April 15, 2010: Volume 77, Number 23

Cross-cultural collaboration: Students build a maison in Montreal

Union’s newly established Habitat for Humanity chapter has already gone global.

Five Union students, working with Habitat for Humanity Montreal and Habitat members from McGill University, recently spent their spring break in the Quebec capital working on an apartment duplex for two families.

It was the first alternative spring break organized by Habitat for Humanity at Union, and “it was such an awesome success and incredible experience, it won’t be our last,” said Sarah Gagnon ’12.

“Amazing,” agreed Stefanie Charles ’12. “For most, it was our first time building a framework for doors and walls, but as the week progressed, we became more knowledgeable and worked on our own in groups.”

Gagnon, Charles and the other Union volunteers – Jim Walker ’10, Neeraj Mangla ’10 and Zoralys Molina ’13 – learned basic carpentry skills, including how to align a wall, set up scaffolding, saw wood, and frame doorways, walls and closets.  

Working seven-hour days, the Union and McGill volunteers helped build a bathroom, laundry room and four closets on the duplex’s top floor.

"The staff on site helped us use the power tools but also taught us why certain things had to be done precisely, such as calculating the size of the wood pieces,” Charles noted. “It was a real accomplishment to see the room come to life as the frames were completed.”

Union Habitat Chapter President Cybil Tribie ’11 organized the trip. Working with former Kenney Community Center Program Specialist Santos Avila ’08, she did everything from write contracts and budget proposals to book the hostel where the group stayed. Avila accompanied the group and also pitched in on building projects.

 

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