Having finished an exhausting academic year most students look forward to a leisurely summer to recharge their batteries before the next semester.  However during the summer, a team of LYIT Nursing students, decided to travel to India to build houses for widows and orphans in Pareni, in the Pondicherry district in India, amidst blistering 44 degrees.

Pondicherry is frequently affected by cyclones (Thane in 2011) and earthquakes which have resulted in a large number of displaced and homeless people including many orphans.  This is part of the Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village programme who have developed special reinforced housing designed to withstand natural hazards.  The local community work alongside the Habitat teams during the building of the houses.  Fiona Sammin, graduate, and Team Leaders Mary Dunnion and Kevin O’Brien, Lecturers, were also part of the LYIT group.

Describing their arrival in Pondicherry Team Leader Mary Dunnion said, “Nothing quite prepares you for the experience that is India, the heat literally took our breath away at first.  It was simply a mind-blowing experience for all team members walking through the city of Pondicherry mixing, mingling, haggling and laughing with people who were unfailingly polite, tolerant, friendly and hospitable.”

The LYIT Nursing team got stuck in right away on the houses; digging foundations, helping the home owners and local tradesmen to erect the steel pillars as well as mixing the concrete by hand and pouring it using steel pans - no ready-mix lorries here.  “Pouring the concrete roof was particularly difficult as the roof was at least 14 feet above the mixing area.  The concrete was placed into the steel pans and passed from one person to another, each person standing a couple of feet higher until it eventually reached the roof area.  This was a truly magnificent effort involving local villagers and tradesmen working together to complete the task,” explains Mary Dunnion.  “It was very tiring especially in the 44 Centigrade heat and the unrelenting sun with no shade.”

‎The houses are around fifteen feet wide and thirty feet long comprising a living room/kitchen/scullery at the front and two rooms at the back with steel and concrete steps leading to the roof area which has a variety of uses for the family.

Tamil Nadu (seventh most populous state in India) was badly affected by the 2004 earthquake and tsunami with upwards of 15,000 people losing their lives or listed as missing while the area was also afflicted by widespread flooding.  These natural hazards led Habitat for Humanity to design and build houses able to withstand earthquakes (up to 6.1 on the Richter scale), floods (up to four feet), and wind speeds of 150 kilometres per hour.  A Habitat Global Village house is given to widows and orphans who are expected to supply ‘sweat equity’, providing as much labour as they can.

The LYIT team were immersed in village life whilst they were there, visiting the local primary and secondary schools and delivering books and games they brought with them.  All were touched by how grateful the children were.  “The children were so grateful for the gifts and the time we spent with them, it was so special to me,” said Siobhan.

“The school children were full of curiosity about Ireland as well as fully engaging in the training sessions.  The schools provide a nutritious midday meal to all students consisting of naan bread, rice, curry and a boiled egg each day.  When I asked the children they told me ‘for many of us it’s the only meal we will get today’”, said Shaun.  Elaine added that the teacher had told her that by, ‘providing lunch it ensures a high school attendance rates and the school does well in the state’s academic league tables’”.

‎“The welcome and hospitality we were shown was overwhelming,” said Fiona.  “We were given such a warm reception by everyone we met including beggars and hawkers, tuc-tuc and bus drivers, labourers, people of all trades, engineers, hospitality staff and, of course, our host Habitat for Humanity co-ordinators Jason & Charly were so generous,” added Niamh.  “We’ve all taken away lasting memories of the dignity and hospitality of people who have so little,” commented Tony.

The group travelled home with unforgettable memories and lasting impressions of a vibrant people which is hard working and entrepreneurial as well as warm, kind and generous to strangers.  Mary reflects, “It is a great honour to be part of an Indian rural community and to share time with families and schools.  However, we couldn’t have achieved so much in Perani without the help and support of people here at home in Donegal, Mayo, Sligo and Derry and I’d like to thank everyone who helped. Thank you.”

Photo caption #1:
Nursing students working to build reinforced housing in India
Siobhan Carty, Elaine Coleman, Niamh Fleming, Shaun Gallagher, Tony McGilloway, alumna Fiona Sammin with Team Leaders Mary Dunnion and Kevin O’Brien. They worked on building reinforced housing in Pondicherry, India, during the summer. Hailing from Mayo, Sligo, Derry and Donegal each member fundraised £3,000 from their local community beforehand.