PROJECT CHILDREN AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Tearing Down The Walls By Building Homes And Lives

Project Children teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to give 22 people from Northern Ireland the hands-on experience of a lifetime. The young people, construction trainees from Newry and Belfast, were here for two months, training alongside American volunteers as they built houses for low-income families. One of the houses was in Old Town, Alexandria, and two were in Washington (one in southeast and the other in Columbia Heights).

As these young adults built, they honed old skills and learned new ones. They were all "on leave" from training programs back home, where they were specialising in particular trades. Some were specialising in carpentry, others in painting. But here, no one specialised. All of them learned how to lay brick, read a blueprint, put up insulation and more.

The group landed at National Airport on October 8. A few days later they had their orientation at the AFL-CIO headquarters in a large room overlooking the White House-a perfect beginning to an extraordinary adventure.

When they were not working, they were taking in the sights of Washington and getting to knew each other. Like all Project Children groups, this one was a mix of Protestants and Catholics-and you couldn't tell who was who.

"The Experience Of A Lifetime"

"We are very lucky," says Ciaran Walsh, one of the 22 Northern Irish trainees (and two chaperones) who were here for two months building houses with Habitat for Humanity. 'This is the best thing that has ever happened in my life." Ciaran and two other trainees are part of a new joint venture between Habitat for Humanity and Project Children. Bob Myers, former U.S. Consul General in Belfast and now based in Washington, volunteered to oversee the project.

Habitat for Humanity builds homes for low-income families all over the world, and Project Children provides opportunities for Protestants and Catholics from Northern Ireland to get together here in the US on neutral ground. It seemed only natural to match young Protestants and Catholics starting out in the construction trades with work crews on Habitat sites. Half of the trainees worked in Washington and the other half, in Old Town, Alexandria. They stayed with host families.

The trainees worked alongside each other and a rich cross-section of American volunteers. "Everyone has been so helpful," says Gary McKibbon, one of the trainees. He and the rest of the group were on leave from training programs back home. Ciaran Walsh was specialising in tile work, but after working with hammers and nails in Washington, he's thinking of making a career change. "I might switch to joinery," says Ciaran, using the Northern Ireland term for carpentry.

Everyone on the project was given a chance to try new trades. Local AFL-CIO affiliates provided experts to give hands-on lessons in bricklaying, carpentry and reading blueprints. The trainees were also given ample time to hone skills they already had. "I did some apprenticeship back home," says Gary McKibbon. "But here, there is a bigger chance for learning. We are given more responsibility."

In addition to working, the trainees also get a taste of Washington life, taking in the sights, concerts, ball-games and group outings. It was an extraordinary experience for all the trainees. They saw Washington in away that no tourist could. "It's been brilliant," says Kevin Quinn from Belfast.

While Bob Myers spearheaded the project, he received a lot of support from others. Our trainees in Virginia were well-cared for by the Old Presbyterian Meeting House congregation in Old Town, the AFL-CIO and its local trade unions provided critical training and tools.

Our fund-raising efforts got a major boost from attorney Tom Casey when his client International CableTel donated $20,000 to Project Children for this venture. Many other people and groups-literally too many to mention - have helped out all along the way.