The Irish Economy is in turmoil and many of our people are facing real hardship in their own lives, simply trying to survive and to stay above water.
Despite this over 600 Irish People will leave Ireland leave this coming Friday to volunteer and work for a week in one of the poorest Townships in South Africa on the annual Niall Mellon Township 1 week Building Blitz.

“It fills me with enormous pride when I see so many of my own Irish people still managing to care for some of the world’s poorest people, despite having many personal challenges themselves. Said Niall Mellon 

“To have 600 volunteers from our Island travelling out with us this week is a remarkable testament to the generosity of the Irish Spirit. We are a race of people who have always cared for the plight of others regardless of our own circumstances, and to witness that tradition continuing though the image of my 600 volunteers working with me in South Africa with me over the next week is truly special. “.  Said Mellon.

 I want to thank the many thousands of other Irish People who supported them with a donation and helped them achieve their fundraising targets.

The Niall Mellon Township Trust has become one of the worlds most successful housing Charities since it was founded by Niall Mellon in 2002. The charity has now built an astonishing 18,300 houses and almost 100,000 South Africans are now living in Niall Mellon houses.  Over 15,000 volunteers have worked with the charity and over half of them came from Ireland.

The charity build all year round with a South African workforce of almost 2,000 and this year will complete 3,500 new homes

Two recent winners of GAA national players awards  will be playing for a different team this week as they swap their county shirts for construction gloves and builders hats; Young Player of the Year, Mayo Footballer Cillian O’Connor and Kilkenny Hurler and GAA All Star Mick Fennelly.  Cork Footballer, Eoin Cotter will also be joining the blitz.

The Niall Mellon Township Trust is now recruiting for their November 2012 building blitz which will take place in Cape Town. For more information www.nmtownshiptrust.com or telephone 01 4948200