Why?
Bike Europe
Why?
Ethiopia Work Camp 2002
In 2002 a team from the Swift Youth Group embarked on a work camp in Ethiopia with the charity Habitat for Humanity. The team included Gemma Plumb, Penny Finch, Simon Clewett, Ian Bateman, Tim Bateman, Phil, Clive Furness, Jill McWilliam, Ian Brown and Gill Brown.
The 10 day trip was based in Addis Ababa and Debre Zeit. The aim of the project was to work with the locals and help to build houses. The team found the trip an amazing experience, getting to meet loads of new people from a totally different culture, helping them to build a new life and teaching them useful skills that they could use in the future.
The trip was not only about building houses, the team also got to experience some of the breathtaking scenery of Ethiopia. They even had the chance to visit an unspoilt island with an abundance of exotic wildlife, such as crocodiles, in their natural habitat.
Gemma reflects that “I was really pleased that we were able to work effectively as a team and make a real difference to the local communities. It was a very humbling, yet rewarding experience and it made me appreciate what I have and to be thankful that I am lucky to live in a country that does not have to worry about drought and famine.”
The team thoroughly enjoyed their work camp, returning to England with a fresh perspective on life and bursting with stories from their travels - many of which are still told in the pubs of the east end to this day.
