This year the Niall Mellon Township Trust is celebrating the achievement of having 3,500 Irish and South African Volunteers work with the charity.  Over 950 volunteers will leave the country today, Thursday 5th and tomorrow November 6th, as they head off on the 8th annual building blitz with the Niall Mellon Township Trust to the township of Wallacedene, Cape Town. 

Despite the global recession almost 3,500 people have volunteered this year with the Niall Mellon Township Trust. This record breaking figure for the charity comprises of 1,500 Irish and 2,000 South African volunteers.   This brings the total number of people who have volunteered with the charity to 8,500 since Niall Mellon first launched his house building initiative in 2002.   During the one week Building Blitz (7th -13th November) the charity will hand over 200 homes to the people of Wallacedene who are currently living in shacks with no running water or sanitation.

Niall Mellon said: “This week is the highlight of the year for the charity with 950 Irish Volunteers heading out to build with us in Cape Town. We had a very successful one week Blitz in March with 500 Irish Volunteers and to have two volunteer trips in the middle of such a difficult year in Ireland is a real testament to the determination of our supporters to dig deep and support us through this difficult economic period. I am very grateful for the help from so many towns and villages around Ireland who have given huge support to make it possible for our volunteers to raise the €5,000 needed to come on this trip.  Money has been tough to raise this year and we really need the continued support of the Irish People and Irish Aid to help us get through the next few years.”

Niall Mellon continued: “The image of Irish volunteers responding in such large numbers has caught the attention of many people. Not least among these, the U.S. Congress, who passed a law in February directing USAID to consider the Niall Mellon Township Trust for funding. I am proud of the support I have received from so many people over the years, whether it has been putting a few cents in a bucket or by volunteering with us, they have all played a part in helping us to build over 12,500 houses.  There is no doubt that the Irish Volunteers have also inspired the 2,000 South Africans to volunteer with us this year”.

South Africa has made huge efforts to house its own people since 1994 by building 2.3 million houses, but there is a housing backlog of 2.1 million houses.  For the people in Wallacedene, some of them have waited 20 years to live in a house with a proper roof, running water, sanitation facilities and electricity. The charity will build 1,117 houses in Wallacedene this year. The charity is actively seeking Volunteers to reduce the number of people who are living in shacks.
To volunteer with the charity contact them on 01-4948200, or visit www.nmtownshiptrust.com.