We believe that every young person can make a real difference. This programme has been designed to promote volunteerism within the local schools of South Africa. The schools will not only work on site but will meet and work with the local learners in the Townships. An absolute must for any schools to teach the value of volunteering for people less fortunate than themselves. Costs will vary for this project depending on the needs of the school, please contact our office to discuss.
Find out more about our Volunteers Days >>
Student Groups Happy to Give Back
The students who joined the first volunteer build in Cape Town this year were happy to set aside their books for one day to help build houses in Wallacedene yesterday. The group consisted of local UCT students from various engineering departments under the banner of Engineers without Borders, the other group was made up of foreign students from Stanford University, California, who are visiting Cape Town for a semester as part of the newly-established Stanford Study Abroad Centre (SSAC).
The teams were involved in building internal walls and also given the privileged task of painting and varnishing the house that was to be handed over at the end of the day. The spirit on site was one of calm contemplation as the students and became familiar with the tools of the trade. By the end of the day the different building teams had built an average of six courses (layers) of bricks in their respective houses, and the painting team had painted the ceilings and the final coat on the exterior as well as varnished all doors and window frames. They also made a good job of cleaning the area in front of the house of rubble etc.
At the house handover ceremony, Claire Gibson of the SSAC, handed over the scissors to cut the ceremonial ribbon and the key to the house, to the 56 year old beneficiary, James Wiseman. James has lived in a shack all his life, and was very eager to take possession of his first solid brick house, which he will share with his wife and two sons. James waited very patiently during the day to receive his house and even helped the students to clean up the front area of his house. On behalf of the volunteer team and staff of Mellon Housing Initiative, we wish James and his family peace and happiness in their new home.