Solo today (as site supervisor) with a group of 13 from AISB (American International School of Budapest) while family members build out rafter pairs above us with the help of a “strong like bull” crew of friends (all truck drivers) of one of the receiving families moved things along solidly. The intrepid student group mounted about 80% of the exterior insulation, and rafters were halfway to completion at day’s end. Niiiiiice!
Tue-Fri 18-21sept07
The International School of Prague high school students arrived Tuesday afternoon just as the HFH training finished and the national office folks headed back to Budapest.
The ISP group numbered 19 in all, our largest group on site at one time yet this year. Weather started out cool and raining lightly, moving to sun and breezy as their stay progressed. Much accomplished, completing the “OSB wrap” of the exterior walls and getting a start on exterior insulation and even a demo on the “glue and tape” that goes over that as a foundation for plastering in the spring.
The cool and windy conditions (and lower than advisable bike tire pressures, as it turns out) had me feeling a bit like the witch ahead of the wind in the Wizard of Oz… riding to the site was, at times, a workout in staying upright
As I understand it, they and other “student” groups often do service projects as part of their school curriculum; HFH builds are one of several options available to them. Several in this group have volunteered with Habitat before were a pleasure to work with on every level, and several had questions/expressed strong interest in HFH opportunities literally around the world. The expanding seeds/growth of sustainable community…
As with every team, each person's contributions propel the project forward, even if only an afternoon is available (as happened with the AISB team earlier in the month). And to expand on a friend's thought, if/as participants get excited about volunteer service to others, THAT’s a great return on their (and our) time investment both now and in the future… creating a “wave of giving”, yes?
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