A neighborhood in the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, echoed with the sound of a saw and the hammering of nails 19 May, as a dozen Rotaractors helped construct a new home for a family who lost everything during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The volunteers partnered with Habitat for Humanity of New Orleans during the Rotaract Preconvention Meeting, adding shingles to the three-bedroom house, installing siding, and building a front porch. (click below to read more)
Netila Demneri, of the Rotaract Club of Toronto, says the opportunity to team up with other Rotaractors from around the world made the project an ideal example of the 2010-11 RI theme, Building Communities -- Bridging Continents.
“With three countries represented, we are truly bridging our continents, and together helping to build the New Orleans community,” says Demneri. “As aspiring Rotarians, we’re putting into practice the goal RI has set out for this year.”
The Rotaractors also worked alongside the new owner, who is required by Habitat for Humanity to invest at least 350 hours of “sweat equity” to help build the home.
Rotaractor Timothy Nay, of Maui, Hawaii, remembers seeing the devastation of Hurricane Katrina on the news after the storm hit.
“One of the big reasons all of us are here is that we remember what disastrous things happened to this city,” says Nay. “We’re only here for eight hours, but I’m truly honored to be a part of rebuilding New Orleans.”
Cheryl J. Wong, a member of the Rotaract Club of South Bay, California, USA, says the hands-on project is what Rotary and Rotaract are all about.
“I wanted to do something that would have an impact,” says Wong. “Rotaract is good at raising funds and putting on events, but it’s much more gratifying to be here, on the ground, making a difference.”
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