Lawrence volunteers plan trip to Africa to build houses

A team of 10 people from Lawrence Habitat for Humanity will be traveling this summer to Mozambique to build houses.

This will be the second time since 2005 that Lawrence Habitat will have sent a team to the African country.

“This trip was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had,” said Ellen Bartz, a nurse at the Lansing Correctional Facility, who made the first trip.

The houses will be built in a Mozambique style using indigenous materials that are renewable. Such a house costs less than $1,000 to build. It takes a week to make 1,000 bricks and dig latrines for the homes, Habitat members said.

The Lawrence team will be in Mozambique from July 25 to Aug. 9. Anyone interested in joining the team can call 832-0777 by April 10. Team leader Jerry Feese or others are available to talk about the trip also by calling that number.