ANAHOLA — The 14-member Global Village team has just several more days remaining in its almost two-week visit to Kaua‘i, where they spent the time working on Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity projects. “Most of the crew leave Friday after work,”
ANAHOLA — The 14-member Global Village team has just several more days remaining in its almost two-week visit to Kaua‘i, where they spent the time working on Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity projects.
“Most of the crew leave Friday after work,” said Jan Roberta of Connecticut, one of two team leaders. “Jean Currie, the other team leader, from Washington, and myself will be here for a few days beyond Friday.”
The group, consisting of people from various parts of the U.S. and Canada spent most of their first week working on a Repair and Renovation Project in Kekaha.
Following a day spent working with homeowners of three Kaua‘i Habitat homesites in Anahola, the group is finishing its tour in Anahola.
“We set the insulation Saturday,” said Paul Yee, a Global Village team member who enjoyed a trip to Kaua‘i four years ago. “Now, it’s drywall, everywhere.”
The 14-member crew was spread out among the three homesites Tuesday, working on various projects at each of the sites.
“We need to have a child here,” said Gloria Davis of Minnesota, who was on her back on a sheet of plastic, applying primer to the underside of a porch. “The guy was embarrassed to ask me to do this, but it’s all right because I can slop away.”
Roberta said this trip was her third trip to Kaua‘i, second time as a team leader.
“I’ve been with the Global Village program for 15 years,” Roberta said. “This is the only place where I have returned to more than once.”
Currie, the other team leader for the group, is enjoying her second trip to Kaua‘i, this time as a team leader. Her previous trip was as a team member under Roberta’s leadership two years ago to work on an ‘Ele‘ele homesite.
“We love doing this kind of work,” said Robn Van Dekleut of Ottawa, Canada, enjoying her first visit to Kaua‘i. “This place is so good. The people give us a tremendous welcome and everyone is so appreciative of the fact we’re here to build homes.”
She said people in the group are already talking about how to return to Kaua‘i.
“They have 107 homes scheduled for ‘Ele‘ele,” Roberta said. “I want to come back and build homes for as long as I can take a breath.”
Van Dekleut said the age range of this Global Village group ranges from 26 to 76 years old, and everyone has a common bond to do good.
“It’s especially heartwarming to see the bond between the younger members and the elder members when they work,” she said. “This is a fantastic group.”
Virg Umbarger of Yakima, Wash., said these builds are a way he can pay back.
“Someone helped us when we were $1,000 short,” he said. “He gave us a chance. Now, it’s our way of paying back that favor and we can do something to give someone else that chance.”
Jessica Clabo, the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity volunteer program coordinator, said during the group’s short stay on the island, it will total more than 40 hours of volunteer service per person.
She said Kaua‘i Habitat will be hosting a Mahalo Party for the team Wednesday at Lydgate Park starting at 5 p.m.
“Everyone who has volunteered with the team, supported Kaua‘i Habitat, or would like to meet the group is invited,” Clabo said in an email. “Meal basics are provided and pot luck items are welcome. Mahalo parties are a fun night of celebration, and a way for our visiting volunteers to get to know the community.”
Volunteers are an integral component of the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity’s work, states its website. Volunteers have built more than 500,000 homes around the world with Habitat for Humanity.
On Kaua‘i, individual volunteers and volunteer groups such as the Global Village team led by Roberta and Currie, have helped build more than 100 affordable homes. Volunteer labor, along with donated materials and private contributions, enable Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity to keep costs low and to keep building homes which are truly affordable for needy families.
Visit www.kauaihabitat.org for more information on Kaua‘i Habitat, or contact Clabo at volunteer@kauaihabitat.org, or call 335-0296, ext. 152 to sign up as a volunteer, or for more information on volunteering, or helping with volunteers.
