Local group creating change on the other side of the world

“I find I get way more out of it than I ever did.”

For April, and others who have gone on trips with the organization, the experience is eye-opening.

“I saw a lot of poverty. I saw a lot of people struggling to get a meal at the table,” said April. “I saw a lot of people living in places that I personally would not want to live in.

“I saw people, who were basically happy inside but struggling to make it through life.”

Now, Global Neighbours, based in Prince Albert, is building at 2740 Woodbridge Drive, in a new development by the Alfred Jenkins Centre. The project kicked off mid-September and they’re hoping to finish, and put the property up for sale, mid-December.

This time around, the money from the sale will go towards the building of a teaching hospital in Myanmar.

“It’s heartwarming to see the work put in here and the results of what we can do over there with the money ‘built’ here,” said April. “We’ve started construction and we need the funds to complete the project.”

According to April, 100 per cent of the money raised by Global Neighbours goes to their builds overseas, with no administration or travel fees taken out. Each person that travels with the organization pays their own way.

Joe Remai, who said he’s been to Thailand and Burma with Global Neighbours 6 times, is supervising this year’s project with his company Span West.

“I see the kinds of things that can be done with a little bit of money, so I definitely wanted to be involved and took on the project,” said Remai.

So far, Remai said the community has really come together.

“It’s been just great. The trades have all come forward and said they’ll help out,” he said. “People that I didn’t even ask, phone and say, ‘I heard you’re doing this, can I come and help?’”

He said they received huge donations from Home Building Supplies, All Weather Windows, Roofmart and others, who made the construction possible.

“It’s just been heartwarming to see the generosity of our trades.”

Century 21 Prestige also came forward, volunteering to list and sell the house without taking commission.

In the end, the 1,300 sq. ft. family home located on the West Hill will likely go for around $350,000, according to Remai.

Perry Dmyterko, who owns the lot, allowed Global Neighbours to build on his land and hold off on paying until the house sells.

Remai said he’s looking forward to the final product, and the ability to once again help people living in poverty. In the past, he’s helped build orphanages and schools for children abandoned, with no families.

“It was just an awesome feeling to construct something they could use and put a safe roof over their head and give them some food to eat,” said Remai, who said he’s definitely recommend the experience to others.

“I think we’re all better people when we come back,” he explained. “While we might complain about where we live and what we have, after you go over there and talk to people who have nothing, absolutely nothing, you come home and say, ‘I’m a pretty lucky guy.’”

To get involved with Global Neighbours, visit their website.

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

Local group creating change on the other side of the world

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