„Wesley Way” – 10 years of partnership benefitting those in need
Habitat for Humanity Beius and Wesley College, Dublin have laid the foundation stone for a project that will mark 10 years
of collaboration between Romanians and the Irish by building 10 houses in five days next year.
Since 2002, volunteers from Wesley College Dublin have been coming nearly every year to build homes with Habitat Beius. This year, another 16 students and 4 teachers returned to Romania and raised a house in Stei for a family in need. Irish schools have special programs that encourage young people to get involved in volunteering, to work independently in the community or together with local or international NGOs. This is why students from Wesley College choose to come to Beius annually, to volunteer in building homes for the needy.
“I’ve done volunteer work at home as well. Last time I chose to help in a shop called “Charity for Children”. It’s a charity shop where people can donate items that they no longer need, such as clothing, toys or books. The most important thing when you work in this type of shop is when you see a child enter to buy something, knowing that by doing so they are helping other poor or sick children. I’ve enjoyed every moment spent here and I strongly recommend that all young people should get involved in these sort of activities in their free time.” said Julia, a 16 year old student from Wesley College who was on the Habitat site in Stei last week.
In 2013, to celebrate 10 years of partnership between Habitat Beius and Wesley College, we will build 10 homes in just five days
with the help of 250 volunteers from Wesley College with these volunteers being teachers, current students, former students, and parents of the students. On Monday, to mark the start of the project, the cornerstone of the first house was put in place and was consecrated and a plaque was mounted to mark the event. The mayor, Adrian Domocos and vice-mayor Gheorghe Costin, priest Marin Bota and the 20 volunteers from Ireland who worked last week in Stei and other invited guests all participated in the ceremony. After the consecration service, officials put the first shovel of concrete in the foundation of the “Wesley Way” project.
“In 2010 we said that in four years will turn Beius into the first town in Romania in which we declare that poverty housing has been eliminated. For this to happen, we will allocate land where Habitat homes can be built in Beius. I want to thank those from Wesley College because of their contribution to fulfilling this goal through these 10 houses that they want to build next year.” said mayor Adrian Domocos in his speech.
Since 2002, those from Wesley College have invested over 100,000 euros in Beius on top of having paid for their travel, food and accommodation expenses. In addition, they’ve promoted Beius such that year after year more of their colleagues have wanted to come here. This is one of the reasons that next year, 250 volunteers from Dublin will be present in Beius for the “Wesley Way” project.
“We believe that this event will not only help some needy families to live in better conditions, but we will show that if we unite rather than divide, if we help each other instead of putting up barriers and if we love each other rather than make enemies, we can do many good things together. The example that these young people give us is an extraordinary one and worth following. Thank you for this!” said Mircea Jurcan, director of Habitat for Humanity Beius during the ceremony.
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