July 1st, 2010

Last Task Of Installing Gymsum Boards Before House Dedication

ULAANBAATAR, 1st July 2010: The Land of the Blue Sky lived up to its name on the fourth day of Habitat for Humanity Mongolia’s blitz build in the capital Ulaanbaatar. The Blue Sky Build also marks the 10th anniversary of HFH Mongolia.

Rolling clouds amid a vivid blue sky made up for the blistering heat.
In some houses which have galvanized iron roofing sheets installed, volunteers have the remaining task of putting up gysum boards on the interior walls.

Volunteers who worked for the day included Bold Magvan, chief executive officer of XacBank, a community development bank and microfinance institution headquartered in Ulaanbaatar. XacBank also sponsored 30 eco-toilets for the 30 families whose houses will be completed by tomorrow (2nd July).

Sixteen beauty pageant contestants also volunteered at the build site, standing out in their bright pink tops.

Meanwhile, several volunteers were deployed to assist other families when the houses they worked on were nearly completed.

Carol Casperson’s team was among those who worked on houses which made faster progress. Several students from the Technical and Technological College in Ulaanbaatar contributed significantly to the speed and quality of the construction.

“The students are good at carpentry, plastering and bricklaying. That was why we were so fast,” said Casperson who was director of Habitat for Humanity Washington D.C. for more than two decades before she retired two years ago.

Working at a steady pace were Singaporean volunteers Kao Shih Teng and Jerrica Chooi. First-time volunteers with Habitat, they found the experience of building with Mongolian families in need very meaningful.

By the fourth day of the Blue Sky Build, they were enjoying their job as bricklayers. “We need skilled local workers to tell us where we went wrong and correct our mistakes. It then becomes easier,” said Kao who is regional financial controller of Otis Elevator Company.

Chooi, who works for Legg Mason Asset Management in Singapore, also appreciated the importance of home ownership. “The Habitat home partner worked very hard. He also slept over each night.” According to Chooi, the home partner also took his mother and wife to the build site to check out the construction progress.

As Kao and Chooi lay bricks, a little girl from a nearby “ger” or traditional Mongolia tent looked intently at them. When the girl received a sketch book and a box of crayons from Chooi, she promptly drew a flower in the book and held it up for Kao and Chooi to see. Such interactions were part of Kao and Chooi’s meaningful experiences in Mongolia. “I intend to go on a Habitat build once a year,” said Kao.