"Communities for Communities " is the brainchild of 2003 Canada Bay 's Citizen of the year, Lance Brooks - a participant in the Australian Survivor series.  He along with a group of committed friends set up the charity in May 2002.  The vision was to build a model that other communities could follow with a twofold purpose: firstly to build a sense of community spirit amongst our own community and at the same time creating an opportunity to reach out and help other communities who may be in need. 

The result is our mission: "Building Communities Together" which effectively means

•  building , experiencing and celebrating community within our own community

•  reaching out and helping other communities meet their needs

•  raising awareness , creating a sense of understanding and insight into other people's needs

•  challenging and encouraging other communities to set up their own Communities For Communities model

So far Communities for Communities has helped build 9 schools for over 950 children in Ranong on the Thai-Burma boarder. These children who are Burmese refugees living in Thailand had no access to education. In partnership with Caritas Australia and the Jesuit Refugee service we set about raising $180,000 that provided the basic foundations for their education. This project reached completion in December 2004.

In 2005 we undertook an exciting new initiative - building 320 homes in Cebu, Philippines with partners Bethlehem Communities Australia and Habitat for Humanity. This project will help relocate 320 families who are currently living in desperate poverty in and around a rubbish tip called "smokey mountain". So far, $145,000 has been raised. C4C took a local group from Sydney to assist in building the houses in June 2006.

For more info visit our website: http://www.communitiesforcommunities.com.au/

Habitat for Humanity Australia Seeks To Benefit More Communities Across The Asia-Pacific Region Through Partnerships With Supporters

Over 800 houses to be built or renovated in the current year

Having won recognition at home for its collaborations, Habitat for Humanity Australia is set to leverage on its corporate and non-governmental organization partners to help people in need in even more communities in the Asia-Pacific region.

HFH Australia's partnerships in the Asia-Pacific include those with:

• Sydney-based Catholic organization Bethlehem Communities Australia has committed A$25,000 (US$18,460) to build 25 houses in the town of Dulangan in the southern Philippine province of Davao del Sur. This is part of a wider rehousing project - construction of 175 houses. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

For more info, please visit our web site http://www.habitat.org/