Freedom Park, Cape Town 2007 - Jonathan Cairns
I was slightly nervous about this trip. Over 1300 volunteers travelling mainly from Ireland, the potential for chaos was enormous. Rumours of heavy security and locals kept off site by fencing, fuelled a slight trepidation. What sort of a trip would it be if we are not mixing with locals, we may as well be in Clondalkin as Cape Town.
This being my fourth trip I was looking forward to the spectacle of a white army marching into Freedom Park. It didn't disappoint, local kids shouted and danced, many adults sang, others wept. The emotional roller coaster had started again. I have experienced this before and there is no defence.
Within an hour the organisation machine that is the Niall Mellon Trust became apparent. The attention to detail that a machine like this requires to function at all, let alone with apparent ease, is overwhelming. Cement, tiles you name it, appeared in sequence or on demand. Raincoats were provided in your own size for the miserable days, glasses for the sandstorms, packed lunches, an endless supply of water and even women to harass you into putting on sun block.
We're asked not to give away lunches but a lot of people don't know how not to when someone is hungry. Building someone a house doesn't seem to be a reason not to share food with them.
The children line the perimeter fence each day. Subconsciously you pick out the ones the same age as your own. You wonder at the joy and laughter in such conditions. You feel proud to be building houses for such people and always very emotional.
We're not trained to cope with such outward emotions. Tears, hugs and laughter from kids is one thing. Tears, hugs and laughter from adults is quite another. Like many others I often find myself saying nothing for fear of spilling tears. Who is helping who here, the lines become blurred. Working as a roofer I witness some strange goings on. Group hugs on the roof! No-one would ever believe it.
The days were hard and organised, 1380 of us were bussed in and out of a small space each day. We created a village, causing our own traffic jams with trucks, forklifts and every type of vehicle required on a building site.
At night we ate, drank and laughed. Nobody getting paid levels the playing field. We all become like a family, albeit a large one. Then it was over.
Now I'm trying not to overload my kids with stories and photos. Another year to wait for the next trip seems like a long wait. Experience will prove me wrong again. Looking forward to 2008.
Jonathan
