By: Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
Martine Leblanc recently embarked on a life-changing journey to Nepal with Habitat for Humanity Global Village, bringing hope to families in need while gaining invaluable experiences herself.
Leblanc, who retired as a teacher’s assistant at a French high school in Aurora, is no stranger to humanitarian efforts in the Comber community. Over the years, she has accompanied high school students on nine trips across Central America with Habitat for Humanity. When the organization resumed its activities post-pandemic, Leblanc eagerly joined one of the first three builds to relaunch the program.
“Going to Nepal was very appealing to me,” she said. “Needless to say, I had zero hesitations on jumping on this amazing opportunity.”
In Nepal’s Sunsari district, Leblanc and her team worked on three of the 10 homes being built for local families.
She described the original homes as rudimentary structures made of wood, steel, and bamboo. They consisted of one large open room without doors and with some missing walls. The kitchen was outdoors, with a fire and a boiling pot serving as cooking essentials.
The new homes offered a significant upgrade, providing more rooms, a sound structure, and separate buildings for the bathroom and kitchen. “By North American standards, these homes are quite humble and simple, but they provide a safe shelter and a place they can call home,” said Leblanc, reflecting on the lessons of gratitude these trips always teach her.
Leblanc found the experience deeply rewarding. “I always come back with my heart full of love and my head full of memories,” she said.
The local community welcomed the initiative warmly, despite the challenges. “Given that it is a remote area, some locals had never seen foreigners before and were curious about what we were up to,” she said. “They were incredibly warm and welcoming, smiling and waving at us whenever we would pass by. Even the farm animals took a liking to us!”
Challenges were part of the journey. Pollution in Sunsari delayed the team’s flight from Kathmandu, cutting their build time by a day. Limited tools also required adaptation. “Instead of imposing our ways, we must learn from them and follow their lead,” Leblanc explained.
A particularly emotional moment came on the final day. After lunch, some women who would become homeowners dressed the volunteers in traditional Nepali attire. Despite the language barrier, Leblanc said they communicated on a deeper level, sharing mutual love and respect. “It made me cry,” she admitted.
The trip also highlighted Nepal’s evolving housing policies, with women now recognized as co-owners of their homes. “In the cluster of 10 homes, one was going to be owned by a single mother, which would have never been possible before,” Leblanc noted. She was inspired by the emerging sense of community among the families.
Leblanc encouraged others to consider volunteering. “It changes the quality of life for the person or family you help, but it changes you as well,” she said. “Start small. There are tons of organizations that need a helping hand. But beware—volunteering is highly contagious and addictive!”
Leblanc also highlighted the efforts of Fiona Coughlin, CEO of the Windsor/Essex branch of Habitat for Humanity, who participated in the Nepal initiative. “She was absolutely phenomenal! A passionate, staunch supporter of the cause, and I had a lovely time working with her.”
Looking ahead, Leblanc and her group plan to support the Nepalese community further by providing more tools and supplies. Personally, she hopes to lead more groups on Habitat for Humanity missions to different destinations.
“Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity can be done on different levels,” she said. “Locally, they have builds you can participate in, as well as ReStores where you can donate your time. Feel free to take a look at all of their wonderful initiatives at www.habitat.ca.”
For Leblanc, the experience underscored the importance of giving back and the profound impact it can have—on both the giver and the recipient.
