Across Ohio, construction crews often get to see the impact of their work: from building homes and schools to roads and pathways, construction changes the communities where we live, work, and play. For a select group of employees at Shook Construction, the impact of their work took on a whole new level when they traveled to Thailand to build a brand new girls’ home to house 12 children who have been rescued from trafficking and abuse.
This tradition at Shook started in 2019, when it decided to take its mission, To Dramatically Improve the Communities We Serve, to a global level through mission trips. This year, a group of 10 employees were selected to travel to Wiang Pa Pao, Thailand, to build the new home in partnership with Grace Refugee Outreach Worldwide (GROW). GROW is an Ohio-based non-profit organization that is committed to rescuing at-risk children from harrowing situations and giving them the care they need to heal and prosper in their communities.
Building More Than Just Walls
Despite working in the construction industry day in and day out, the employees on the mission trip had to learn on the job. In the hills of Thailand, there was no Lowes or Home Depot or lumber yard to gather supplies to build the new GROW home. Instead, Shook got a hands-on lesson on how to build with Thai materials from the local construction crew. Though the process and materials were different than in the States, the walls went up brick by brick. Communicating mainly through hand gestures and an occasional translator, the Shook team learned by watching and following the lead of the Thai workers. Much like apprentices here in Ohio, learning from the local experts was essential to the success of the Shook team in Wiang Pa Pao.
A New Beginning
Long days of construction work transitioned into rounds of play and fun: from thumb wars to surprising Thai relay races, the children in Wiang Pa Pao greeted the Shook team with happiness and joy–and a reminder of why they were there living out their mission. The reaction of the Thai community to their presence reminded Shook employees of how impactful it can be to simply show up for someone and help them build a new beginning. From side projects like building hand rails out of bamboo to create safer access to the river to the construction of the home itself, each brick was part of a fresh start for this deserving community.
‘The Bricks That Bind Us’ – A Documentary Film Project
The Shook team understood that the impact of this mission trip would spread well beyond the 10 employees who traveled to Thailand and the girls who would live in the home. The company chose to partner with a film crew at ManaVision, Inc., to capture the stories, emotions, and outcomes of the 2024 mission trip. This is the second project Shook has partnered with ManaVision to create: the first was a documentary film on the 2022 Mission Trip to Mozambique. Through beautiful storytelling, the employees of each mission trip are able to share their raw emotions about the project, people, and impact of the work. The videos can be viewed on Shook’s website as part of their company’s global mission.
Shook’s commitment to taking their impact beyond their local community showcases what so many construction professionals love about their careers: construction can change lives. Together, we can build a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive and realize their full potential, starting here at home in Ohio and expanding to all corners of the world.
To learn more about Shook Construction, visit www.shookconstruction.com.
