International School Volunteers From Malaysia Meet Habitat Global Hero John Abraham Before India Build

Encouragement From Strong Habitat Supporter Motivates Volunteers From International School of Kuala Lumpur

MUMBAI, 7th May 2010: Little did international school volunteers from Malaysia expect to meet Habitat for Humanity’s Global Hero John Abraham during their flight to Mumbai.

Indian movie star John Abraham’s (arms folded) support for Habitat encouraged the students volunteers.

The volunteers passed cement and laid bricks, among other tasks.

But when the volunteers from the International School of Kuala Lumpur heard that the Indian movie star was onboard, they jumped at the chance to meet him.

Abraham’s encouragement and support for Habitat spurred the 22 volunteers as they worked on three houses in Morewadi village in Karjat, about 85 kilometers from Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra state in western India.

The volunteers worked alongside Habitat home partners as they mixed cement and laid bricks. The home partners are from a forest tribe in the Kathkari community and work as laborers in agricultural fields and brick kilns.

“The experience is one we will always keep in our thoughts and dwell on it,” said teacher John Thomas who was leading his fourth team to India. He had previously led volunteers from the school to Pune in Maharashtra and Hubli and Bangalore in Karnataka state.