This article was first published in The Business Times

We will be using used glass bottles to help build homes for the needy in Thailand.” This was what we were told when we had our first meeting as volunteers with an official of Brand’s, which initiated the project.

Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? How is it possible to use fragile material such as glass in the construction of a house that will be a home to a family? And what will the house eventually look like? Those were our thoughts initially too.

However, we began to realise the feasibility and rationale of using used glass bottles as construction material and the significance of what we are doing in helping to save the environment as we started getting our hands dirty at the construction site in a village.

We were part of a team of 20plus student volunteers brought together by Brand’s, who went last month to build houses for the needy in a village in Pathumthani province of Thailand. The village is about two hours’ drive from Bangkok.

Representing Nanyang Business School at Nanyang Technological University and Singapore, both of us, along with fellow student volunteers from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand, were invited to partner Cerebos’ regional staff in helping to build four houses using Brand’s essence of chicken glass bottles.

Named Brand’s Hope in a Bottle, this programme is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project by the company with Habitat for Humanity as a beneficiary. Brand’s Hope in a Bottle was launched as part of its 175th anniversary celebrations this year, to make a difference to the lives of families in need.

The CSR project aims to provide simple shelters for the needy to improve their lives. Through the innovative use of glass bottles as building material, the carbon footprint is reduced through the significant reduction of cement usage in the construction. Besides helping to conserve the environment, the programme advocates sustainable living and helps the locals to reduce building costs.

Our task was to lay the floor foundation for four houses in three days using glass bottles and cement. Three days were hardly sufficient to impact a whole community greatly, but we believe the value of our work went beyond that. A shelter is a basic need. A decent home opens opportunities to better healthcare, better academic performance, greater economic opportunities and increased community cohesion.

The programme can have far reaching impact as it raises CSR awareness and can encourage other companies to engage in similar initiatives that will benefit society and the environment in the long run. In addition, Brand’s donated US$100,000 to Habitat for Humanity as part of this programme to sponsor the building of more shelters for the needy.

It was a learning journey and an eye opening experience as witnessing the substandard living conditions of the less fortunate evoked strong feelings in us. We were shocked to see eight families living in cramped living conditions in a small house. Working on the project, it was comforting for us to know that our effort will contribute to giving the families new homes.

This article was first published in The Business Times.

Our helping hand in the construction meant much to the villagers. It took nearly 30 of us two days to fill up the foundation of three houses. Without us, three to four villagers would have taken about a month to complete the construction of a single house. All we did was lay the foundations of the houses, but our simple gesture was received with much gratitude. Even though we could not speak each other’s language, we could sense their appreciation through their smiles and actions. The villagers offered us their homegrown fruit and water when they saw us exhausted from working under the scorching sun.

Though impoverished, the villagers seemed content and thankful for what they have in their lives. It made us reflect on the many things we have at home in Singapore and how we should not take things for granted. We were also glad to have met people of different nationalities. It was amazing that everyone, despite their diverse backgrounds, connected with each other within a short time and displayed great teamwork and camaraderie.

It was also rewarding to interact with student volunteers from other countries and territories. We got to know more about their countries, their campus life and their differing takes on issues. Such exchanges allowed us to forge immediate friendships which we believe will last. We are privileged to have been part of this unique project which has taught us what it means to give back to society as well as the importance of sustaining the environment.

We hope that our efforts have made some difference in the life of the Thai villagers. It may not be life changing, but we hope our volunteer work made a positive impact on their lives.