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P ro g r a m U P d at e abri International 1
Rooftops Canada
Abri internationalBuilding Homes and Communities Since 1984!
Program Report2013
2 rooftops Canada P ro g r a m U P d at e
Mary Mathenge, CEO of the National Cooperative Housing Union of Kenya (NACHU), and Jo Ferris-Davis, President of Rooftops Canada, on the construction site of the Faith Foundation Housing Co-op near Nairobi.
Step-by-step housing under construction in Zimbabwe
Cover photo: Ngalawa Housing Cooperative members in front of their homes currentlyunder construction in Mavoko Municipality, Kenya.
P ro g r a m U P d at e abri International 3
FROM THE ROOFTOPS
Rooftops Canada focuses on sub-
Saharan Africa, the world’s most
rapidly urbanizing region. About 2.4
million new urban families need hous-
ing every year and there is an enormous
housing backlog. Most urban residents in
the region live in slums.
Our partners in Kenya, Tanzania and
Zimbabwe are meeting this challenge by
rapidly expanding their housing micro-
finance programs. Thousands of families
are accessing small loans to acquire land
and build houses room by room. A new
partnership with UK-based Homeless
International has resulted in significant
new investments. In South Africa, our
innovative social housing partners are
providing well-located rental housing to
40,000 families. All these experiences
are demonstrating the way forward.
We are very appreciative of our five-
especially for women, children and
people living with AIDS.
We are proud of the contribution
made by our volunteers through hosting
visitors, providing technical support to
our partners and educating Canadians
about international development. We
would also like to thank our past Board
members Mike Alsop, Martine Hubert,
Hugh Landry, Menno Peters, Amanda
Shaughnessy and Nick Volk for their
invaluable contributions.
This new short, incisive Program
Report is part of our shift to a stronger
online presence. We encourage you to
subscribe to our regular e-bulletin and
social media channels. And please visit
our website, which has many program
reports and our detailed annual financial
statements: www.rooftops.ca
year, $5-million partnership with the
Government of Canada through the
Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA) that started in 2011.
It enables us to work with our African
partners to build homes and sustain-
able communities while contributing to
economic growth in the region.
An exchange program between
Nairobi, Cape Town and Toronto has
led to a new program on urban food
security, urban agriculture and housing.
It is helping urban poor families improve
their nutrition and incomes.
In 2012, Rooftops Canada and its
partners achieved a breakthrough when
leaders from UNAIDS and other major
institutions agreed to place decent and
affordable housing on the global agenda
to end AIDS. This recognizes the critical
link between housing and health –
n Jo Ferris-Davis, President n Barry Pinsky, Executive Director
4 rooftops Canada P ro g r a m U P d at e
Housing microfinance pilot programs
with African and international
partners are assisting thousands of low-
income families who cannot afford to
buy complete houses to acquire land, in-
stall basic services and improve or build
houses step by step. These programs are
also creating jobs, generating income
and stimulating economic growth.
Program support, technical assistance
and new partnerships are helping build
the capacity needed to provide housing
by Homeless International, a UK-based
organization.
In Tanzania, WAT Human Settlements
Trust, led by its new CEO Judith Sando,
has leapt ahead by securing capital and
land, and is growing its capacity to pro-
vide housing support services. A total of
821 land and incremental housing loans
microfinance and housing support ser-
vices at each step in the housing process.
In September 2012, the National
Cooperative Housing Union of Kenya
had an active portfolio of over 530 hous-
ing loans worth $4.19 million – a 292
percent increase over two years. These
loans are anchored by $3.1 million in
member savings. Loans and guarantees
provided by Rooftops Canada, CIDA and
the Co-operative Housing Federation of
Canada led to significant investments
Housing Microfinance – Leveraging Economic Growth
Kuyasa call centre staff with Rooftops Canada intern Marcia Davidson.
P ro g r a m U P d at e abri International 5
for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa,
in Johannesburg. Over the next three
years, Rooftops Canada will deepen and
extend the three pilot programs and
establish new pro-poor housing finance
and development partnerships in the
region.
Special thanks are due to the
Rooftops Canada core team of hous-
ing microfinance and housing support
services technical advisors Jamie Ritchie,
Eliza Moore and Patricia Sibley, and to
Carl Evers and the many young profes-
sionals who have worked with the hous-
ing microfinance program partners. n
were issued between April 2011 and
September 2012.
Member co-ops of the Zimbabwe
National Association of Housing Co-
operatives have built 236 core houses
and are on track to construct 40 houses
per month. Youth have been trained and
are earning incomes from brick-making
and construction.
