During the Eid Al Adha break, over 60 students from The American School of Doha (ASD) set out to the countries of Sri Lanka and Cambodia to build homes for families in need. For many of these students this was the first time visiting these countries and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.
This service trip is eagerly awaited by all participants and has become meaningful for the ASD Teachers who accompany these volunteers over the Eid holiday break. Mark Klar, HS Social Studies Teacher and coordinator for both trips, remarked on how proud he is of the students who participate in this type of service. Mark stated, “I am always amazed by the hard work that these students put out for other people. These trips can be very labour intensive.”
Although the primary focus is on the construction of a new home, the students are provided a couple of days to venture out into the hosting city. The groups visit museums, Unesco sites and well-known monuments or temples. They are also given the opportunity to visit markets and local eateries where one can try special native dishes.
Many international schools volunteer with Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes for families in need. The American School of Doha has chosen to work with Habitat for Humanity for almost a decade and has found the coordination of the visits and builds of each country to be thorough and professional. The students take ownership of their responsibilities during the build, work along-side the families and have most of the structure laid out, if not completed, once their volunteer days are over. It is a very power experience.
Both groups ended the week with a closing ceremony, including the family associated with the home, to celebrate everyone’s efforts and hard work.
The Peninsula
