Ed with Nicaraguan team members.

     Participation in a Habitat for Humanity Global Village project can be a life-altering experience. This was apparent in a number of ways during the recent home-build which I joined in Nicaragua. Most of the other participants were members of the Habitat Canada national board and had long experience with volunteer social development work.     

    Despite this we were all startled by the levels of poverty we encountered, the difficulties facing most Nicaraguans in their daily lives, and the amount of change required for social progress in the country. We learned that the lack of something so basic as a floor means babies aren't able to crawl -- since their housing has only dirt floors which are wet throughout the rainy season. As a consequence these babies never develop proper hand-eye coordination crucial to brain development. This, on top of the long catalogue of troubles that makes up Nicaragua's history - social upheavals, earthquakes, hurricanes, international embargoes and war - made it clear that our work was just a start on the tip of the problem. 
     However, the strong plus to our efforts was the enthusiastic community response. Doña Sayid and her family helped daily as the cinder block walls of her modest new home grew steadily. Tasks for the sweat-dripping Canadians included shifting blocks, fitting rebar, erecting scaffolding, mixing and working with mortar and concrete, and digging out foundations for other builds.     After a week's efforts, Doña Sayid's family, friends and neighbours were able to celebrate the near-completion of her new home. A life-changing time for sure, both for the partner families who will now have sturdy shelter -- and a dry cement floor year-round -- and for ten Canadians from diverse backgrounds who knew their hard work had had a valuable effect.  

   If you would like more information about Global Village, please visit their website or contact me at ed5mclean@hotmail.com.  Reasonable good health and a willingness to "muck in" are the only real requirements - there are always a wide variety of jobs to be done on any site. But the need remains profound and your help can make a real difference.

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