Wai Yin Chan and Linda "Digger" Barrown Women Build
At Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, home starts at the core—the heart of our mission, the center of our community, and the people who make it all possible.
This year's Women Build honors two extraordinary women: Linda "Digger" Barrow and Wai Yin Chan. For decades, they have been a constant presence on our build sites, embodying the spirit and strength of our CORE volunteer team—the Committed, Outstanding, Reliable, and Essential crew who serve as an extension of our staff and mission. As IVHFH Construction Manager Christy Shipley puts it, "They are CORE. They are the ones we count on, in the heat and the snow, week after week. They are the heart of what we do." And it's not for recognition, Digger says, "We do what we do for people who don't have what we have, but they are every bit deserving."
LEARN MORE about Digger and Wai Yin!
As we celebrate Wai Yin and Digger, they invite you to build alongside them and a family who has worked hard to earn this opportunity: Mohamed, Shaza, and their four children. In 2015, Mohamed and Shaza left Sudan through the Diversity Visa program, determined to create a better life for their family. They settled in Iowa City, drawn by the warmth of the Sudanese community. Despite Mohamed's long, unpredictable work hours and Shaza's daily challenges in managing their busy household while studying to become a dental assistant, their biggest struggle remains finding a safe and affordable home with space to thrive. Their apartment is small and noisy, with no space for playdates, studying, or a decent rest.
For Mohamed and Shaza, owning a Habitat home means more than shelter; it's an investment in their children's future. Mohamed shares,
"My goal was safety. And good schools. This is my investment in my kids. I want to send them on the right track. Invest in them better so they can do better. They say the kids are affected positively or negatively by their surroundings, so this is a very important thing."
LEARN MORE about Mohamed and Shaza!
Our Goal:
The Women Build committee is working to raise at least $55,000 and recruit volunteers to build a home with Mohamed and Shaza. Funds will also support Helping Hands projects to make affordable home repairs and/or accessibility modifications for existing homeowners. Donate today to help us reach our fundraising goal! Donations can also be made by check and mailed to IVHFH | 2401 Scott Blvd SE | Iowa City | IA | 52240. Include "Women Build" in the memo. Make a gift to our Venmo account @iowavalleyhabitat.
WOMEN BUILD EVENTS
This year's Women Build honors two extraordinary women: Linda "Digger" Barrow and Wai Yin Chan. For decades, they have been a constant presence on our build sites, embodying the spirit and strength of our CORE volunteer team—the Committed, Outstanding, Reliable, and Essential crew who serve as an extension of our staff and mission. As IVHFH Construction Manager Christy Shipley puts it, "They are CORE. They are the ones we count on, in the heat and the snow, week after week. They are the heart of what we do." And it's not for recognition, Digger says, "We do what we do for people who don't have what we have, but they are every bit deserving."
LEARN MORE about Digger and Wai Yin!
As we celebrate Wai Yin and Digger, they invite you to build alongside them and a family who has worked hard to earn this opportunity: Mohamed, Shaza, and their four children. In 2015, Mohamed and Shaza left Sudan through the Diversity Visa program, determined to create a better life for their family. They settled in Iowa City, drawn by the warmth of the Sudanese community. Despite Mohamed's long, unpredictable work hours and Shaza's daily challenges in managing their busy household while studying to become a dental assistant, their biggest struggle remains finding a safe and affordable home with space to thrive. Their apartment is small and noisy, with no space for playdates, studying, or a decent rest.
For Mohamed and Shaza, owning a Habitat home means more than shelter; it's an investment in their children's future. Mohamed shares,
"My goal was safety. And good schools. This is my investment in my kids. I want to send them on the right track. Invest in them better so they can do better. They say the kids are affected positively or negatively by their surroundings, so this is a very important thing."
LEARN MORE about Mohamed and Shaza!
