From the 4th to the 21st of October a truly amazing group of 36 Irish Volunteers gave it their all in Lesotho for the ACARA Lesotho Build Project 2010.
It was a physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting experience and a privilege to share it with this group of exceptional people. Without them and the support of friends and families this project would not have been possible.
In just 14 days we completed the following:
- The construction and fit out of 2 classrooms
- The building of 3 Keyhole Gardens
- The building of 2 ACARA Friendship Walls
- Maintenance work on existing classrooms
- The building of a playground at the ACARA Safe House built in 2008
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed people can make big changes in the lives of hundreds of children, now and in the years to come.
Thanks to a wonderful team and new friends made.
Kea Leboha
ACARA Volunteers - Lesotho Build Project
Do The Right Thing is new to RTE and is a show all about aspiring volunteers who are ready to put their lives on hold for a year and travel to some of the most challenging places on earth. ACARA Action Projects are delighted that they will be using some of our volunteers action footage from our Lesotho Build Project over the course of the next 10 weeks. Presented by Lucy Kennedy and Baz Ashmay. The show will run for the next 10 weeks or RTE 2, Tuesday nights at 10:00pm. You can also get kept up to date via the website
http://www.rte.ie/tv/dotherightthing
To view all footage of our Volunteers and our previous Lesotho Build Project. http://www.acara.ie/lesotho/videos
We return to Lesotho again on the 4th October 2010 with a new group of volunteers.
Colette O'Sullivan and Helen O'Malley, ACARA Action Projects - Field Work in Lesotho
Click on the Link Below to ready the full interview:
ACARA Action Projects, Interview on Irish Examiner, Friday 13th Aug 2010
We would not be able to undertake our Build Projects without our amazing Project Team. We thank them for their time, dedication and commitment and for giving so generously of their time over the course of the past 18 months and beyond.
Katherine Kelliher B. Arch. Sc Dip. Arch. MRIAI
Partner, Kelliher Miller Architects www.kmarch.ie
Project Architect: 2008 and 2010
Katherine Kelliher, Kelliher Miller Architects. Architect for ACARA Lesotho Build Project 2008 - 2010
Katherine studied architecture in Bolton St, DIT and graduated with an honours degree in 1995. She has worked in Hong Kong and Ireland in a number of architectural practices. She is accredited in conservation of historic buildings Grade III and is a qualified Project Supervisor Design Process.
Andrew Gargan : Project Quantity Surveyor: 2008 and 2010
Andrew Gargan: Quantity Surveyor, ACARA Lesotho Build Project 2008 - 2010
Andrew is a professional Quantity surveyor and has over 10 years experience in the construction industry. His latest project in Dublin was the Aviva stadium. After doing a trek for Barretstown in 2006 he teamed up with Acara Action Projects in his spare time to be part of the team to carry out charity builds in Lesotho, Southern Africa. His ambition is to work on non-profit projects as well as private/ public enterprise projects.Andrew likes photography, architecture and jaffa cakes 
Peter Finn – Site Foreman 2008 and Advisor for 2010 Project
Partner – Michael Duffy and Sons Constructions ltd http://mdsconstruction.ie
Peter Finn, Site Foreman, ACARA Lesotho Build Project 2008 and Advisor in 2010
Peter, 35 years, started off as a carpenter then went on to undertake a Building Technician Course in Bolton Street, Dublin. He has been involved in each of the 5 Room to Improve series on RTE and after been introduced to ACARA in 2008, by his friend Bernard Sweeney (also part of the Project Team of 2008), Peter became Site Foreman for the first Lesotho Build Project
Personal Interests: Football, Kickboxing and Healthy Living
Declan O’Mahony – Site Foreman 2010
Declan O'Mahony: Site Foreman, ACARA Lesotho Build Project 2010
Declan O Mahony BA (hons) Diploma PM
Declan is a graduate of University College Cork and has over twenty years experience in the construction industry. Declan is a member of the Institute of Project Management. He founded his first company in 2004. That company became part of Assist Project Management in 2006 where he is a Director http://www.assistpm.ie . In addition to PM services Assist comprises QS, cost management, space planning, architectural design and planning services.
Declan is a keen canoeist and enjoys a regular soccer game on Wednesday nights.
