Pre-Boarding Announcement

I have twenty-four hours until departure and Air Canada has just issued a couple spectacular boarding passes. 

Let the adventure commence!   

♥ jp

Let's Build It!

With only one week until departure, the anticipation is definitely building! Our team has received a number of important updates over the last week, some of which are: the addition of a new team member, our anticipated itinerary, confirmation of our accommodation, and finally, the details regarding the family that is in need of a safe, clean and affordable home.

Nerea standing outside of her family home.

First and foremost, I’d like to introduce to you the Habitat for Humanity partner family. Nerea is an 80 year old grandmother who lives in a small village in the Roma Valley, where she cares for three orphaned grandchildren, ages 19, 16 and 12. Their home is a hut, made of mud and stones, with thatch roofing, cracked walls, covered windows (which prevent proper ventilation) and no access to sanitation facilities, all of which increase the family's risk of serious health concerns. Nerea has lost three of her four children and her only surviving child, a daughter, lives in a nearby village (with her husband and child). To support her family, Nerea works to supplement her pension by tending to nearby agricultural fields. She is paid 60 Lesotho Loti ($6 CAD) for two days work and due to a recent drought, she has not been able to earn significant wages. All of her grandchildren attend school, but the education of her eldest grandson is no longer supported by the Ministry of Education (as he has struggled with his academics), so Nerea pays for his school fees in order to support his future.

For more information regarding the Orphaned & Vulnerable Children Project with Habitat for Humanity Lesotho, click here.

Global Village Canada - www.habitatglobalvillage.ca

Our team has not yet been provided with the specific details regarding the build plans, or our build tasks, but I do know that I am eager to help Nerea's family. We expect that the construction will include work relating to concrete blocks and mortar as this was mentioned in previous documents received from HFH Lesotho. Regardless of the type of work, I suspect there will be a number of blissfully dishevelled smiles in my future! The first Canadian GV team of volunteers just returned from Lesotho; should you be interested, see the HFH Lesotho Facebook page for photos. 

Our team has received confirmation of our accommodation while in Lesotho.We will be staying in a modest guesthouse that offers basic, clean, bed & breakfast style accommodation with shared facilities. In 1903, the guest house was established as a pioneering trading post and donkeys are still herded to the store daily, to bring gain for grinding. Horsemen still visit the trading post while cattle, pigs and chickens roam freely. For some reason, I feel like I’m about to travel through time. 

In only a few short days, I’ll be preparing for a 36 hour journey to Southern Africa, covering a flight distance of more than 14,400 km.  I know that I have prepared as best as anyone possibly can. As with previous builds, I also know that this experience is not only going to change the lives of a family in need, it is going to change me. I am so grateful for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to the many adventures, challenges, and precious moments of the journey ahead.   ♥ jp

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."

To support the Habitat for Humanity build in Lesotho, please see My Fundraising Page!

Note: Donations are being accepted until the end of March.

Where Are We Building?

While specific details have been slow to arrive from Habitat for Humanity Lesotho, it has been confirmed that our build team will be based in the Roma Valley, approximately 35 km from the country’s capital city of Maseru.

Roma is a small valley town that was established by missionaries in the 1860s. While the town of Roma is considered to be the educational and spiritual heart of Lesotho, it is primarily an agricultural area surrounded by a barrier of broad, rugged, sandstone mountains. An exciting bit of geological information...I might have an opportunity to walk among dinosaur footprints!

Images of Roma Valley, Lesotho

Packing, Weather & Currency

Preparation Update...

Packing: My Habitat for Humanity T-shirts!

Weather: It’s looking like our build days could be an interesting mix of warm-n-humid with potential for daily thunderstorms. I’ve packed an umbrella and a rain parka...but not my wellies, as I'm hoping I won't need them!

Currency: The South African Rand is quite possibly the most thrilling currency I have ever held in my hand! Exchange rate: 1 CAD = 10.2 ZAR. The equivalent to our "toonie" features Nelson Mandela and an African Elephant! 

Our team is eagerly awaiting specific details regarding the build and partner family...and with only a couple weeks until departure, I should have more information soon!   ♥ jp

To make a financial donation and support the building of a home for a family in need, see:       My Fundraising Page

Shower: To Be, or Not To Be...

One month until departure…and packing has commenced! I already have a pair of broken-in work boots, but I did recently purchase a few work clothes (awesome thrift store finds) as well as a couple pairs of tough, yet comfortable, work gloves. I was told to hold-off on purchasing the portable solar-shower, which may mean we don’t need one. Horray! An actual shower at the end of a hot-n-dirty workday is a complete and welcome luxury!! To be honest, on previous builds, it was the time of day that made me feel the most like myself. The routine felt familiar and grounded me on days that were emotionally intense or physically exhausting. Those few minutes alone to relax and process the events of the day were re-energizing and propelled me into each new build day. Man, I hope we have access to a shower!