In South Africa, the Kuyasa Fund
continues to be a regional leader. It has
provided over 31,000 loans to help low-
income households improve their hous-
ing. Rooftops Canada has helped Kuyasa
grow and streamline its operations.
A strategic stakeholder workshop and
seven country consultations resulted
in the African Housing Microfinance
Initiative to promote the concept and
build capacity in the region. It is hosted
by Rooftops Canada’s partner, the Centre Microfinance for room-by-room housing creates jobs and incomes.
Core house under construction in Zimbabwe.
6 rooftops Canada P ro g r a m U P d at e
ing with many partners to develop a
municipal food course which will help
local officials work together and with
community partners. These include the
City of Cape Town, Ryerson University
and the University of Cape Town. Special
thanks are due to the food strategy team
at Toronto Public Health. n
the process – the need for a supportive
enabling environment for urban food
activities and the challenge of integrating
youth to create employment.
The three-year pilot also led to a
sharper focus on urban food security,
urban agriculture and housing spaces.
Ongoing programming will support
the integration of broader food systems
thinking into urban food pro-
duction, processing and sales
both in green field housing
projects and in slum upgrad-
ing. This will stimulate local
economic growth and build
more resilient communities.
Program resources will also be
shared with housing partners
in Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Rooftops Canada and
Mazingira Institute are work-
IN 2010 Rooftops Canada and
its Kenyan partner, Mazingira
Institute, initiated a pilot exchange
program on urban agriculture between
Nairobi, Cape Town and Toronto. Visits
and workshops in the three cities in-
volved dozens of local organizations,
universities and municipal government
departments. A youth-focused exchange
in Nairobi promoted skills
development and entrepre-
neurship. The program also
reflected the importance of
gardens for building com-
munity in South African and
Canadian social housing.
Interns and technical advi-
sors helped document local
practices and develop re-
source materials. Two impor-
tant themes emerged from
Urban Food Security, Urban Agriculture and Housing Spaces
Training young urban farmers at Mazingira Institute, Nairobi.
Urban famers use every bit of space around the house.
P ro g r a m U P d at e abri International 7
consultant, spent a demand-
ing but exciting three weeks in
South Africa contributing his
expertise in social housing and
public and private sector partner-
ships to large stakeholder work-
shops in Cape Town, Pretoria
and Johannesburg. The Ontario
Non-Profit Housing Association
has shared resources and hosted
a NASHO representative at its
annual provider forums. Several
young Canadian professionals have
worked with NASHO and its affiliates.
Rooftops Canada is also contribut-
ing to sector governance. Both the
Agency for Co-operative Housing and
the Housing Services Corporation in
Ontario are sharing experiences with the
South African Social Housing Regulatory
Agency to enhance its regulatory and
Rooftops Canada continues to sup-
port the social housing sector in
South Africa through its partnership
with the National Association of Social
Housing Organizations (NASHO).
NASHO represents 18 social housing in-
stitutions that provide non-profit rental
housing to serve some 40,000 low-in-
come households.
This partnership revolves around
themes central to both South African
and Canadian social housing actors:
community development in social hous-
ing, the role of social housing in urban
regeneration, “greening” social housing,
and managing housing assets.
Toronto Community Housing has
played an active role in hosting visitors
from NASHO and working with NASHO
members over the past two years. In
2012, Mark Guslits, a Toronto-based
Strengthening the Social Housing Sector in South Africa
Toronto Community Housing’s Carmen Smith (second from right) shared community development strategies with Communicare in Cape Town.
support role. A 2012 workshop in
Johannesburg emphasized the impor-
tance of government and social housing
actors working together to provide well-
located affordable rental housing.
(continued next page)
8 rooftops Canada P ro g r a m U P d at e
NACHU youth raise awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention methods and help with de-stigmatization issues.
NASHO’s Executive Director
Malcolm McCarthy says of the
partnership, “We look forward
to deepening and expanding our
cooperation with the Canadian
social housing sector to include
long-term financing, special
needs housing, and building sec-
tor leadership for the future.” n
Social Housing in South Africa (continued)
Johannesburg Housing Company built its own training wall for building superintendents after seeing one in Toronto.
