Women build houses to celebrate Women’s month

By Celeste Ganga
01 August 2007

Two hundred women volunteers, and a few men, will gather in New Rest, Gugulethu on Wednesday to help build 10 houses in nine days, to celebrate Women’s Month.

“The 10 houses to be constructed during Women’s Build will contribute to a total of 1155 houses planned to convert the sprawling settlement of New Rest from a slum into a suburb,” says Monwabisi Maclean of the Department of Housing.

The Women’s build is an initiative of the National Department of Housing, Western Cape Department of Housing and Local Government, state housing agency Thubelisha, The National Home Builders Registration Council and South African Women in Construction (SAWIC).

“Build volunteers, including women from the New Rest community, will work under the guidance of professional contractors and team leaders, with SAWIC members playing a leading role in their guidance and training,” says Maclean.

Maclean adds that the event aims to highlight the role of women in construction, and to offer opportunities to new women entrants in the construction industry.