Packing!

I’ve also collected a few other items: a poncho, journal, first-aid & laundry supplies, insect repellent, a refillable water bottle and chocolate protein bars. It’s an interesting perspective to pack for a trip, knowing your suitcases will be a lot lighter on the return journey. On a previous Global Village build, our team left behind sleeping bags, pillows, mosquito nets, books, footwear, clothes and so on…it was really quite incredible to witness 16 people donating most of what they had brought with them from Canada. 

Oh, some very exciting news...I learned that our post-build R&R activity includes a bush walk! Seriously. Me, trekking through a national park...in Africa! I wonder if lions can sense which people are about to faint from pure joy. Sometimes, life simply amazes me. Apocolyst...check!

Yesterday, I received an update from our team leader and was encouraged to learn that all of our original volunteers are still confirmed to go! Yeeee-A team!! We still haven’t received details regarding the build location, the partner family, where we are staying or the specific project work…so much of our plan remains unclear. Having said that, the very first Canadian HFH team has arrived and is currently building in Lesotho! As they didn’t receive firm details regarding their build until 1 week prior to departure, we are expecting the same. I'll be thinking of them and am so very eager to learn more about their experience.

Fundraising...I need something resembling a touchdown happy dance because I can't express my gratitude enough. Each donation is helping “build hope”! Thank you so very much for your support. Additional donations are greatly appreciated and will be accepted until the end of March! Click on My Fundraising Page to donate! 

As always, I'll be in touch when I know more. Until then, you'll likely find me preparing...and wish'in-n-hope'in for a shower.

♥ jp

Bravery? I don't think so.

My arm hurts! I dropped by The Travel Clinic yesterday and, it’s official, they've freaked me out. I was provided with a list of twenty-seven potential disease concerns, including their risk factors, preventative measures and vaccination recommendations. Thankfully, the consultant determined that I only required one additional vaccination, an update for Typhoid Fever (to prevent food and waterborne illness due to salmonella). The initial injection was quick and painless, but after a few hours my left arm seemed to disapprove of movement. In addition to the vaccination, The Travel Clinic also recommended Dukoral, an oral vaccine to prevent e-coli related illness and Malarone as an anti-malarial medication. I was also provided with confirmation of my Yellow Fever vaccination (often requested and sometimes required when travelling within Africa), as well as a list of helpful suggestions for my first aid kit. As a few considerations are extremely low risk, I am resolved to ignore the words “scorpions”, “snakes” and “spiders”!  

I had an opportunity this week to extend my 30 hour stop-over in Cape Town, and while the city offers many tempting sites to explore, the idea of travelling on my own made me feel a bit uneasy. This island girl has adapted well to her life in rural PEI and I’m not entirely comfortable in large cities, let alone those in a foreign destination. Someone recently told me that I'm “brave” to be going on this adventure. To be honest, I’m nervous-as-heck...this type of experience definitely tests your comfort zones and challenges your perspective.

In other news, I have reached my initial fundraising goal!! Thank you to everyone that is supporting this build! Both your donations and encouraging words are truly appreciated. Given my current apprehensive state, a recent note had my eyes glistening, "You are doing a great thing for humanity. God bless you."


I received a recent inquiry regarding the allocation of donated funds, so after contacting my team leader, I thought I’d share additional information to provide more clarity.

For each participant of the Habitat Lesotho build, the Global Village tour costs are distributed as follows:

• Charitable Donation (Habitat Lesotho & Habitat Canada): 37%, or approximately $1000 per participant.
• Local Arrangements: accommodation (18%), transport (10%) and meals (15%).This works out to approximately $95/day, most of which provides economic support to local families. For example, on a previous build our team stayed in basic, dormitory style rooms with shared bathrooms (previously a convent) and meals were basic and prepared on-site by local volunteers. Our van drivers became part of our team, and we learned that they were often away from their families for months at a time.
• Additional/Miscellaneous: 20%. This includes expenses related to participant insurance, cultural events, health & safety supplies, coordinator meals/accommodation, contingency, in-country coordination, emergency cell phone service, etc. 
• Labour: FREE! J
• In addition to the Global Village tour costs, volunteers are responsible for the post-build R&R activity (mandatory, as the volunteer experience can be intense), return airfare, personal insurance and all other travel related expenses.

I hope the information is helpful, and as always, should you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know. 

Only six weeks until departure! Anyone know where I can find some bold, daring and boundless courage? I'm packing, and might need to fill a suitcase.

♥ jp

To donate to Habitat for Humanity and support the build in Lesotho, see: My Fundraising Page!

LOL