"Tearing down walls by building homes and lives"

FACT SHEET

WHO: Unemployed Catholic and Protestant young people from Ireland both North and South – accompanied by adult leaders. They live in American homes with Project Children host families.

WHAT: Together, the trainees build Habitat for Humanity homes for deserving low-income people.

WHERE: North, South, East, and West, including the District of Columbia, Florida, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Texas, and Virginia.

WHEN: Throughout the year, depending on Habitat scheduling priorities, for a period of 8 weeks.

WHY: To contribute to reconciliation in Ireland by bringing young people from two communities in conflict to live together, train together, and build homes together in order to develop skills in the construction trades that will enable them to find employment when they return home.

SUPPORTERS: Besides the major partners – Habitat for Humanity and Project Children – Tearing down Walls has received support from thousands of individuals, including Members of Congress, and numerous organizations and private companies in the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The AFL/CIO – in particular, its Bricklayer, Carpenter, and Painter affiliates – should be cited for providing the young Irish men and women with hands-on training in various construction trade skills. Similarly, officials of the British, Irish, and American governments have been highly supportive of Tearing down walls. Overseas partners include the International Fund for Ireland, the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland Training and Employment Agencies, Border Horizons, Londonderry Innercity Trust, Clanrye Employment and Training Services, and Dundalk Employment Partnerships.

TRAINING: In addition to the construction training offered by representatives of the AFL/CIO, on-site practical skills instruction is provided by Habitat for Humanity representatives. The trainees also participate in workshops dealing with conflict resolution, confidence building, leadership, etc. More recently, they have participated in computer education classes.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: These include (in the DC area): guided tours of the White House; visits to museums such as the Building Museum and the Museum of the Frontier in Staunton, Virginia; performances at the Kennedy Center; trips to the mountains and the shore; the celebration of holidays with American host families; and attendance at various sporting events, as well as participating in soccer matches with local teams. There are opportunities to interact with Members of Congress and representatives of the British and Irish embassies, and officials from the U.S. Department of State. Each group also makes a weeklong trip, generally to New York City.

POINT OF CONTACT:

Bob Myers
6015 Western Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20015

202.362.6741
202.237.0920 fax
rpmyersjr@aol.com