Group working with Habitat for Humanity in Guyana

February 27, 2006 —

Over spring break, SVSU students will be traveling to the South American country of Guyana to build houses through Habitat for Humanity.

The International Alternative Spring Break will last 10 days, beginning on Friday, March 3.

A $10,804 grant from the SVSU Foundation has helped make this trip possible. Ryan Fewins, assistant director of Student Life, wrote a proposal for the grant last year, and it will end up paying for about half of the total trip cost. Additionally, the SVSU Board of Fellows contributed $2,500. The students will pay approximately $500 each.

"This is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity," Fewins says. "Sometimes students can't afford such an opportunity because of cost. However, with the equitable donation, we've had double the number of people apply."

Last fall, 70 people applied for the chance to participate, a number that was eventually narrowed down to 12. Additionally, students Carly Toyzan and Ashley Verner will act as the official International Alternative Spring Break Site Leaders.

"This is a good opportunity for students for several reasons," Toyzan says. "It extends our influence further than our immediate community, it gives students the chance to meet new students on campus that they might not have known already, and it is a great travel experience."

Toyzan worked with Habitat for Humanity for the first time last year planting trees in Louisiana, and is eager to work with the organization again in Guyana.

"Habitat for Humanity gave us a list of countries that are in need," Toyzan says. "Guyana was eventually chosen because it is one of the shortest plane rides and we can spend more time there."

Guyana, a country on the northern edge of South America, currently suffers from water pollution due to sewage and agricultural chemicals. Deforestation has recently become a major problem in this area as well.

Fewins also says that Guyana is the only South American country fluent in English.

"Even though Guyana is an English-speaking country, it is a different dialect," Toyzan says. "It's a different way of life that we will have to quickly learn to deal with."

Many of the students going have not done anything like this previously, and there will be a reorientation for participants afterward.

"The hope is that the students who participated will continue to work with Habitat in their own community," Toyzan says.

Toyzan plans on Student Life arranging several more trips.

"To students interested for future breaks, I'd say definitely sign up," she says. "It's so worthwhile. You don't really have an opportunity to do anything else like this on campus. I mean, partying is fun, but this can really make an impact."