Jo-An Turman is in Thailand for the 26th Annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. She is our Senior Director of Marketing and Communications. As you will read below, so much is happening every day! Continue to check back for more updates from our Habitat for Humanity of Greater L.A. staff building at different locations throughout Southeast Asia.
Another beautiful day in Chiang Mai. Up again at 5, breakfast with our fellow builders, on the bus at 6:30 and building on our HFH GLA sponsored house #25 by 7:15am.
Our partner family is so terrific. Very shy, humble couple. Surathin Sritanachaiwong and his wife, Orawan. They make bags and other handicraft items for a living. They have a 1-year-old son, Tanakrit. They live in a small rented room, one of many in a row. The rooms fill up with smoke and fumes daily.
Surathin said "I've wanted to give a house to my family so badly, I've looked at land, but it's all too expensive, I started thinking I would never be able to own a house so I want to deeply thank all the volunteers and everyone who is sacrificing for this project and our house."
They are there before us everyday and long after us. They are building so hard on the house with us and never act as though they are tired.
We are so blessed and fortunate to have this opportunity to be building with them and the thousands of other volunteers on this 26th Annual JRCWP. It is because of families like the Sritanachaiwong's we do what we do. We truly build hope, lives and communities.
Today we are grouting the entire 40 meter brick house (about 350 sf) that is smaller than most garages in the US. We will have the roof on by this afternoon to begin to paint the interior walls tomorrow. The entire 82 home community is so beautiful. The backdrop is serene mountains and nearby rice paddy fields.
Labels: 26th annual jimmy and rosalynn carter work project, affordable housing in thailand, habitat for humanity of greater los angeles, habitat volunteering, partner families