee, Nestor Pestelos, Gloria Tan, Ariane Aliggayu

Visit to Desa Cargill

28 Jan 08 in Kota Kinabalu: Visit to Desa Cargill Sdn Bhd. Our President Allen Tong (in tie) presenting Habitat T-shirts to Stanley Mogindol, Branch Manager of Desa Cargill. (From left to right: Ranen Bhattacharyya, William Lee, Allen Tong, Stanley Mogindol, Joanna Kitingan and Ruspian Angkaji.)

Visit to Desa Cargill

Jan 08 in Kota Kinabalu: Mr Stanley Mogindol (Branch Manager) and Ms Ruspian Angkaji (Admin & Accounts Officer) are strong volunteers and supporters of our Habitat build programs and activities in Kota Kinabalu, through their organization Desa Cargill Sdn Bhd. Habitat KK looks forward to building stronger partnership with them especially to share and encourage others to volunteer as well.

Hope Hurlbut's farewell

Jan 08 in Kota Kinabalu: Our Board Member, Ms Hope Hurlbut, is leaving for a posting to China and is seen here bidding farewell to the Habitat Board of Directors, in a dinner held on 12th Jan 2008 at the home of President Allen Tong. Ms Hope has been a member of the Board of Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu since its inception in 2004. We wish you all the very best Hope! We will miss your humour. May God bless you in your future endeavours in China.

Hope Hurlbut's farewell

Jan 08 in Kota Kinabalu: One of our Board Members, Ms Joanna Kitingan, wishing and blessing Hope (blue floral dress) as Hope is leaving Kota Kinabalu after more than 30 years for a posting in China. She is based with SIL.

Medium Rise Building I

Jan 08 in Philippines: This is Medium Rise Building ("MRB") built by volunteers from near and far for less fortunate families. Serious??!! But the building looks like built by professionals.....

MRB II

Jan 08 in Philippines: A different shot from another angle of MRB. Still can't believe that this is built by volunteers. Guess building from the heart makes wonders....

MRB - Interior I

Jan 08 in Philippines: Welcome inside of MRB!! This is a model house. It is seems so warm and comfortable home. Well done volunteers!!

MRB - Interior II

Jan 08 in Philippines: Appears like a pro design home - stylish quarter-turn stairs, moon-like lights hanging down from above, wood-like top kitchen sink, among other. From the photo I would never have thought that it is a Medium Rise Building built by volunteers for the less fortunate families.

MRB - Site Inspection

Jan 08 in Philippines : We just had our site inspection of MRB, pretty impressive both interior and exterior. We were told the wall of the building is made of Concrete Interlocking System ("CIB"). Wonder what it is? Read on the following post.

MRB - Concrete Interlocking Block

Jan 08 in Philippines: Heard of Concrete Interlocking Block ("CIB")? CIB is a volunteer friendly building material and is costs effective. Anyone, including you and I, too can build a house using CIB. Huh?? Yes, CIB is easy to handle because of the built-in interlocking system. Medium Rise Building ("MRB") that you have just seen is built using such innovative building material.

Safety First

January 2008 in Philippines: Best advice from our Allen, "Attention boys and gals!! Please make sure you grab yourselves with one of these helmets before you head to the construction site . Safety first!!!"

Creative door from recycled materials

January 2008: Warren showing Jeannette Tong, PR Chairman of Habitat KK the beautiful door at the Taguig City HBRC made creatively from recycled materials (tetrapak). This is truly environmental friendly. Hey, I think we can learn something here...let's do it man.

Habitat KK to build its Habitat Resource Center

Do you know that it is not necessary to reinvent the wheel? That's right! Habitat KK visited the Habitat Building Resouce Center (HBRC) at Taguig City in the Philippines in January 2008 to understudy and model after the success of the HBRC. Picture shows one of the sleek floors at the very impressive HBRC.

Constant Training & Upgrade

November 2007: Mabel Kuizon from Habitat Asia Pacific seen here briefing Board Members of Habitat Kota Kinabalu on various Habitat programs and activities in the Asia Pacific region. Habitat Kota Kinabalu plans to embark on a pilot "Community Survey" program in 2008 which is based on the ABCD approach (Assets Based Community Development). The survey will be diagnosed with sophisticated computer program which is currently being developed, and will provide invaluable data/information directly linked with the community's basic needs.

Visit by Asia Pacific officers to Habitat Kota Kinabalu

Dr Nestor Pestelos and Mabel Kuizon from Habitat for Humanity Asia Pacific visits Habitat Kota Kinabalu, seen here during their visit to Kolej Yayasan Sabah in Likas, in November 2007. Habitat Kota Kinabalu is undertaking plans to start its Habitat Resource Center which includes a skills training center, admin office, store and workshop. Once the location of the center is identified, Habitat Kota Kinabalu will find ways to implement building techniques for improving efficiency and reducing costs. Habitat Kota Kinabalu will also invite corporate partners to spearhead and implement its programs and activities.

Two handsome participants at the APLC

Asia Pacific Leadership Conference in Singapore Septerember 2007:

Richard Hathaway, Area Vice President, Habitat for Humanity Asia Pacific and Allen Tong, President, Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Asia Pacific Leadership Conference in Singapore

Habitat leaders gathering at the Asia Pacific Leadership Conference in Singapore in September 2007. Pix shows ever popular Peter Witton, Director of Communication, Asia Pacific inspiring and energizing the participants with his wit and humor. Breakout workshops and training sessions by experienced Habitat officers provide a structured platform for participants to share in an experiential learning environment.

More Partners & Volunteers needed

Senior Managers of the Alliance Bank in Sabah attending a briefing on the programs and activities of Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu in August 2007. You can contribute by becoming a volunteer at one of our work sites or you can tell others about our activites. Better still, you can help someone apply for a Habitat home. All you got to do is to call us at +6088 259089 and we will provide you with relevant information. In the briefing to the management of the Alliance Bank in Sabah, President Allen Tong fielded Questions with comprehensive answers and invited the stafff members of the bank to join hands with Habitat for its community home building projects.

Awareness & Publicity Program

Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu presents regular Awareness & Publicity programs to the corporate world. Pix shows President Allen Tong of Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu speaking to the Senior Management Group of the Alliance Bank in Sabah in August 2007. Habitat works in partnership and would like to join hands with companies and organizations to serve the community together.