P ro g r a m U P d at e abri International 9
Conference in Washington DC in July
2012. Leaders from UNAIDS and other
major institutions agreed to place hous-
ing security on the global agenda to end
AIDS – an important victory on the road
to an AIDS-free world. n
HIV and AIDS support groups in district
co-op housing unions. NACHU in Kenya
works with commercial sex workers,
and its new “Build and Live” curriculum
encourages responses to HIV among
co-op housing youth and women. MES
is implementing programs for home-
less people living with HIV and AIDS in
Johannesburg’s inner city. In Cameroon,
CONGEH continues to promote women’s
property and inheritance rights in the
context of HIV and AIDS through a
strengthened network of community
spaces. And, in Tanzania, WAT has a new
HIV and AIDS policy.
Working with Canadian and US
networks, Rooftops Canada continues
to raise the profile of HIV, AIDS and
housing at the global and regional levels.
After a decade’s work, there was a wel-
come breakthrough at the World AIDS
HIV and AIDS remains an ur-
gent issue in sub-Saharan
Africa, especially among women and
children living in urban slums where
HIV prevalence is almost twice that of
rural areas.
Rooftops Canada and its African
housing partners have been responding
to the impact of HIV and AIDS on their
members, clients and staff since 2002.
Training of peer educators has reduced
stigma and discrimination in housing
groups. Community-driven projects have
improved food security and enhanced
the livelihoods of housing co-op mem-
bers living with HIV. Targeted financial
support, exchange visits and technical
assistance by Canadian HIV and AIDS
specialists have helped partners develop
policies and deliver programs.
In Zimbabwe, ZINAHCO established
HIV, AIDS and Housing: A Breakthrough
Improved housing and services reduce the chances of opportunistic infection.
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10 rooftops Canada P ro g r a m U P d at e
Richard Gillies (former intern) discussing housing designs with a WAT loan recipient in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Spencer Fowlie (former intern), left, with community gardeners in Cape Town, South Africa.
P ro g r a m U P d at e abri International 11
are part of its program with CIDA’s
Partnerships with Canadians Branch and
will not be funded by IYIP. n
tecture, law, engineering, finance and
international development.
Interns also benefit enormously from
the program. Margaret Sider, a Rooftops
Canada intern placed with Tlholego
Ecovillage and Learning Centre in South
Africa, said:
“During my time at Tlholego, I learned
an incredible amount about permaculture.
I also assisted Tlholego to create promo-
tional brochures and increase their online
visibility. In addition, I made contact
with Food and Trees for Africa, one of
the leading organizations working in
Johannesburg to promote permaculture. I
will be volunteering with them part-time in
2013, organizing and marketing the next
permaculture design course.”
In 2013, Rooftops Canada will host
several internships to support our African
partner organizations. These placements
Rooftops Canada has participated
in the Canadian International
Development Agency’s (CIDA)
International Youth Internship Program
(IYIP) since 1997. Rooftops Canada
placed 47 young professionals with 19
overseas partners in nine countries be-
tween 2009 and 2012.
These internships respond to the
needs of our overseas partners. Interns
have helped develop low-cost and spe-
cial needs housing, increase the avail-
ability of housing microfinance, engage
in housing and land rights research and
policy dialogue, develop HIV, gender and
shelter training modules, and strength-
en global shelter networks. Thirty-eight
of the internships were in sub-Saharan
Africa, contributing to CIDA’s goal of
doubling aid to the region. Their pro-
fessional backgrounds included archi-
International Youth Internship Program
Leah Farmer, a 2012 Rooftops intern, worked with CONGEH members in Cameroon.
12 rooftops Canada P ro g r a m U P d at e
Rooftops Canada study and exchange visits benefit African
and Canadian housing organizations. They develop ca-
pacity, promote information sharing and increase understand-
ing of global settlement issues.
In June 2010 and June 2012, four Zimbabwean and two
Kenyan housing cooperators and one WAT Board member
from Tanzania were hosted by social and co-op housing groups
in eight cities across Canada. They attended the 2010 CHRA
Congress and two CHF Canada AGMs, helping Canadians cel-
ebrate the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives.
Here are some thoughts from our African visitors:
“ I am impressed by how Canadian housing groups combine their annual meetings with training workshops for members and staff. This is something we are definitely taking back with us.”
Mike Duru, Chairperson, ZINAHCO
“I have learnt a lot about housing co-operatives… I also learnt about ongoing research on urban farming and food security… The knowledge will enrich my teaching on development studies.”
Professor Bertha Koda, University of Dar es Salaam
“ I am taking home excellent ideas on planning through commit-tees, youth scholarships and engagement, volunteering, com-munity building, documentation and knowledge-sharing.”
Shem Wachira, NACHU, Kenya
Africans and Canadians Share Homes and Strategies
2012 study visitors from Canada at a housing co-op in Nairobi, Kenya.
