Judy Siegle is preparing for a trip to Haiti to help build earthquakeproof homes with Habitat for Humanity.
Judy Siegle of Grand Marais will be packing a bag and heading to Haiti in November—not for a vacation, but to join a crew building homes for families in the storm-torn region with the Jimmy and Rosalind Carter 2011 Work Project. Each year the Carters spearhead a project with Habitat for Humanity. This year the goal is to build 100 earthquake and hurricaneproof homes in Leogane, a city 98 percent destroyed by the 2010 earthquake and still largely in ruins.
“You may well ask why I am doing a house-building project—a 70-year-old unskilled woman who is not especially good at heights and who depends more on luck than talent to pound a nail in straight,” said Siegle, explaining, “It began last year when I sent a small donation to the Carter Center because I admire the work they do.”
Along with the donation form, Siegle received an interest survey and Haiti was one of the choices. She checked a box and was surprised to then receive an invitation to apply for the Haiti work project.
She filled out the application, which she said was “as discouraging as possible.” It detailed rustic living conditions, extreme heat and humidity, health and security issues, and no beach time. In addition and perhaps most challenging, Siegle learned that each participant is required to cover his or her airfare and $500 for their upkeep during the week—and they must pledge to raise $4,500.
Siegle notes that $4,500 is a lot of money, but she said it all goes toward building small but safe structures for the people of Leogane. Like all Habitat for Humanity projects, the families who will live in the houses work alongside the volunteers. “I imagine it will be the major perk of this trip to get to know some of these remarkably resilient people. One of the more important values of volunteers like me is to be a witness to these small miracles and to return to tell about it. I think I will have lots of stories to tell and pictures to share with the community,” said Siegle.
But first, Siegle must get through the fundraising portion of her humanitarian effort. She said thanks to the generosity of Cook County, she is just $1,500 short of her goal. Siegle asks anyone who would like to help her reach her goal to contact her at (218) 387-9423 or e-mail gsiegle@boreal.org.
“Those people in Leogane, 21 months after their lives were changed forever and who are still living in camps where 235 people share a toilet, would thank you in person if they could. Instead I will do so— thank you for your help,” said Siegle.
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