Tsiba Give 5 Campaign build, Mfuleni, 25 July

The group of volunteers that participated in the Tsiba/NMTT build.

To celebrate its' 5th anniversary, Tsiba University selected the Niall Mellon Township Trust as one of its five 'Paying it Forward' projects to support this year.

A total of 150 volunteers from Tsiba, Northwestern University (USA), GR8 Events, 1st Contact, Metropolitan Health and several individuals, participated in a house build on Saturday, 25 July in Mfuleni, Cape Town.

All wishes for good weather were answered and everyone enjoyed a warm day. The group was divided into 20 teams, and tasked with building internal walls and painting of several houses. The teams were widely distributed and it took some running around to get them all watered and photographed.

A good deal of skills transfer was done during the day and several volunteers said they had a new respect for construction labourers.

As always, the highlight of the day was the house handover, which Shanaaz' team had painted and cleaned. The beneficiary, Veronica Boy, stood before the big crowd and accepted the key from two Tsiba students and one representative from Metropolitan Health, Anisha Naidoo.

Veronica Boy, the beneficiary from the Tsiba house handover. She will be living with her partner and three children.

We would like to thank all the volunteers who believe in 'Paying it Forward' and wish that what goes around comes around!

Mandy Wallace, SA Volunteer Co-ordinator
Noeki Gous, SA Blitz Manager
Morne Henderson, SA Blitz Co-ordinator

SAB Blitz, 20-24 July 2009 Overview

SAB is the first SA corporate to partner with the Niall Mellon Township Trust to hold a week long build in Tembisa, Gauteng.

With each passing day of participation in the Niall Mellon Township Trust project in Tembisa, Gauteng, the excitement and enthusiasm of the SAB staff grew. Perhaps initially, the staff did not know what to expect from the project, but guaranteed by the end of the day, everyone understood the value that they had bought to the beneficiaries of Tembisa.

SAB staff volunteers learning the ropes of block laying.

By Wednesday, after hearing from other staff about their day and reading about it on their email, the volunteers arrived in very good spirits and were geared for work and fun. The initial teething problems were ironed out and the remaining days flew by smoothly.

The highlight of each day, for both volunteers and NMTT staff, was the handover of one of the houses that had been painted that day to the beneficiary and his/her family. With all the volunteers crowded around in the small yard area, it must have been rather intimidating for the home owner, but also very exciting to share the joy of receiving their solid brick house (for many, their first) with so many delighted witnesses.

Your sore muscles soon heal and the paint and cement on your hands and clothes is easily washed away, but the contribution each and every one of you made during the week of the SAB blitz, will last a life time and will go a long way towards eradicating poverty and shacks from our beautiful country.

On behalf of the Niall Mellon Township Trust and the beneficiaries of Tembisa,whose houses were worked on during the week, we would like to say a big thank you for your participation, contribution and support. You have set a shining example for other corporates to follow.

SA Blitz Manager, Noeki Gous, doing her daily exercise before the volunteers arrive on site.

Mandy Wallace, SA Volunteer Co-ordinator

Noeki Gous, SA Blitz Manager

Morne Henderson, SA Blitz Co-ordinator

SAB Volunteer House Build, 24 July 2009 - Final day!

Maggie's team showing their team spirit.

The day was rewarding!!! Knowing that we made a difference in someone's life made it all worth it!!
Nomaswazi Ngwane, HR, Denver

I think each one of us is looking with new eyes at this kind of work - the effort and preciseness that goes into it. We will all be taking something home in our hearts today. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to make a difference.

Rene Visser, Sales C0-ordinator, SAB Denver & Queenie Crowder, Telesales, SAB Denver

Michael Madisela, SAB East District Manager, handing the key to an elated beneficiary, Cindy.
Cindy and his wife have a four day old baby boy.

We are glad to be part of the company that gives back to the community.
Dineo Malapela, Bev Selepe, Nkuli Khanyile, Fezeka Fuku, MOR, SAB Egoli

The SAB Group photo at the house handover.

I would just like to say this really was an amazing experience to be involved in the Niall Mellon Township Trust project. To see the look on the new home owners' faces when they are handed the home of their dreams and to know that you are part of this special moment, no one can take that away from you. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Thank you Niall Mellon and SAB for this great opportunity.

Alisha O'Connor, GM Secretary, SAB Regional

SAB Volunteer House Build, 23 July 2009

One of the SAB construction teams getting into the swing of things - setting up a conveyor system to relay blocks to the site.

Today was a wonderful day, a very great initiative for SAB to be the first corporate involved with Niall Mellon Township Trust (for a full week). As an employee of SAB I felt very honoured to have been part of this project.

