Dates: Leaders: Cost: Group Size: Application: Donate: January 3-11, 2009 Hannah Tumblin & Kevin Gathje Approximately $350 20 students This trip is now closed. Make a contribution here.

Regional Overview
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region, the largest natural disaster in United States history. Among the communities hardest hit was a small town of 300 people 25 miles South of New Orleans, Phoenix, Louisiana. Phoenix was battered by winds and flooding from Katrina as well as flooding by Rita. The area was under water for over a month. Before the hurricanes, there were approximately 160 homes in the community, but only 25 survived.  Though their homes and lives were devastated, those who returned are strong and have resolved to rebuild their lives and community.

Quick Facts
Total deaths attributed to hurricane · More than 1,600
Number of homes destroyed · More than 200,000
Number of people displaced from their home · About 1 million
Insured property damage · $25.3 billion in insurance claims

Our Partners
Rebuilding Phoenix
Rebuilding Phoenix is a reconstruction project started by Covenant World Relief in partnership with Hillcrest Global Missions and Hands of Hope Ministries in Plaquemines Parish, LA.  Since 2005, Rebuilding Phoenix has sent teams to work with the town to reconstruct the buildings damaged by Hurricane Katrina.  Their hope is to help homeowners get out of their FEMA trailers and back into homes by restoring damaged homes and rebuilding homes that were destroyed.

Green Light New Orleans
Green Light New Orleans is an environmental organization that helps New Orleans low and middle income families and individuals make the switch from incandescent bulbs to energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFL), one house at a time. Their strategy is to have volunteers go to the homes of New Orleans residents and install the CFLs, so the bulbs are put to immediate use. It is a great opportunity to both improve energy efficiency and encourage families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Trip Description
The team drives down to the Gulf region to help build homes in Phoenix, LA.  They will have opportunities to meet many that have weathered the storm and are rebuilding their lives.  The team will also partner with Green Light New Orleans and replace old light bulbs with energy efficient CFL bulbs; this is another opportunity to build relationships with people in the community.  They team will also explore Phoenix and the city of New Orleans to see the destruction and status of rebuilding efforts there. 

If you are interested in putting social justice into action, then this is the trip for you.  We will talk about community/civic responsibility, the environment, and how our beliefs shape the way we live.  This trip embraces diversity, and students of all religious and cultural backgrounds are invited to apply.  If you are eager to help others through building projects, listening to people’s stories, learning from others, improving the environment and working as a team then we encourage you to come on this trip.  This is a great first-time Global Partnership trip.