FRANCHISE OWNERS GIVING BACK

Just Cuts Franchise Owners Cassandra & Lynda share their Habitat for Humanity story When we found out that two of our very own Franchise Owners had made more than one journey overseas to help those less fortunate we just had to share the details with you. We’re delighted to introduce you to Cassandra Colefax and Lynda Rennie. Both own and operate a Just Cuts Franchise (make that seven for Cassandra), both are dedicated Just Cuts community participants and both run a busy family as well as taking time out to help those in need. We’re calling it… they’re wonder women! We sat with Cassandra and Lynda to chat about the work they have done with Habitat for Humanity (HFH) and their recent trip to Cambodia to build a home for a family in need.

Q: When and where did you go?

Lynda: We headed to Cambodia from Australia in January 2017. We were based in Phnom Penh. The build location was 20 kilometres outside the city. Cassandra: It was a semi-rural area and the exact location was never revealed for security/ privacy reasons.

Q: What is the background of the trip (why did you decide to go)? Cassandra: This was my 3rd build for HFH (Habitat For Humanity). I decided to get involved because it’s a way to help those less fortunate, give something different than a monetary donation and an opportunity to experience other cultures. At times, it’s a little out of your comfort zone but the results are so rewarding. Lynda, Carla (Franchise Owner of Just Cuts Elanora-The Pines and Burleigh Heads, QLD) and I travelled to the Philippines for HFH the year before and I guess Lynda caught the HFH bug after that. I decided to do this build because it was different from the others I had done. This time we got to build for one family and at times work side by side with them. On my first two builds we didn’t get to meet the owners and they were co-joined houses. This build in Cambodia was unique for us as it was a stand-alone house.

Q: What did the building of the home involve? Lynda: Before the build we had to complete an orientation with all the team members (there were 17 of us). This encompasses OH&S and insights into the culture and language. The build takes 5 days; Day 1 is about getting the floor foundation ready and the following days we work on various tasks like mixing mortar, laying bricks, rendering and clearing the site for hand over. Cassandra: We had to do everything by hand so the heat and humidity make the tasks challenging. It’s a real struggle at times but we always keep our eye on the prize so to speak. As we don’t have mixing machines or any other machinery, we cart all the materials ourselves. We also learned some great skills like laying bricks and rendering! As a team, we also had an opportunity to get out for some sightseeing and absorb the history and culture of the area.

Q: What did you learn from the people you spent time with? Cassandra: The biggest thing I’ve learned over my time with HFH is that living standards all over the world are vastly different and acceptable standards of living vary too! Many things that I take for granted like running water, a flushing toilet, having your own bedroom, air conditioning, etc, are just not on their list of priorities. They are just so grateful to have a roof over their heads and that their housing is safe and secure. I also learned things from other team members as we are from all walks of life and vary in age and origin. As a team, we had plenty of laughs. We’d go out for dinner each night to reflect on the day and get mentally prepared for the next. There’s a real sense of comradery and belonging. Q: What was the most special moment & valuable lesson learned? Cassandra: The handover ceremony is definitely the icing on the cake! It’s a very emotional and proud moment too. We got to share and celebrate our sweat and toil, and stand in awe of what we had all achieved in such a relatively short space of time.

Lynda: From this experience, we’ve learned to not take things for granted. If you think you’re having a bad day, just thinking back to your build experience makes you realise that your situation is not that bad. It gives you a whole new perspective on life and makes you grateful for what you have. Q: What would you love to do next? Cassandra: We are just starting to consider that now. Nepal or Mexico are on the list, though Lynda and I haven’t decided on the final options for our next HFH journey just yet!

FIND OUT MORE! Visit the Habitat for Humanity Australia website for more information on upcoming builds and other support options. http://habitat.org.au/