To future TALH students:

So you’ve made it into TALH, and you’re now attending college at 16-ish. Prior to your coming here, you probably thought that the “service” portion of the program was taken lightly, or wasn’t important; I know I did.

Boy, was I wrong.

But don’t take that for its negative connotation; I’ve learned much from my time attending Habitat for Humanity. Aside from the actual service portion, there are many aspects of this service project that can definitely be rewarding. Prior to going for the first time, many of us didn’t even know how to use a hammer correctly; it is mildly demeaning when you’re thought to be “pretty smart.” As a result, many of us learned how to properly hold (and use) a large variety of tools.

The project was also a lot more fun than it was initially made out to be; when you think of building a house, you think of sweating on a hot day, of not having any water, or of being stuck somewhere with a hammer and not knowing what to do with it. It seems unappealing. However, when you get out there and meet your coordinator, you’ll know straight away that there’s nothing to be afraid of; you’ll find that he/she will answer any questions that you may have (And you will ask questions) and will do so in a way that doesn’t make you feel dumb. This brings me to a point that definitely needs to be stressed: If you’re unsure of something, ask. It can’t hurt, and your coordinator will always be happy to explain something to you. It also saves a lot of trouble when you ask before you put up a wall where it’s not supposed to be.

And oh, the fun we have there. Again, building a house can seem unappealing, but just about anything can be made better when you’re in the company of friends. Cage kids tend to take boring things and spice them up; for example, when we are assigned the task of taking nails out of wood, we typically smash the long pieces that stick out in order to get them to fall off. We’ve even nicknamed our little game “Thor”.

And the best part?

You’re serving your community while doing it. You’re getting to fulfill your weekly service requirement and provide someone with a place to live for a fraction of the normal cost. It’s the kind of thing that gives you that tingly, I-did-a-good-deed feeling.

I sincerely hope that you, as a TALH student, will consider selecting Habitat for Humanity as your service project.

Service and Selflessness

I began my service to the local Habitat for Humanity build with the notion that I would no longer look forward to my Saturdays; the fact that I’m not a morning person didn’t help either. Initially, my only goal was to get my service hours; the weekly obligation always seemed like a pain to fulfill. I never committed to any particular service project, and I volunteered at various locations around Beaumont.

Whether it was the lack of continuity or simply the bleakness of the work, I didn’t enjoy any of the service that I attended. For example, although I adore animals, the prospect of taking care of them always seemed to be too much trouble to be worth it, which is why I disliked going to the Humane Society. I’d imagine scooping poop and getting bitten isn’t on everyone’s top ten list, but then again, I’m not everyone.

It took a bit of trial and error, but I finally found my niche. Habitat for Humanity is a really great 

opportunity for anyone wishing to volunteer for a great cause. Aside from that, I learned many things from the experience. Knowledge, specifically practical knowledge, is invaluable in today’s society.

I’m a bit ambiguous, though. Did I enjoy the work because I was in the company of friends or was it because I was helping someone? Or was it both? Neither?

I’m afraid it’s something that I can’t know unless I attend without my friends sometime. I genuinely hope I’ve developed some sort of sensitivity towards the cause, but it’s doubtful. I have never been the most sensitive person, nor have I ever been the most willing to help people just to do it. I don’t know whether to think of it as laziness or cruelty; for me, there is no gleaming inspiration or overwhelming urge to help people. And should there be?

Human instinct tells me to survive, and fight for myself. I suppose we are selfish by nature, and selfless only as thinking creatures; even those that are passionate about their volunteer work indulge in the gratification that is achieved when helping someone.

But here is the question: Is it also selfless? The act itself is, I suppose, but doesn’t it take intent for something to truly be selfless? Does true selflessness exist?

The answer is: it can’t. True selflessness depends largely upon the thoughts and feelings of the thinker. A dictionary could only define it loosely; as with many things, we as humans are free to further define it.

So those of you who believe yourselves to be selfless, I advise you to go to your nearest Habitat build. Aside from the learning opportunities or the memories you’ll make, you’ll sleep well at night knowing that you’ve helped provide a family with a home. I mean, if that’s what you’re in to.

What Habitat for Humanity is all about

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller in Americus, Georgia. It has since flourished into an expansive organization that serves communities worldwide. Their goal is to provide housing for those who could otherwise not afford it; they build houses and sell them for no more than the price of the materials. In 2005, HFHI celebrated building their 200,000^th house, and have since built more than 500,000 houses, housing more than 1.75 million people on 5 continents. The houses they build are typically described as “simple, decent, and affordable,” and are built primarily by supervised volunteers.

A typical Habitat build will follow roughly the same procedure: there will be a brief safety orientation in the morning, and two breaks throughout the day. The first break (often referred to as the “morning break”) occurs around 9:30, and the second break (often referred to as the lunch break) occurs around noon.  The morning break lasts for around 15 minutes, while the lunch break lasts roughly an hour. Work typically commences around 8:00 in the morning, and ends around 3:00 in the afternoon. Habitat builds usually occur on Saturdays.

While working at a Habitat build, a volunteer will learn how to use a variety of tools and will also learn valuable practical skills. Such skills would be useful to future homeowners and anyone ever needing to fix something; things break all the time. As a Habitat volunteer, you will be provided with water throughout the day and with lunch at noon. You will be supervised by an experienced coordinator to whom you could ask nearly anything about construction. There are also often many experienced individuals that could answer questions as well.

It is recommended that any individual wishing to volunteer for HFHI wear close-toed, thick-soled shoes, a long sleeve shirt (if the weather permits), and a rugged pair of pants. Though the coordinator directs all workers to throw nails in one spot, it is very possible that nails still lay strewn about; along with all the other debris that accumulates while doing construction work, the work area can be very dangerous unless the proper safety precautions are observed. Eyewear must be worn at all times, and minors are not allowed to operate any power tools. Volunteers at or over the age of 17 (the age varies by location) must be trained by the Habitat coordinator or another experienced individual in order to use any of the power tools.