Birr businessman to build homes in Haiti

A local award-winning businessman and three other volunteers are heading off to Haiti later this year to build homes in the hurricane-stricken country. Stephen Grant of Grant Engineering in Birr, along with his son-in-law John Paul Manning and two work colleagues, Peter Darcy and Keith Scully, have signed up to be part of Haven"s first Build-it-Week, which will take place in a rural part of north-eastern Haiti in October. The four men need to raise €4,000 in order to make the trip and are hoping that local people will support them by attending a special fundraising concert next Saturday, May 23. The popular blues musician Don Baker will play in Dooly"s Hotel, Birr, and all proceeds raised will go towards the building trip these four men are taking part in. Stephen Grant has already been to Haiti twice, as part of his successful involvement with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He won the industrial category of the competition last year and travelled to the poorest country in the western world in both 2007 and 2008. Last year, four devastating hurricanes and storms ripped across Haiti, which is part of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, leaving 800 people dead and a further one million homeless. That is on top of almost a million people who were already living in slums and squalor. 'Once I saw the dire conditions that people in Haiti were living in, I committed to doing something for Haiti for the rest of my life. Living conditions are appalling, basically people are living in huts and shacks thrown up with anything they can find,' said Stephen. He is also encouraging other Offaly people to sign up to Build-it-Week. 'This will be a life changing experience for anyone going to Haiti and they will feel like they are doing tremendous good for their fellow man.' Haven, which was founded by businessman Leslie Buckley earlier this year, is hoping to bring a total of 250 volunteers to Haiti from October 25 to November 2 and so are still hoping to recruit more volunteers. To take part in Build-it-Week, volunteers have to raise a minimum of €4,000, be fit enough to work in a tropical climate for a week and be available to travel that Halloween week. Haven is aiming to build a total of 1,000 new homes and upgrade a further 2,000 homes by 2011. Tickets for the Haven Don Baker concert cost €20 and can be purchased from Dooly"s Hotel or contact the hotel on 057 9120032. To sign up for Haven"s Build-it-Week, contact 01 4333930 or go to www.havenpartnership.com