Tumi Mohube, Experiential Events, SAB

Margaret Gwangwa, the beneficiary of the house handed over today, ready to move into her new house, with her two daughters,

Lebohang (9) and Keketso (4).

My experience here made me realise how much these people need houses. Where I was helping out they had three shacks which were not in the right condition. The look on their faces when we were building them a new home was enough to make me feel proud of helping out in this initiative. I would not mind helping out again next year.
Mary Methi, Stock Clerk, SAB Isando

SAB Volunteer House Build, 22 July

Mandu Nkomo, SAB CSI Manager, handing Ntakadzeni Nemaquvhuni the key to his house. The house was painted by one of the SAB teams during the day.

Building the house felt so good because of the team spirit and the reason behind it. Every team member was enthusiastic and energetic. What a lovely day!

Austin Mathebula, Field Sales Rep, SAB Denver

Awesome experience, feels good giving back to the community. Had a kick ass team! Thanks guys.

Judith Malan,Sales Co-ordinator, SAB West

One of the winning team members donated their prize of a Niall Mellon Township Trust cap to one of the local children.

SAB Volunteer House Build, 22 July 2009

The winning team in action - Hennie Odendaal, Priscilla Spangenberg and Jeanell Mostert.

I also enjoyed the actual building as I learnt a few things as I never knew the intricacies of building a house from scratch so really enjoyed that.

The experience was quite a heart-warming one realising that you are building someone a house here and after having see the poverty while driving in was a worthwhile experience.

Lupomlo Msizi, Key Account Manager, SAB District West

SA Breweries Volunteer House Build, 21 July

The beneficiary of the new house handed over today, Robson Mabuza with his son, Steven.

When I first found out we would be building houses for our CSI day I was both excited and a bit wary as I have never built anything before.

Arriving here today we were all pumped up to start. My team was given the assignment of painting a house. We though "that's an easy one", but after we started we soon realised this was harder than we first realised.

We worked well as a team laughing as we went about our task, while at the same time asking our team leader, Maggie, questions about this wonderful initiative by the Niall Mellon Township Trust.

Looking at the house afterwards we were so proud to see the bright colour on the wall and could just imagine the joy on the recipient's face when they come home to see their houses.

Walking through the streets on our way back, we stopped to look at a home that has been completed and to meet the new proud owner and could see the pride on his face and all the volunteers faces.

When Nelson Mandela said to give up 67 minutes of our time on Saturday, 18 July 2009, for our community, I wasn't so sure what to do or if many people would actually do it, but after today - watching everyone working so hard for someone else, a complete stranger, with such enthusiasm - I believe that people really were touched by Mandela's words and did not fall on deaf ears.

Siphisihle Oliphant, Sales, SAB Chamdor

SA Breweries Volunteer House Build, 21 July 2009

One of the SAB teams cleaning off their tools at the end of the day which was part of their duties.

This was an experience not to be forgotten. When I learned about the Trust I knew that I would like to be part of it in one way or another. Knowing that one has contributed a bit towards improving someone's life is fulfilling. I now know that the Trust is more than just a fancy name, but it is real.

Be part of it! Whether as an individual or as a corporate and build more than just a house.


Ntombi Hoohlo, PR Controller, SAB Alrode

SA Breweries Volunteer House Build, 20 July

This has been a great experience and an honour to be able to invest some of my time into helping the community. My first experience in brick laying and a very exciting and fantastic one. I thank SAB and the organisers for allowing me this great opportunity. It really made me feel like part of the whole team. This is a very well organised initiative and I hope it continues to grow and help even more South Africans. It was more heartfelt due to the fact that the house we built belonged to one of the most disadvantaged lady with nine kids and six grandchildren.

Thank you to Niall Mellon Township Trust and my company, SAB, for the great experience and opportunity.

"I wish I could do it everyday ... ". And to the team that I worked with well done! What a great effort you put into building that one house. It was a pleasure working with every single one of you.

Joy Tsunke, SA Breweries

SA Breweries Volunteer House Build, 20 July 2009

Today has been an incredible experience, being part of a community and helping them make it a better place to live. This social housing initiative is different from other CSI days .... we got to actually build a house .... make a mark!

Thank you Niall Mellon for the great work you have done in SA and giving us the opportunity to be associated with your phenomenal work.

Pamela Padayachee, Financial Manager, SA Breweries, Egoli Region

South African Blog Goes Live!

We are delighted to have our South African Blog up and running. We are hoping it will be a great success and will enable our volunteers to write up all their points of view and stories throughout the year.
All for Now,
Mandy