After a difficult first few days on site, we were glad to be able to relax for the weekend and catch up on some well deserved sleep!

On Saturday, Zerihun took us to the highest point in Addis Ababa, where the view down on the city was amazing so well worth the trip! Looking down, really put things into perspective for us as we came across a lot of poverty and sickness; we were told many people wait there all day for holy water so that they may be healed of their ailment or disease so it was really difficult to just walk away from them when you feel like you should try and help,

The team at the top of the viewpoint.

For our evening activity we all went out to enjoy some traditional Ethiopian food and dance where many of us joined in. It was great to experience this new culture and we all had lots of fun!

The girls at the Ethiopian night in Addis.

Team picture while watching the traditional Ethiopian

dancing. 

When we got back to site on Monday, our groups swapped around again and we continued with the building of the toilet block which many of the people we met will share. Having previously been at a different site, we were all amazed at the progress that had been made. As usual, we especially enjoyed interacting with the locals who lived there as well as playing with the kids. Helen had brought bubbles and balloons for them to play with; it was amazing to see how something so small could make such a difference, so it was really a message to appreciate the little things in life and not take things for granted as they were so excited to play with  them!

Finally, despite us all being quite tired from working all day, our enthusiasm wasn't dampened as we played football along with some of the habitat workers. It really brought out everyone's competitive side and we all got very muddy, but worse was yet to come...

Once again, on Tuesday, we alternated teams and continued with out building. We learnt that in this area, a whole family live in a little tin hut after being homeless which was heartbreaking but also amazing knowing the work that habitat was doing for them. The conditions which some of the people live in are astounding but them making us feel so welcome there and being so grateful made our work feel so much more important,

  

Today was our last full day on site but also an emotional one as we said our goodbyes to the amazing people we've been lucky enough to meet. We have all had such an amazing time this whole trip and the days have completely flew in! We hope that our work has inspired others to maybe take part and feel inspired too to spread the word about the work of habitat. We are all so glad to have been a part of this whole experience and can't wait for what the future might hold!

Our team at the toilet block with Adana and Mazarat.

Whole team with Adana.

Aoife Monaghan