We need 2,000 volunteers for our Building Blitz in Cape Town, South Africa in
2008. This will take place in March, 2009. We are looking for people from all
over the country, and would ideally like to take 80% Trades people and 20%
Non-Trade.
Being a volunteer is an amazing, life-changing experience.
It is only one week out of your life, but the work you complete in South Africa
will change the lives of South African township residents forever.
Each volunteer must submit a deposit of £500 with their application form. This
will only be cashed upon confirmation of your place on the trip. If your
application is unsuccessful, your deposit will be returned. Once accepted on the
trip, a further £3,200 Euros must be raised, bringing the total sponsorship needed to
£3,700. Approximately 50% of this will go towards your flight, accommodation and
upkeep for the week of the Blitz, and the balance goes directly towards the cost
of building materials for the houses you’ll be working on in South Africa. You
should be aware that all administration costs are personally paid for by Niall
Mellon.
£3,700 may seem a daunting figure, but it is amazing how quickly people
come on board to help you once you start fundraising.
Click here for some
fundraising ideas, and don’t forget to let us know if you are planning any
events, so we can help in any way possible.
Click here to add your fundraising event to our Event
Calendar.
We have a serious mission to build a large number of
houses in one week. This means that every volunteer must take the goal of the
trip seriously. We have had five great trips so far, and we could not praise
highly enough the effort made by each and every person. They have set a high
standard which we want to try and match, if not exceed, each year.
The week in South Africa is hard work and does require a certain level of
fitness and stamina. It is also great fun, with a fantastic spirit of bonhomie
and good humour. Anyone who has been on our trip before would testify that the
craic and banter on the sites is second to none!
We recognise that people who have not travelled to South Africa before, or
indeed a township, may be concerned about their personal safety. This is a high
priority for us and we would like to point out that all our volunteers stay
together in a hotel in the lower Cape Town district. All volunteers are brought
in coaches from the hotel to the township everyday.
This is a once in a lifetime experience. One of the many reasons that so many
volunteers choose to come to South Africa with us year after year is their
delight in the wonderful, warm and friendly welcome they receive from the
residents of the townships.
See some of our volunteers below or search and chat with anyone on line.
