Build Change with Naomi: Getting Started

Thanks!

First, thanks for joining me on this journey. Since deciding to spend five months volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, the support and encouragement I've received from many of you has already been amazing.

This site will serve as a way for friends and family to follow my adventures and experiences over the next five months, and to be part of the changes that you are enabling through your encouragement and your donations.

A bit about me

I'm a 33 year-old strategy consultant who has recently decided to take an unpaid leave of absence from my job at McKinsey to work with Habitat for Humanity in Villamontes, Bolivia. I've volunteered with Habitat for 15 years in 6 states. For the past 2 years I have been thinking about how to make a change on a bigger level by giving of my time, energy, and money. I had the opportunity to work Habitat in 2005 to launch a program called Thrivent Builds delivering over 300 homes worldwide annually. Now, I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to extend my passion for Habitat in Bolivia.

My goal is simple

My goal is to raise at least $100,000 to build 15 homes in 5 months providing for 100 people. My role will be to lead the fundraising, project manage the daily activities of the build, and work with the community of families to build safe housing with them.

Next steps

I'm currently finalizing the plans with Habitat Bolivia to arrive in Villamontes in 1 month! Villamontes is the hottest place in Bolivia, with temperatures hitting 120F in Summer so thankfully I'm arriving in "winter" to get acclimated (when it's a brisk 90-100F!) My San Francisco skin won't know what happened.

Many of you have asked already about how to help support this effort. There are lots of ways to be supportive! You can forward this website to friends and family, use the link to the left to signup for regular updates and pictures. For those of you who would like to donate to support this effort, please CLICK HERE to make a secure tax-deductible online donation, or if you prefer, you can mail a check to:

Habitat for Humanity International

c/o Jen O'Rourke

Attn: Build Change with Naomi

121 Habitat Street

Americus, GA 31709

Thanks again for joining me on this adventure. I look forward to hearing from you and making change happen in Bolivia!

Saludos,

naomi