Between 16th and 25th September 2017, we hosted a team of 9 volunteers from the US. They helped to extend the house of Agata and Mirosław’s family in Redzyńskie (near Warsaw) so they have more space for themselves and their 6 children than just one room.
The volunteers came through Global Village, an international volunteering program which sends volunteers to build projects with Habitat for Humanity all over the world. They contributed to a project which involves extending a house of the family of eight who currently have only one room at their disposal. The project started in April and you can learn more about it on the project page.
ABOUT WORK
The volunteers helped to construct the roof, which involved: first cutting and lifting up the rafters, then installing the wooden roofing. In addition to that, they contributed to building the external and internal walls as well as the staircase.
Even though the work was physically demanding, the volunteers were dedicated and enthusiastic until the very end of the build, which allowed to make a great progress.
ABOUT FREE TIME
In their free time, the volunteers got to know the local community and culture. They went to the nearby school in Żaków where they talked with the students, presenting their countries and Habitat for Humanity. They also played a soccer match with the local children. In their hotel, they took a cooking class and learned how to make some traditional Polish dishes, for example pierogies. At the end of the trip, they had a barbecue with the family and their neighbors.
The volunteers got a chance to see not only the Polish countryside but also Warsaw. They visited the center and, among others, they took a tour around the Old Town.
TESTIMONIAL
One of the volunteers, John, comments on his Global Village experience in Redzyńskie as follows:
Even though this was my second Global Village Build, I wasn’t sure what to expect working in a small village more than an hour from Warsaw. I was wonderfully surprised! The family selected for the build was delightful, involved every day with the mother providing delicious baked goods for breaks, the father working alongside us daily, and the children sharing hugs, time and some soccer playing. Truly gave us a warm feeling knowing that this deserving family would benefit from our efforts. Additionally, lodging in an old palace with super great food and enjoying family style meals with the team made coming back from the work site everyday a welcome experience as we shared and laughed throughout the evening.
The supervising crew on site were really awesome in terms of knowledge and skill in setting up tasks appropriate, yet challenging, for the various members of our team. I worked most of the week on the roof, which including passing seemingly endless piles of wood from the ground level, through a widow by the stairs to waiting hands ready to pull the large beams, rafters, and roofing up to the second story. I was glad to be involved in heavy lifting every day, learning new skills and another way to build a roof.
The most heart-warming part of the trip was our last day on site enjoying a bonfire and Polish sausages over the fire with the family and our team, reflecting on the visible impact our team efforts made (not only the roof but also many of the interior walls were completed on the ground floor) in providing a better place to live for our new Polish friends.
