World Habitat Day

World Habitat Day takes place on the first Monday in October and this year it will be held on 1 October 2018.  First celebrated in 1986, the day is now in its 32nd year.

So … what is World Habitat Day about?  It is a global awareness day which was created by the United Nations (UN) to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and everyone’s right to adequate shelter.  The day is also about reminding each of us of our responsibility for the future of our own habitats.

Each year there is a different theme.  The theme for 2018 is ‘Municipal Solid Waste Management’.  We are being reminded of the importance of ensuring that everyone has access to affordable and adequate housing in all urban areas, towns and cities throughout the world.  It’s mindboggling to think that by 2025 a billion new houses will be needed globally to accommodate 50 million new urban dwellers per year!

There are lots of ways to get involved with this year’s World Habitat Day.  You could organise some popular theatre to raise awareness of your local area in a fun way.  Or you could use the day to celebrate improvements in your area – see if you can get hold of some old photographs of your local area and then take pictures of how it looks now – then have a poster display in your local civic centre to let people see the changes that have been made over the years.  Fundraising events like football matches and musical performances are more great ways to raise money, have fun, and donate your proceeds to local groups in your community.

You can find out about lots of other ideas and ways to get involved on the official World Habitat Day website.  You can also read about previous events and learn about this worthwhile celebration created by the United Nations.