A Vision is more than a Mission

The intention of a genuine mission statement is to keep members and users aware of the organization's present business purpose. A strategic vision shows the route an organization intends to take in developing and strengthening their business and surroundings. It also outlines the destination for the organization’s actions and provides a rationale for going there.

“Improving conditions and addressing the global housing crisis should be a high priority for national governments and international donors, but, for reasons that are not clear, it is not. In many countries around the world, opportunities to achieve economic, social, and civic development goals through housing-related initiatives are being missed.” (World Urban Forum)
There are many organizations dedicated to these causes. A leader is Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), a nonprofit housing organization. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make shelter a priority.

Habitat for Humanity has shown that building homes does more than simply putting a roof over someone’s head. In clean, decent, stable housing:

· Families can provide stability for their children
· A family’s sense of dignity and pride grow
· Health, physical safety, and security improve
· Educational and job prospects increase

The main focus of Habitat for Humanity is to decrease poverty by increasing the housing supply across the globe. Sufficient housing is vitally important to health of the world’s economies and communities. “The United Nations projects that by the year 2030 an additional 3 billion people, about 40 percent of the world’s population, will need access to housing.” Their mission is to prevent this dramatic escalation of the housing crisis. If the international agencies want to succeed in the fight against poverty, then the expansion of housing has to become a priority.

Engineers Without Borders International assist collaboration among its members toward improving the quality of life of the disadvantaged communities. Furthermore, the executions of sustainable engineering projects, contribute to the experience of engineers, and to the education of students. Their vision is to be recognized and respected as an international organization whose members deliver stable solutions to developing communities worldwide and make use of their diverse technical expertise to solve critical problems affecting the health of our planet. One advocate said, “We see a world where ALL people have access to the knowledge and resources with which to meet their basic human needs and rise out of poverty.”

Engineers Without Borders International advocates strong values and underscores the participating engineers’ beliefs in their international vision. They believe that if change starts now, it can interrupt and even reverse the cycle of poverty. Their partnerships with other organizations are important for development. Members and partners have to be willing to assist in building toward a more equitable and sustainable world. Sustainable projects allow the capacity for people to solve their own problems.

Education is a valuable asset in Engineers Without Borders International. It develops a new generation of engineers, who will benefit from seeing the many components of engineering solutions as well as problems in developing communities.

Yet another organization devoted to sustainable and social building is Make It Right. In December 2006, Brad Pitt organized a group of experts in New Orleans to brainstorm about building green affordable housing to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Pitt realized that an opportunity existed to build houses that were not only stronger and healthier, but that had less of a negative effect on the environment.

After discussing the obstacles associated with rebuilding the devastated area, the group determined that the project would be focused on green affordable housing while incorporating innovative designs. The group settled on the goal of constructing 150 homes in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. This area was one of the most devastated areas of New Orleans. Pitt hopes that this project would become a catalyst for recovery and redevelopment throughout the Lower 9th Ward and across the city of New Orleans.

Pitt said, “Having listened to one former resident's plea to help "make this right," I was inspired to name the project "Make It Right" (MIR).