Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter participates in the annual Habitat for Humanity Build event in Qionglai city, southwest China's Sichuan province on November 19th. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, together with more than 200 volunteers have been building homes for the poor at the annual Habitat for Humanity Build event in Qionglai city, southwest China's Sichuan province.

The former Nobel Peace Prize laureate expressed that he had fulfilled his desire to contribute to the quake-hit Sichuan region by taking part in the event which was held in Sichuan - his old friend and late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's home province.

Carter added that he was glad to witness the people of the two nations working together, and promoting the friendship between China and the U.S.

Some 248 volunteers from Hong Kong, Britain, South Korea and New Zealand made every effort to finish the first floors in one week after performing subsidiary work. But Li Jie, an official who is in charge of the project in Sichuan said, speed was not the key, but the quality of the houses was most important.

Habitat volunteers will help construct 16 multi-storey housing units that will eventually benefit over a hundred families through the Carter project in Sichuan.
Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu, one of the devoted Habitat volunteers, said he was delighted to help the families who urgently needed it.

With around 3000 volunteers from around the world, the Carters will lead the annual Habitat for Humanity to build and repair 146 homes in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and China - all countries along the Mekong River - from November 15th to 20th.

The Carter Work Project is associated with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1976 that is devoted to building basic housing with local materials.
 
This is the second Habitat for Humanity project in the southwest China province. The volunteer group has helped in rebuilding efforts following the deadly 2008 earthquake that ripped through Sichuan, and has built and supported housing for more than 4,000 families.

The Carter Work Project has taken the former first family to many parts of the world. The Carters give a week of their time each year to building homes and raising awareness of the need for affordable housing. The program is held at a different location each year and attracts volunteers from around the globe.

Many public figures including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have joined the organization not only to raise funds and generate publicity, but also to work on the construction sites.