by Alan Jacques
CASTLETROY woman Aislinn Hayes has travelled to the Philippines with a team of volunteers from housing charity Habitat for Humanity Ireland to help families rebuild homes destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan .
After arriving in Southeast Asia on Valentine’s Day, 23-year-old Aislinn will spend this week helping low-income families in the community of Daanbantayan create their own earthquake and disaster-resistant homes.
An engineering graduate, Aislinn decided to take a year out after completing her studies in London’s Imperial College to travel and work with charity.
“My family were a bit anxious about me going to the other side of the world but they’ve been very supportive. I’m very excited,” she told the Limerick Post ahead of her departure last Friday.
Through charity events such as table quizzes and a rollerblade jam, Aislinn fundraised over €2,500 for Humanity for Humanity. The charity builds and renovates homes in partnership with low-income families in 70 countries around the world, including Ireland.
“Habitat gives me the opportunity to really make a difference in a physical and safe way, rather than just throwing money at a far away problem. The people of the Philippines have experienced awful tragedy as a result of the recent typhoons. Hopefully this trip will give a boost to at least some families and local volunteers over there,” said Aislinn.
Typhoon Haiyan was one of the strongest storms in history. When it smashed into the Philippines in November 2013, it caused widespread destruction. Some 6,300 people were killed and more than one million homes were destroyed or damaged.
According to executive director of Habitat for Humanity Ireland, Vinnie Cunningham, their volunteers’ “invaluable support” will offer families in the Philippines the opportunity to pull themselves out of devastation and rebuild their lives.
Habitat for Humanity Ireland’s overseas volunteering programme is open to the public. No construction experience is necessary. For more details log onto www.habitatireland.ie.
