CHARITY WORK IN HONDURAS (8th - 19th Sept 2014)
H ansaben, I am writing to inform you that the UCL Global Architecture Brigade Trip to Honduras was very successful.
Firstly, I’d like to add that the original plan had changed from what I had discussed in the sponsorship proposal document;
we were no longer continuing the construction of a health centre, but instead building a home from scratch. Below is my
testimonial for the Sandes h.
As a group of nine students from to the construction site by foot and The journey from beginning to end
University College and Imperial College constructing rebars for support beams. was incredibly tough, however it was
London, we raised the funds to go As students, we first looked quite extremely rewarding to be able to see
on a trip through Global Architecture slow carrying one cinder block at a the progress we were making and see
Brigades to a rural village in Honduras, time compared to the villagers who the house nearing completion. We
called El Ojochal, with the task of were carrying three on their shoulders bonded with the villagers and GB staff
building a 10m x 4.5m home from bare-foot. But as each day passed, we members that we felt that, although
scratch within ten days in September pulled together as a team and strived to there was a language barrier, we were
2014 for a woman named Maria de la finish the house in time, as we knew it one family, reaching one goal.
Cruz and her grandsons. We worked would make a great difference to Maria Overall, the time spent in Honduras was
alongside her grandsons, who were and her grandsons. We saw how the very rewarding and it was definitely an
going to be living in the home, a workers in the village had such passion eye-opening experience to be able to
technician, a mason and several Global and determination to continue working, complete the construction of the home
Brigade (GB) staff members. When first which in turn encouraged us to work as across an emotional ten days. The team
arriving in Honduras, we were greeted hard as we could. and I felt as if we had become part of
by GB staff with their kind and generous Each evening when we returned to our their community and we wished them
personalities and we felt right at home. hotel, we would have a group discussion all the best in their new home. It was
On the first day we were able to visit and reflect upon the day. We would a sad moment saying goodbye to the
a beautiful beach and volcano island; discuss the aspects which we enjoyed, villagers and GB staff members and
this gave us the chance to see stunning praised each other for working hard, we thanked them for all their support
views of Honduras and get to know the encouraged each other for the days and guidance during the trip. From this
GB team better. ahead and we began to appreciate how experience I have learnt the value of
When we arrived in El Ojochal, we soon fortunate we really were. The villagers teamwork, improved my Spanish, made
realised that the task set upon us in El Ojochal have very little and lifelong friends and most importantly,
would be harder than imagined. The something as simple as a small sturdy gathered an incredible understanding
first few days of work were extremely structure gave them a lot of hope and and appreciation of the joys of giving
difficult and tiring. We worked in happiness for their future, it made us back to a less fortunate community.
30-35 degree heat from 9-3pm mixing realise what we take for granted each Nisha Lad, Wellingborough Branch
mortar 4-5 times a day by hand, laying day.
cinder blocks, transporting materials
16