9/11 Kids Help Others, Rebuild Community

Loriana Hernandez

FOX 7 News Austin

February 23, 2012

As a city rebuilds after the worst terror attack in U.S. history, some of September 11's youngest victims are doing the same, one community project at a time. On this day it's in Austin, building homes for Habitat for Humanity. 

"It's hard today and it's 10 years later, it never fully goes away," said 19-year-old Francesca Picerno, who lost her father Matthew on 9/11.

It's the same for Kathryn Grazioso.

"I lost my father and my uncle, and they both worked at Cantor-Fitzgerald together."

On this day the girls joined 20 others, all who share a common bond.

"When we need to we just vent to each other about it because we know we understand," said Picerno.

It's all possible through a non-profit aimed at healing victims of terrorism.

In 2002, Tuesday's Children was founded so that every child who lost a parent on 9/11 would have some sort of support system. Nine years later these same kids are traveling all over the world to help others. 

Their chaperones also have a story. Margaret Iskyan lost her husband that Tuesday morning.

"We had just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on September 7," said Iskyan.

She joined Tuesday's children, she says, because she didn't want her kids to feel like victims.

"I wanted them to realize that awful things happen, but look at all the wonderful things that came back to us from all over the world quite frankly," said Iskyan.

It's a way to move forward, she says, while remembering their loved ones.

Their hard work in Austin is also making a huge difference for habitat for humanity. The work completed by these teens in 3 days puts the construction weeks ahead of schedule.

"People helped me when I didn't ask for it so I’d like to give it back and help everybody else as well," said Grazioso.