Rhema Build, Tembisa, 29 August

Left to right: Rhema volunteers showing off their two and three stripes. Volunteers hard at work. Tholape and Tom standing proudly outside their front door.

It was a pleasure to welcome Rhema Ministries onto site in Tembisa for their third house build on Saturday, 29 August, and great to see so many volunteers with two and three stripes on their t-shirts (depicting the number of builds they have attended). The no stripers will get another to earn their stripes in October.

The teams were very focused on the tasks at hand, which included painting and block-laying. But this commitment did not preclude fun and banter among the volunteers, which just added to the enjoyment of the day.

Each team had a team leader from the permanent construction staff, so skills transfer was a strong element of the day with an 'expert' doing the transferring.

At the end of the day, the group joined the one painting team at their house to witness the beneficiary and his wife receive their house. Standing in from of their freshly painted and cleaned house, Tom and Tholape, were thrilled to share the joy of receiving the key to their own home with fellow Christians. Much praise and thanks were given as Pastor Alan and Xana McCauley blessed the house and family.

Tom had this to say: "My new house can change my life. I am very happy. Thanks 100 times."

We look forward to welcoming the Rhema group back in October, and thank them for their ongoing support.

Mandy, Noeki, Morne and the Mellon Housing Initiative on site staff.

Volunteer House Build, 27 August 2009 Overview

Photos (top left to bottom right)

The winning PPC Team: Thomas' team were awarded for the best productivity on site. The other winning team: Hilton's PPC team won for the best team spirit. Maida Masiphela and her family outside their new home.

One of the King Pie teams hard at work. The team is joined by the subcontractors who build throughout the year. The second King Pie team showing their team spirit.

Congratulations to PPC and King Pie for their participation in the house build in Tembisa. There was a great spirit among the groups and among the teams. There was also a great spirit of competition with certain PPC team members visiting other groups to 'check' how they were faring.

There were 12 construction teams and three painting teams, and all took their tasks seriously. Some even expressed a new found respect for labourers who do this hard kind of physical work every day.

At the end of the day there were two winning teams: Thomas' team for achieving the best level of productivity and building to roof level in one day. Hilton's team won for having the greatest team spirit. This was also the team that painted the house that was handed over to Maida Masiphela. She stood with her son Petrus and two grandchildren beaming with joy at receiving her first solid home. She has lived in a shack on the same plot for 13 years, so moving into this house is a dream come true.

She said: "I am happy for this house. I will no longer worry about the cold, wet weather and dust."

The group was given a taste of what challenge dust can be in Tembisa. Just as Maida and Petrus welcomed the volunteers into their new home, a vicious sandstorm arrived causing bodies to scatter and head for the busses as quickly as possible. But if the volunteers survived a day of hard work, they certainly survived the howling wind and dust that bade them farewell yesterday.

You were a great group and a wonderful bunch of individuals that have made a big difference in making the future a better place in SA.

Mandy, Noeki, Morne and the staff of Mellon Housing Initiative (Gauteng)

King Pie Volunteer Build, Tembisa, 27 August 2009

Volunteers from King Pie mixing dagha

I made a difference. Petunia Mokwena, King Pie

I have a new found respect for builders. Maylene May, King Pie

This experience has shown me how the majority of SA lives and has allowed me the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of life. Lisa Forgan, King Pie

I was privileged and may they be blessed with lots of bricks. Anonymous, King PIe

The day was emotionally and physically fulfilling - it feels good to have made a difference in someone's life. Tshepo Mokone, King Pie

The King Pie team

The day has been extremely rewarding - not only did we get to contribute to the housing crisis in our country but we got to interact with the warm and friendly local community. Jeanne Geldenhuys, King Pie

I have learnt the difference between dagga and dagha! Nobunto, King Pie

We don't only make a meal - we also make a dream! Marius Bergh, King Pie

PPC Volunteer Build, Tembisa, 27 August 2009

It was a fantastic experience, learnt a lot and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Cindy Crook, PPC Germiston

It was quite good to go out there and do something for the community and the appreciation from some members of the community was touching. Bheki Luphahla, PPC Germiston

FirstRand Volunteer Build, Gauteng, 30 July BB

Two of the FNB volunteers take a refreshment break.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and found the whole day a wonderful sense of accomplishment. I was designated a build and it was a motivating experience to see a house being erected. The team work of the group that I was allocated to were also awesome and as a manager I managed to spend quality time to get to know some of my staff personally on a different level.
Harry Petrakis, FNB Branch Banking

FirstRand Volunteer Build, Gauteng, 30 July BB

FirstRand Volunteer Build, Gauteng, 30 July

Joyce Maripha opening the door to her new house.
I just want to thank the parties responsible for me being at the build. I really loved being a part of the initiative. I might be renting a flat at the moment but when I go home I go to a shack. My sister lives in a shack and I know what the lady with the house was speaking of when she mentioned the seasons.
My friends always laugh and think I'm joking when I say I'm working as hard as I do to buy myself a house not a car but they don't understand. No one should be living in a shack if they can help it. To know that I helped someone who I know must be happy to have this house really makes me happy. One of the reasons I became a volunteer in the first place was to make a difference in someone else's life besides my own, no matter how small. I believed we achieved that.
Shivaan Bhikum, Momentum, 30 July 2009

FirstRand Build, 30 July 2009, Overview

Volunteers from different groups arrive on site, from left to right: Momentum, Wesbank, FirstRand.

The arrival of the FirstRand Group on site in Tembisa for their CSI volunteer day was nothing short of rainbowic! There was lime green, bright red, baby yellow, turquoise, navy blue and white t-shirts each representing the different brands of the group. These divisions included: Outsurance, Momentum, Rand Merchant Bank, RMB Private Bank, First National Bank, FirstRand and WesbankFirst.

Despite these obvious differences, everyone was in high spirits and there was a sense that they all belonged to the same organisation and believed in the same core philosophies of volunteerism and philanthrophy.

More division brands, from left to right: Outsurance, RMB and First National Bank.

Although the day started late due to a delayed bus, the groups was divided into their teams and set to work, eager and full of determination.

As the day passed, the volunteers realised that this experience was about more than building houses, it was about breaking down perceptions, establishing relationships and giving hope to an impoverished community.

Niall Mellon, the founder and chairman of the charity, made an unexpected visit to the group at lunch time and thanked them for their invaluable contribution. FNB's CEO, Michael Jordaan, also arrived to thank the group and commend Niall on his vision as a foreigner changing the lives of ordinary South Africans.

Left: Niall Mellon speaking to the group of volunteers.

Right: Michael Jordaan thanking the volunteers for their commitment.

The Niall Mellon Township Trust would like to thank the FirstRand Group for supporting the charity, and especially to Desiree Storey and her CSI Co-ordinators for their work behind the scenes.

FirstRand Volunteer Build, Gauteng, 30 July 2009

Volunteers from FNB division of FirstRand 'Helping from the Heart'.

I volunteered because I think it is wrong for people to suffer. The world is abundant with recourses but not all people are privileged to enjoy these recourses. It is criminal not to help a brother when you have the means to. The experience was life changing, thank you for the opportunity.
Nosipho Dhladhla, FNB Branch Banking

Members of the Outsurance team hard at work.