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Previous Trips

Global Village Committee

Northern Ireland Build I

August 20 – September 4, 2004

Ten Orange County volunteers traveled to Downpatrick, Northern Ireland to begin framing work on two homes for Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland. The team got to work alongside local volunteers and future homeowners.

The Team
Pictured from left to right: Glenn Bozarth, Nancy Bigda, Katherine Gill, team leader Matt Bohen, Anna Allen, team leader Ursula Bohen, Kale Major, HFHNI construction supervisor Rob Branney, Pete Major, Connie Major, Sr. Kathleen McCuistion, and HFHNI construction supervisor Danny Burns.

HfHOC 's Global Village Committee work in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland was recognized in a local newspaper, the Down Democrat, during their build mission. The entire text of the article is below.

Down Democrat

August 24th, 2004
Housing Project to Re-start
John Cook

THE LATEST phase of an innovative housing project has begun with a 10 strong team of volunteers travelling to Downpatrick from California. Habitat for Humanity, the cross-community, Christian, self build housing organisation has brought together the team from Orange County in Los Angeles.

And for Ursula Bohen, the leader of the volunteer team, it is an exciting opportunity to fulfil a promise she made nearly two years ago to return to the town.

"In October 2002 I promised I would bring another team back to Downpatrick. "Habitat for Humanity's mission is something that I believe in strongly. "And so the team and I are really excited to be working in Downpatrick again."

The team are set to begin work on the next four houses on the Model Farm estate (housing project) in the town, having already built four homes there. And the organisation is looking for volunteers to give up their time to help in the construction process.

The effort in Downpatrick is repeated all over the world to build simple, affordable homes.

However, Habitat for Humanity is not just about building houses.

The organisation aims to empower individuals and to restore hope and rebuild communities — both socially and economically — by building houses in partnership with people in need.

Ursula Bohen said that her group work with some of Northern Ireland's most

marginalised communities.

"In particular we work in areas and with communities scarred by 30 years of division, sectarian hatred and bitter conflict.

"We need your help to build more than houses.

"And we want people to work together to build community and build hope." She said that she looked forward to meeting members of the local community in Downpatrick.

"I hope that some of them will stop by the site to check out the project.

"Habitat for Humanity here in Northern Ireland is unique because it's not just about building as many houses as possible.

"We could go to any other country in the world to get that type of experience.

"We chose Northern Ireland because they're using the Habitat concept to do more than just build houses.

"We're attempting to build community," she said.

Volunteers are required for the Downpatrick Project and in particular people who can spare their time on Saturdays and mid-week slots from September 6. For more information and to volunteer to help on the project, please contact Moya at the office on 9024 3686 or e-mail moyah@habitatni.co.uk.

About Northern Ireland

Ireland is a North Atlantic island separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. Northern Ireland comprises the island's six northeastern counties that remained part of the United Kingdom while other counties claimed independence in 1922, forming the Republic of Ireland.

A small, modern, trade-dependent region, Northern Ireland's jobs are primarily in the service industry. While the government has been successful in stimulating economic growth and reducing unemployment rates over the last decade, housing costs continue to increase by an average of 10 percent per year, creating a greater affordable housing gap for lower wage earners.

In 1994 HFH Northern Ireland became the first Habitat affiliate in the United Kingdom. HFH Northern Ireland has a vision of rebuilding houses, communities and hope in an area that has witnessed more than 30 years of violence between Catholics and Protestants. In 1997, houses were built in Iris Close, a predominantly Catholic West Belfast neighborhood. More recently, houses were built in Glencairn Estate, a Protestant neighborhood just across the peace line and near Iris Close. On both occasions, Catholics and Protestants worked together to help those in need. Currently HFHNI is building in Ballysillan, Ligoniel, and Downpatrick.

As a pilot program for Habitat for Humanity's "More than Houses" capital campaign, HFH Northern Ireland has hosted record numbers of Global Village teams. Catholic and Protestant volunteers work side by side on HFH Northern Ireland projects, promoting the Millennium Project's goal of tolerance under the banner of "Communities Without Fear."

HFH Northern Ireland builds duplexes. Construction is typically wood frames with a brick surround and clay tile roofs.

Northern Ireland Trip at a Glance

August 20 – September 4, 2004

Downpatrick, Northern Ireland

  • Fri., August 20: depart from Los Angeles International Airport
  • Sat., August 21: arrive Belfast
  • Sun., August 22: church, bus tour of Belfast
  • Mon.-Tues., August 23-24: work days
  • Wed., August 25: economic and political briefing at Stormont, sightseeing in Belfast, visit to HFH Northern Ireland office
  • Thurs.-Fri., August 26-27: work days
  • Sat., August 28: sightseeing in Derry, overnight in Portrush
  • Sun., August 29: sightseeing along Antrim Coast
  • Mon., August 30: Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, sightseeing in Downpatrick
  • Tues.-Fri., August 31-September 3: work days
  • Sat., September 4: depart from Belfast

Want to learn more about Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland? Please visit www.habitatni.co.uk.