250 houses handed over to Khayelitsha residents

By Cindy Witten
05 December 2008

This afternoon 250 houses as well as a brand new school hall was given to deserving residents and the community of Site C in Khayelitsha. 2000 Irish volunteers helped build the houses for 3000 families as well as a school hall for the Itlanganiso Secondary School in the centre of the Khayelitsha. The 6th Annual Building Blitz project forms part of the initiative to provide infrastructure in poor communities. The project was run by Niall Mellon Township Trust (NMTT), which assists those in need.

NMTT’s Communications manager Carron Hession says that the volunteers were warmly welcomed by the community, which contributed to an amazing day.
“The people from Khayelitsha were dancing in the streets and cried as they received their houses. For the Irish, they managed to achieve their goal of building 250 houses for 3000 families in Khayelitsha,” said Hession.

According to an issued press release, it was an emotional day for many families and volunteers alike, but despite the tears from residents, and the exhaustion suffered by volunteers, it was an amazing celebration.