Traveling the world with Habitat for Humanity
Donna Brightman loves working with future homeowners to help build their new houses with Habitat for Humanity. She has traveled the world, leading teams in mostly developing nations from Nepal to Kenya.
Despite experiencing a language barrier in most countries, Brightman of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park quickly gets comfortable working alongside locals.
“We get into a rhythm — asking the people to do something using eye contact or hand gestures. It’s great but it can get so comfortable that we think they understand — but they don’t. They look at us with blank faces. That’s when we all laugh together,” Brightman said. “We build wonderful a camaraderie together.”
Brightman has belonged to Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that helps families build and improve their homes, for more than 40 years. She has led building teams in 10 countries for Habitat and an offshoot organization, the Fuller Center, for more than 10 years. Brightman recently returned from a two-week building expedition in Thailand.
During her first overseas Habitat trip in 2011, Brightman and her team finished a two-room brick house and a latrine in an outhouse. Later, they witnessed the ceremony of handing the keys to the new homeowner, a grandmother. She was happy to have a home for her family.
“The woman had such humility. She thanked God. It was overwhelming. My heart was beaming,” said Brightman, who sees Habitat as a way to give people not a handout, but a hand up.
For her professional life, Brightman has been devoted to making affordable housing a reality for people in need — a specific calling to social justice.
Brightman was housing director for Paterson and was director of the housing authorities of Highland Park and Woodbridge from which she retired in June. In those positions, she facilitated the building of subsided and low-cost housing.
“That’s how I live my faith — helping provide a decent, safe place to live for God’s people in need, which everybody deserves. That’s how I live my Catholic faith,” said Brightman, who has children.
In retirement, Brightman plans to continue volunteering for Habitat. She also belonged to the Habitat board in Paterson for 20 years and now belongs to its the board for Morris.
On the job site, Brightman works alongside the future homeowners or locals, who already have received Habitat homes. They are required to give 400 hours of “sweat equity.”
The team doesn’t know what they will undertake before getting on site. They could be digging a hole for a foundation, laying blocks or pouring concrete, erecting brick or wooden frames for the walls, or finishing final touches, such as roofing. In Nepal, they weaved together large strips of bamboo to make walls for the house.
As much as the work, Brightman loves learning about the culture — food, dress, and customs — and hospitality of the countries she visits with Habitat.
“These have all been tremendous experiences,” Brightman said. “I want to be the change I want to see in the world. That’s what drives me.”
To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, call Brightman at 732-803-3431.
