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A Kiwi Habitat for Humanity volunteer in Samoa - Source: ONE News -
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The generosity of the human spirit is helping heal the wounds of those devastated by the tsunami in Samoa.
An example of this goodwill is a group of Kiwi volunteers from charity Habitat for Humanity, who are helping to rebuild 275 fales for families that lost homes in the tragedy.
The Samoan government is paying for the materials, while the charity is providing the free labour.
One of the places expected to benefit is the village of Saleaumua, which until now has been living in the shadow of the tsunami.
But now the twisted ruins are about to be rebuilt for the people who live there.
Murray Pinkerton from Habitat for Humanity says a lot of volunteers from the charity wanted to help immediately after the tsunami devastated Samoa.
"That's the least we should do to help these people," he says.
The volunteer teams of 10 include carpenters, electricians and builders from around New Zealand.
Every team goes to the island for two weeks and pay all of their own costs.
For Saleaumua villager Maiseava Fogavai, who lost everything, the volunteers are a "God-send".
"The people make the gifts for Samoa and I just say thank you," says Fogavai.
But the workers say they are the ones being rewarded, working alongside the people they have come to help is a real partnership.
Also wanting to give something back are Kerry and Lynne Martin from Matamata who lost their two daughters, Rebecca and Petria, in the tsunami.
They are donating the money for two fales.
Habitat for Humanity volunteer David Lawson says his commitment to the Martins is to provide photos and information on the building of those two fales.
"(I can) say, well, this is what has been done in the memory of your two girls who were killed here," Lawson says.
