Ray Isted, Head of Training at Whirlpool UK, recently volunteered to build a house in Romania!
The Whirlpool Corporation is involved with Habitat for Humanity, an organisation that donates products and provides manpower to support building projects, making a difference to families. Whirlpool EMEA is the longest standing corporate partner in the European and Central Asian region. Whirlpool has helped around 10,000 families, and over 500 Whirlpool employees have volunteered and participated in the house building projects.
Ray and a team of 39 colleagues from Europe met in Oradea, Romania, put on their hard hats, split into teams and began their house building project. By the end of the first day they had the outer walls erected and the roof struts in place. During the following days they built the interior frame of the house and tiled another.
One evening, the 40 Whirlpool employees were invited to a BBQ at a local children’s home, but it rained! However, rather than cancelling they were all invited into the children’s home for dinner, and during the evening they had the opportunity to meet some of the children and play games and have a bit of fun.
Ray said: ‘It was an amazing trip. Being able to put something back, and to help others not as lucky as ourselves by contributing to building a house that takes someone out of poverty housing is just awesome. There is still a lot to do, but at least we are trying to make a difference and it is an experience that I will always treasure and I really appreciate the opportunity.”
In the EMEA region Whirlpool donates a refrigerator, hood and washer to every Habitat home built. Throughout these programmes and throughout the world Whirlpool has donated more than 125,000 appliances in support of more than 69,000 families.
For more information on Habitat for Humanity go to www.habitateurope.org
