Norwegian students return to Beius to help another Habitat family

A team of Norwegian students traveled to Beius, Romania, in May as part of the Habitat for Humanity Global Village program to help build houses in partnership with local families.

Twenty-one students, aged 16- to 19-years-old, and two team leaders, worked for four-and-a-half days towards the completion of the first half of a duplex home that will serve two families. The students, who are part of the International Baccalaureate program at Skagerak International School, raised $10,000 for this year’s trip.

Student Anders Maier, 18, said he was initially surprised when he got to the build site because it was more hands-on than he expected. “I was afraid that I would not be as involved,” he said. “I was afraid that I would just be carrying and looking.”

The students and their team leaders and other volunteers made quick work the first day, getting all four walls up and the frame of the roof in place.

Fellow student Andreea Alecu, 16, who is Romanian and attends Skagerak, said she was curious to see what the project is about. “It’s good because everyone wants to help,” she said. “I want to see building in Romania.”

This year marks the fourth team of students from Skagerak, which is in Sandefjord Norway, to participate in a Global Village build just outside of Beius in a village called Mizies. Global Village trips offer volunteers the opportunity to travel to another country to work hand-in-hand with people around the world to help build simple, decent homes.

This was also the first year the Skagerak students raised the entire sum of money needed for building materials. To raise the money, the students did a number of fundraising events including selling waffles outside the local grocery store and hosting a taco dinner at the school.

Team leader Jacques De Sousa said the Global Village program teaches the students to see the world in a more enlightened way. “The students can learn that not everyone has been given the right to education,” he said. “They can become more of a global citizen and understand what needs there are and how one can help to improve others lives in small steps.”

The students are helping to improve lives of people like Paul Manaz, who was also on site building alongside the students. Paul, who is from a village 30 kilometres from Beius, currently lives with his wife, Gabriella, and their little son David in her parent’s apartment in a 12 square metre room. The room they live in is cold in the winter, which causes David to frequently fall ill.

“I now have a chance to improve David’s life,” said Paul, who paints the interior of Orthodox churches. “He will have fresh air. It’s better than a block of flats.”

HFH Beius was established 11 years ago and was the first Romanian Habitat program. Since then, it has worked with the community and volunteers from around the world to build over 100 homes.