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Spares organizing Global Village build for Habitat for Humanity by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff 13 | Friday, May 22, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Joan Spares couldn't help but be a little nervous when her 21-year-old daughter, Denise, announced she was going to Africa on her own, not knowing a single person in Zambia, where she was headed. It turned out to be a trip that would deeply impact both of their lives. Denise returned from the Habitat for Humanity building project she was involved in, in 2005, with so much enthusiasm that her mom couldn't help but be swept up. "She painted a picture of what it was like there," Spares said, "and she did it in a way that you wanted to be there, to see what she saw." The following year, the two planned a sixmonth adventure through eight countries, culminating with a Habitat build in Zambia. Eight years later, Spares is organizing a team for her eighth Habitat for Humanity Global Village build, returning to where it all started for her in Zambia. This build will be part of the Around the World initiative to mark Habitat for Humanity's 10th anniversary in Canada in which 16 volunteer teams will build in 14 locations. The project will begin with a build in Prince Edward Island with teams being dispatched to Guatemala, El Salvador, Trinidad, Chile, Romania, Portugal, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Hawaii, the Yukon and ending in Alberta. Joan Spares is organizing a team to go on a Habitat for Humanity build in Zambia. This is her eighth international build, having also gone to Vietnam and Ghana. The build will be part of this summer's Around the World initiative to mark Habitat for Humanity's 10th anniversary in Canada. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Even Spares could not have anticipated that she would become so involved. "I didn't intend on becoming a team leader," the 60-year-old said. "It has consumed a lot of my time. I'm halfway through one build and I'm already organizing the next, but when you see how people's lives are turned around -- in Vietnam, we were taking people that have lived in the dump and putting them in homes. When you see how much it has impacted their lives, it's so rewarding, you want to do it again." Spares, a retired music teacher, was originally skeptical about what she could contribute to a building project apart from maybe some painting. However she said her team leader on her initial build quickly put her mind at ease. Working as a team, she said she left feeling good about her contribution to the project. She said the Habitat teams have to be respectful of local traditions, customs and even their building techniques. "You might know a better way, but they have their own ways of doing things," Spares said. "You try not to force things on them." Apart from the build itself, Spares said the project is valuable in being able to experience another culture and learn about how other people live. Despite living very modestly, she said the locals always made sure the Habitat crews ate first. They used what was available to them, whether it was wrapping up grocery bags to use as a soccer ball or cutting water bottles in half to use as containers. "They have so little (by Western standards), but they're so happy," she said. "They teach us and give us an understanding of how enjoyable life can be. They're so happy with what they have. They're not discontent with what they don't have." The Zambia build will be taking place from July 12-25. Anyone interested in being a part of Spares' build team in Zambia can contact her at jspares@gmail.com or visit www. habitatglobalvillage.ca for more information. Royal tReatment pet gRooming Royal Treatment Welcomes Rachel of Bark+Fitz and Sharon of Kustom K-9 to our professional Groom team. New lower rates for our Groom your own facility. Unique boutique. Walk in nail clipping always only $10. Call today to book your favourite groomer. DIAMOND www.royaltreatmentpetgrooming.ca 1380 Speers Rd. Unit 4, Oakville 905-847-7297 DIAMOND Colour + Inspiration = Home DIAMOND GOLD BAEU LER APPRO ED 905-257-2061 478 Dundas St. W., Oakville Visit our website www.PaintersPlace.ca for Promotional discounts Let our team inspire you! Christine FlaCk design group PAINTING Done properly the first time... Bullard Brothers