All aboard to build

(Bruce Bottomley Photos)

There was no doubt of that on Friday as 150 students laden with pillows, book bags and backpacks boarded three buses outside Howe Hall bound for Biloxi, Mississippi. Once they arrive—after a 3,500-kilometre-long trip that will take them through three provinces and 14 states—they’ll join a Habitat for Humanity build on the Gulf Coast.

“I don’t think anyone can call this apathetic,” adds Ms. Levy, a second-year arts student from Montreal. “We’ve got the biggest contingent coming from Canada.”

DalHabitat, the Dalhousie chapter of Habitat for Humanity, had so many students interested that it could have filled another bus.

“It’s because it’s such an incredible experience,” says Jessica Roy, co-chair of DalHabitat. “The students come back so passionate and they’ve had such a great experience they tell all their friends about it … we’ve grown so much and it’s all by word of mouth.”

A third-year biology student, Ms. Roy is making her third trip to a Katrina-ravaged area. Two years ago, 21 students spent their study break in Mobile County, Alabama, and last year, 51 students traveled to New Orleans to pitch in with the construction of the Musicians Village in the upper Ninth Ward.

Each of the participating students contributed $450 to cover food and transportation for the 10-day trip. Costs were offset through fundraising benefits, a grant from the Dalhousie Student Union and by selling advertising on the back of their T-shirts.

While the students plan to work on the build site from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, there should be plenty of time for socializing. A trip to New Orleans is planned to take in the sights and sounds of Mardi Gras and to catch an NBA game between the New Orleans Hornets and the Detroit Pistons.

Two other people making a return trip are Trius bus drivers Jim Thorne and Gordon Crowe.

“You look at these kids and you think, ‘Why aren’t they going to the beach or a ski hill? This is their spring break after all,’” says Mr. Thorne, who packed 70 movies to keep the students entertained over 35 hours of solid driving time. He also was planning a few rounds of "Bus Idol" and "Survivor Bus" for the trip south.

“I got to say, I applaud these kids," he says. "It’s a great, great thing they’re doing, especially when you’re down there and you see the devastation still remaining three years after Katrina. We honestly couldn’t believe how bad it was.”