The 2009 Build it Week in Haiti was a challenging but wonderful experience! 250 Irish volunteers worked alongside local tradesmen to build 41 houses, a school classroom, playground and basketball court over the week.

With day time temperatures in the 40’s, work on site started at 5.30am to make the most of the “cooler” morning conditions. Everyone worked their socks off for the week and the Haven team took great care of us, making sure we drank enough water, didn’t get sunstroke and keeping everyone informed of progress. We were all very proud to hand over the houses to local families on Saturday morning before we left. This area wasn’t affected by the January earthquake so we are very relieved that these houses and the families that we met in Ouanaminthe are safe.

Even before the earthquake earlier this year, things were dire in Haiti. We saw at first hand the shacks that people were raising families in – 3 generations living in 2 rooms with no water, no electricity, no furniture and very little food.

It’s given us even more impetus to return in October 2010 for the third Haven build it week, this time in the town of Goniaves, north of Port-au-Prince. Any help or support that you can manage to give would be greatly appreciated.

 

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