Our Goal:
The Women Build committee is working to raise at least $55,000 and recruit volunteers to build a home with Mohamed and Shaza. Funds will also support Helping Hands projects to make affordable home repairs and/or accessibility modifications for existing homeowners. Donate today to help us reach our fundraising goal! Donations can also be made by check and mailed to IVHFH | 2401 Scott Blvd SE | Iowa City | IA | 52240. Include "Women Build" in the memo. Make a gift to our Venmo account @iowavalleyhabitat.
WOMEN BUILD EVENTS
- September 18, 6–8 pm: HAMMERS AND HARDHATS! Visit our event page for more information and to purchase tickets. Don't miss Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's event of the year!
About Women Build
Women Build is an annual program of Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity (IVHFH) bringing together women to help the organization create affordable housing solutions in the community. While the program does not exclude men, its primary objective is to foster a supportive environment for women to learn about and engage in construction. Additionally, Women Build recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women in the community.
Habitat affiliates across the country have sponsored Women Builds since the early 1990s. The initial IVHFH Women Build was accomplished by a group of volunteers in 2004. The second Women Build was also completed by a committee of volunteers in 2006. However, it was not until 2011 that the affiliate decided to make Women Build an annual project. Since then, it has become a tradition for IVHFH to recognize an influential woman by naming the Women Build project in their honor. The honoree leads a committee of women to raise $55,000 in local donations and recruit volunteers to help a local family build an affordable home and to help an existing homeowner make affordable repairs or accessibility modifications to their home.
The Women Build committee encourage everyone, regardless of gender, to take part in any way they can. We need supporters to swing a hammer on the construction site, provide food for volunteers, make in kind donations or financial donations and attend fundraising events.
Habitat affiliates across the country have sponsored Women Builds since the early 1990s. The initial IVHFH Women Build was accomplished by a group of volunteers in 2004. The second Women Build was also completed by a committee of volunteers in 2006. However, it was not until 2011 that the affiliate decided to make Women Build an annual project. Since then, it has become a tradition for IVHFH to recognize an influential woman by naming the Women Build project in their honor. The honoree leads a committee of women to raise $55,000 in local donations and recruit volunteers to help a local family build an affordable home and to help an existing homeowner make affordable repairs or accessibility modifications to their home.
The Women Build committee encourage everyone, regardless of gender, to take part in any way they can. We need supporters to swing a hammer on the construction site, provide food for volunteers, make in kind donations or financial donations and attend fundraising events.
Support the Wai Yin Chan and Digger Barrow Women Build
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Provide a Donation
Monetary gifts or in-kind gifts will directly support construction of the Women Build home. Needs for gift-in-kind donations include food, construction services and materials, and items for our silent auction.
Make donations online and visit our fundraising campaign page to help Wai Yin, Digger, and the Women Build committee collect donations. Email [email protected] for more information. |
Become a Sponsor
Demonstrate your social awareness and support of our community by sponsoring the Women Build home or one of our fundraising events. As a benefit, your group or organization increases brand awareness by receiving recognition in marketing materials and during events.
Email [email protected] for more information. |
Attend an Event
Join Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity and the Women Build committee for an auction benefiting Women Build. Proceeds from this event will allow IVHFH to build a Habitat home in Coralville and will also fund a critical home repair for a local homeowner. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
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Volunteer
Volunteers are needed to help construct the Women Build home (construction to begin in Fall 2025), serve on the Women Build committee, take photographs, and assist staff at our events.
Be a Team Build sponsor by making a contribution to Women Build and coordinating volunteers to build the home. Email [email protected] for more information. |
Past Women Build Honorees
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All of our Women Build honorees have made an extraordinary impact on our organization and played a huge part in our success. We are grateful for their contributions.
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Volunteer
Every volunteer makes a difference. Whether you are an experienced carpenter or a novice, you are welcome. |
Donate
Every donation provides an opportunity to build a stronger, more stable, self-reliant future. |
ReStore
Every customer, donor and volunteer helps us build. Income from the ReStore supports our affordable housing efforts. |
