After months of thorough preparation, over 2,000 volunteers, including five volunteers from Fermanagh are preparing to leave for the township of Khayelitsha in Cape Town, South Africa.
These volunteers are supporters of the Niall Mellon Township Trust (NMTT) and they represent the largest group of volunteers ever to leave these shores for the charity's 6th annual 'Building Blitz' in South Africa. Numbering over 2,000 men and women they will leave tomorrow, Thursday, 27th November, to fly to Cape Town for a week long intensive house building campaign.
The volunteers taking part in the 'Building Blitz' from Fermanagh are: Patrick Joseph Harkin from Lisbellaw; Adrian McGovern from Enniskillen; Peadar McGovern from Kinawley; Brendan O'Loughlin from Belleek; and Suzanne O'Donnell from Tamlaght.
During the week of the 'Building Blitz', the charity has set itself the ambitious target of completing over 250 houses for over 3,000 people who currently live in appalling poverty in the township. The 'Building Blitz' is an annual one-week volunteer trip organised by the NMTT, in which Irish volunteers build houses for families living in abject poverty.
Against the backdrop of difficult economic circumstances at home and internationally, the charity has succeeded in assembling a volunteer force of 2,000.
Niall Mellon, Founder of the NMTT stated: " I am humbled by the generosity and spirit of the Irish people and in particular of our volunteers, who are the cornerstone of this charity. A large number of our volunteers are from the construction sector.
"We are deeply humbled that they have worked so hard this year to raise the target of ¤5,000 each. Many of these people have had a tough year personally, some of them have been let go from their jobs and, despite all of this, their determination has shone through and they have worked extra hard to raise the ¤5000".
Suzanne O'Donnell who works in Crawford's in Lisbellaw, said she saw a documentary on UTV about Niall Mellon and thought it was something practical that she could go and do. Suzanne applied in 2006 but went for the first time last year. As this is her second time, she knows what to expect out there.
"It's a very humbling experience but very worthwhile. The people have nothing but are so grateful to (us), and the kids are amazing - we were painting outside and we were surrounded by these kids.
Suzanne says last year (2007) about 20% of the volunteers were women but most of these are people, like her, with some sort of background in the building industry.
Also heading off on Thursday is Patrick Harkin from Lisbellaw. A plasterer by trade, Patrick 'saw something' about the Niall Mellon Township Trust on the 'Late Late Show' and says it was always his ambition to do something like this.
This is the first time Patrick has applied and he understands that plasterers are one of the trades they desperately need out there. He believes it will be 40 degrees out there, but, while he will be working outside most of the time, he is looking forward to the challenge.
Patrick thanked all the people who helped him raise money ('I had fantastic help with his fund-raising). Indeed, the fund-raising generally often proved difficult but the volunteers appreciated all those who helped them in their efforts locally.
The Building Blitz is an important part of the work undertaken by NMTT, a charity which operates a year round house building programme in South Africa. Now active in 23 townships, the NMTT is the largest charity provider of homes for low income families in South Africa. It has built more than 10,000 houses since its inception in 2002. Since the NMTT was founded in 2002, more than 5,000 Irish volunteers have participated in the charity's "Building Blitzes". The township of Khayelitsha is located over 30 kilometres from Cape Town and has over one million inhabitants. It is the largest township in Cape Town and the third largest in South Africa. The majority of residents have no access to water, electricity or sanitation, and it is one of the most marginalised and poverty stricken-townships in South Africa.