P ro g r a m U P d at e abri International 13
“ We were incredibly impressed with the achievements of Rooftops Canada’s African partners. Excellent leadership and their entrepreneurial and practical approach are keys to their success.”
Kaye Melliship, BCNPHA
IN July 2010 and June 2012 repre-
sentatives of Canadian housing
groups visited the National Association
of Social Housing Organizations and the
Social Housing Regulatory Agency in
South Africa, the National Cooperative
Housing Union and Mazingira Institute
in Kenya, and WAT in Tanzania.
Here is what Canadians said about
their experiences:
“ Seeing things first hand has renewed my support and commitment. We met with many people involved in housing, includ-ing UN Habitat, government officials and grassroots activists.”
Mark Aston, ONPHA
“ Rooftops Canada’s partners are doing important housing work on the ground where it matters. I am proud that the co-op housing movement in Canada has been part of this great work.”
Scott Jackson, CHF Canada
National and provincial housing officials and Social Housing Regulatory Agency staff from South Africa, visiting the Fred Victor Centre in Toronto.
14 rooftops Canada P ro g r a m U P d at e
Our SupportersRooftops Canada greatly appreciates the
steadfast support of its six Canadian part-
ners, the Co-operative Housing Federation
of Canada, the Canadian Housing and
Renewal Association, the Ontario, British
Columbia and New Brunswick Non-
Profit Housing Associations, and the
Confédération québécoise des coopéra-
tives d’habitation. These organizations
provide policy direction, financial and
in-kind support to Rooftops Canada.
Rooftops Canada would also like to
thank Toronto Community Housing,
Housing Services Corporation, and
WoodGreen Community Services, who
have generously shared their experiences
with social housing groups in Africa.
Rooftops Canada is also grateful for
ongoing and substantial support from
the Government of Canada though
the Canadian Agency for International
Development (CIDA).
Rooftops Canada International Service Award Congratulations to Keegano Housing
Co-op in Edmonton, Coopérative
d’habitation Voisins in Ottawa and St.
Charles Co-operative Homes in Welland
– winners of the 2010, 2011 and 2012
Rooftops Canada International Service
Awards. The award recognizes members
of the Co-operative Housing Federation
of Canada for their outstanding contri-
bution to international development. n
Our Donors Rooftops Canada would like to thank all
of our donors and volunteers for their
assistance and encouragement. Special
thanks to the 72 fundraising volun-
teers who helped generate funds for
the Tanzania and Zimbabwe “Building
Homes, Building Lives” fundraising cam-
paigns and the 2012 young professionals
who fundraised to complement CIDA
funding for the internship program. Our
work overseas also benefited from the
support of over 200 Canadian organiza-
tions and numerous project co-sponsors
– we thank you all! Please see our web-
site for a complete list of supporters.
Linda Sutch, left, president of St. Charles Co-operative Homes (Welland), receiving the 2012 award from Céline Carrière (Rooftops Canada Board) for an outstanding contribution to international development.
P ro g r a m U P d at e abri International 15
Financial Report
Revenues 2011-2012 2010-2011
Donations $ 165,834.00 $ 233,885.00
CIDA $ 1,233,514.00 $ 1,266,735.00
Other $ 99,016.00 $ 126,754.00
Total Revenues $ 1,498,364.00 $ 1,627,374.00
Expenses Overseas Program $ 1,380,119.00 $ 1,457,075.00
Education Program $ 50,444.00 $ 112,711.00
Fundraising $ 52,055.00 $ 40,619.00
Operations/Net $ 69,684.00 $ 69,662.00
Total Expenses $ 1,552,302.00 $ 1,680,067.00
Operating Surplus $ – 53,938.00 $ 52,693.00
Operating Fund $ 227,570.00 $ 281,508.00
Laura Gamez, Rooftops Canada intern, helped NACHU with communications and marketing.
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Rooftops Canada720 Spadina Avenue, Suite 313 Toronto, ON Canada M5S 2T9Tel: +416 366-1445 Fax: +416-366-3876 info@rooftops.ca www.rooftops.ca
Abri internationalCP 67023 Lemoyne Saint-Lambert QC Canada J4R 2T8 Tél: +450 671-1245 Téléc: +450 671-3520info@abri.ca www.abri.ca
Rooftops Canada – Abri international is the international development program of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada; the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association; the Ontario, New Brunswick and British Columbia Non-Profit Housing Associations; and la Confédération québécoise des cooperatives d’habitation.
Cette mise à jour du programme est également disponible en français. Veuillez en faire la demande à info@abri.ca
www.rooftops.ca
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