Habitat For Humanity Volunteers Celebrate Completion Of Women Build House

After two weeks of building, the latest Habitat for Humanity house has been finished. The ambitious development involved more than 200 days of collective effort, and was distinctive from most other Habitat projects as the house was built solely by women.

"It's a real thrill to see what has literally been a labour of love finished," said Habitat for Humanity Spokesperson, Donna Roberts.

"It's amazing to think that two weeks ago we started with a bare floor, a stack of wood, thousands of nails and a group of volunteers who knew virtually nothing about building. Helping to build this house has been a very humbling experience for all involved," she added.

"Habitat has been operating in New Zealand for 10 years, and 192 houses have been dedicated to recipient families. This is the 33rd house to be dedicated in the Manukau region, so slowly but surely - one family at a time - we are eliminating substandard housing," said Ms. Roberts.

Over the course of the project, the Women Build team was assisted by personalities such as Sarah Ulmer and the Topp Twins, and received support from corporate organisations including Ford New Zealand, Cerebos Gregg's, Shire Homes, Dulux, Nutrimetics, Flight Centre, CCH and Harcourts.

These organisations provided 50 volunteers over the course of the build, as well as refreshments, building supplies and paint.

"Habitat for Humanity is established in 89 countries, and 155,000 houses have been built globally. This Women Build has had a real international flavour - women from at least ten different nations, including England, America, Samoa and Tonga helped on the project."

"This is the second Women Build in three years, and with a new and enthusiastic group of volunteers now skilled in construction, I think that the number of women build houses will steadily increase," commented Ms. Roberts.

The house will be shifted from the Ormiston Road site to its land in Clendon, Manurewa on 15th October. There will be a small amount of finishing work done once it is on its site and then the house will be dedicated and the keys handed over to the family.

The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate substandard housing from the world one family at a time. Families are selected to partner with Habitat for Humanity and provide 500 hours of 'sweat equity' into the building of their house and the homes of others. Families then pay back a no interest and no profit mortgage structured with affordable repayments, to become the owners of their own home.

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