VOA慢速英语--Former US President Lends Name and Muscle to Build Homes for Needy

 

Habitat for Humanity¹ builds houses for people who would not have the chance to own one any other way.

Erika Santiestepan is a single mother of two young children. She helped a group of volunteers build her new home in Mishawaka, Indiana recently.

“I feel like I won the lotto. It means everything. I don’t have to worry about where am I going to go next.”

Among the volunteers working with her was former United States President Jimmy Carter. Many Americans think of Carter and his wife Rosalynn when they hear the name Habitat for Humanity.

Jonathan Reckford is Habitat’s chief executive² officer. He notes that the group was started by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976.

The Fullers asked Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter to help with one of Habitat’s building projects in 1984. That was about three years after the Carters left the White House. Since that time, they continue to lend their name and muscle to this international aid group.

Habitat’s headquarters³ is in Americus, Georgia, not far from Plains, the home of the Carters.

During his recent visit to Indiana, the former president described his interest in the group this way:

“Every human being probably would like some excitement in their life, some challenge in their life…something of which they could be proud.” He added that Habitat answered all those needs for him.

Reckford said that, when Jimmy and Roslyn Carter got involved, the group had already helped 758 families build homes. Since then, it has partnered with 13.2 million people to build or repair homes.

“There is really no one that has had more to do with that than President and Mrs. Carter,” Reckford said.

The Carters were not the only well-known Americans to work on the recent home-building project. Ericka Santiestepan noted⁴ that two country music stars also volunteered.

“I’m in a house, and I have these amazing people to help me – Garth Brooks⁵ and Tricia (Yearwood) are working on my house. I want them to sign the inside of my walls!”

Santiestepan is not getting the house for free. She will have to make payments⁶ on a home loan⁷, just like other homeowners across the country. But the loan will be affordable⁸. Because she helped build the house, she will pay no interest—something the group calls “sweat equity⁹.”

But the Habitat for Humanity project in Indiana is larger than one home. Joining the Carters, Brooks and Yearwood were hundreds of volunteers. They were planning to set up over 20 homes near Santiestapan’s. Habitat has built more than 4,000 homes since 1984.

Jimmy Carter said the thankfulness of homeowners like Santiespan is a big motivation keeping him returning to build homes year after year.

“It just means a lot,” Santiespan said. “They have no idea what they are doing for everyone. I mean, they know, but I don’t know if they can feel exactly how it feels like. It’s a dream come true.”

I’m Mario Ritter.

Words in This Story

lotto – n. a game of chance in which people buy a ticket for a chance to win a large amount of money

challenge – n. a difficult task or problem: something that is hard to do

affordable – adj. something that can be paid for without too much difficulty

equity – n. a share in the value of some form of property

sweat – n. fluid released naturally by the skin

1 humanity   

n.人类，[总称]人(性)，人道[pl.]人文学科

参考例句：

• Such an act is a disgrace to humanity.这种行为是人类的耻辱。
• We should treat animals with humanity.我们应该以仁慈之心对待动物。

2 executive   

adj.执行的，行政的；n.执行者，行政官，经理

参考例句：

• A good executive usually gets on well with people.一个好的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好。
• He is a man of great executive ability.他是个具有极高管理能力的人。

3 headquarters   

n.司令部，指挥部；总部，总店

参考例句：

• Several great guns from the headquarters are coming to see us today.总部的几个大人物今天要来看我们。
• The bank has its headquarters in Pairs.这家银行的总行在巴黎。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 payments   

n.支付，付款，缴纳，报酬( payment的名词复数 )；付出的[要付出的]款项；报答，报偿

参考例句：

• Welfare payments cease as soon as an individual starts a job. 一旦就业，即停发福利救济。
• The law can compel fathers to make regular payments for their children. 这项法律可强制父亲定期支付子女的费用。

7 loan   

n.贷款；借出的东西；借；vt.借出；贷予

参考例句：

• I asked the bank to help me with a loan.我请银行给我一笔贷款。
• Has the bank okayed your request for a loan?银行批准你的贷款要求了吗？

8 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

9 equity   

n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票

参考例句：

• They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。
• To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。