12/service special report Building Foundations A group <strong>of</strong> twenty 11th and 12th graders volunteered to spend <strong>the</strong>ir fall break building homes for several poor families in a small Romanian village two hours from Bucharest. Upon arriving at <strong>the</strong> site, ASP’s Habitat team was met by a spirited construction supervisor, truckloads <strong>of</strong> dirt, bags <strong>of</strong> cement, and herds <strong>of</strong> cows and chickens. “It was really funny to see <strong>the</strong> chickens running around while we were working,” excitedly remarked 12th grader Kelly Morrison. Within a week, <strong>the</strong> dirt and cement had turned into <strong>the</strong> foundations for two new homes which would go to two families in need. In fact, ASP’s group was so diligent and impressive that <strong>the</strong>y were also able to dig ditches for electrical wires and cut wood for <strong>the</strong> frames <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> houses, jobs that <strong>the</strong> Habitat organization did not expect to see completed until <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> month. Wheel-barrow engineer Alex Knowles, dirt-packer extraordinaire Danielle Azoulay and concrete supervisor Anthony Webster, as did every team member, had memorable experiences: “It is definitely something we want to do again,” <strong>the</strong>y said. Emma Willems and Morgan Claverie added, “It was difficult work, but we’re tough and we were happy to be part <strong>of</strong> it.” Habitat club President Sietse G<strong>of</strong>fard and Vice President Beatrice Verez helped to organize <strong>the</strong> trip and were extremely pleased with <strong>the</strong> success and ecstatic about ano<strong>the</strong>r important moment in <strong>the</strong> trip: “Meeting <strong>the</strong> family <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> homeowners was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> highlights and made <strong>the</strong> long-awaited trip well-worth all <strong>the</strong> fundraising and planning.” The club worked throughout <strong>the</strong> year to raise over 4,000 euros; 7,000 euros in supplies were donated from this group. The trip would not have been complete, however, without trips to Dracula’s Castle, <strong>the</strong> Bucharest Palace, and <strong>the</strong> social bonding. Whe<strong>the</strong>r it was peanut m & m’s, <strong>the</strong> guitar hero competitions, or <strong>the</strong> melodious music <strong>of</strong> Henry Ott’s Romanina bagpipe on <strong>the</strong> mountain-top, <strong>the</strong> group laughed from <strong>the</strong> onset <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir journey and through all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chicken dinners until <strong>the</strong>ir return to <strong>Paris</strong>. “The trip was great, but it would not have been as cool without <strong>the</strong> mix <strong>of</strong> kids and Mr Semaan, Mr. Kim, and Ms. Ingols,” beamed senior Robb Johnston. Linus Bodicoat nodded in agreement. The Aspect - November 2010
service special report /13 for Families-Literally! The Aspect - November 2010