Mission Accomplished - Back from South Africa

Published by Debs Ramsden for Nottingham Community Housing Association Ltd in Housing

Helping build a house for someone called Princess and decorating a school in the South African bush have been just a few of the myriad experiences that nine young people from Nottinghamshire have experienced in a recent trip to South Africa. 

Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) sent nine service users and three support workers to South Africa.  Accompanying the team was Clerk of Works Shaun Nee, a much experienced  member of all three past visits NCHA has made to South Africa to help Habitat for Humanity.  

There were many principles behind the project. Firstly the service users - all from young people's projects run by Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) - and staff would have to raise the money to fund their trip - quite an achievement for most of the service users who had previously been homeless. 

Secondly , the group would have to work with volunteers from Habitat for Humanity, as well as local people, to build a home for a homeless family affected by AIDs and HIV.  Both living and working conditions would be so very different to anything the young people had experienced before. 

Thirdly, after a short weekend of R&R, they would move onto Shongweni Primary School, a project previously helped by NCHA.  Here they would attempt to decorate three classrooms while experiencing the delights of local cuisine such as 'Bunny Chow'and fresh sugar cane! 

Amazingly - all have been achieved.  A lady called Princess who cares for children left orphaned after the death of her sister danced with joy after they built her a new home in the KwaZulu Natal district and Shongweni Primary School has been painted and repaired. 

The nine young people and their support workers returned on 3rd July after a life-changing trip. Service users Emma King and Natasha Robinson from Retford Young Persons project said:

 "From this opportunity we will both be able to deal with different situations in a different manner, it will enable us to make the negatives in our lives into a positive situation because of what we have experienced. We now both have a great passion to continue helping others and especially not giving up on ourselves when a situation becomes difficult." 

Leader of the group, Sam Williams said:

 "It has been wonderful to observe the remarkable changes in the service users throughout the two weeks. I've seen the team have their eyes wide open to literally a different world and for them all to recognise the impact they have been able to provide.

The service users have been able to recognise their own potential and be able to encourage other young people to become actively involved in community based activities in both their local communities and potential further afield."

Notes for Editors:

1. The group comprised:

Tom Dawson, 24, Daniel Harrison, 19, and Josh Hunt, 18 from NCHA HWCS Grantham Foyer, London Road, Grantham. Emma King, 21, Ashley Edwards, 20, Alexander Sinclair-Dand, 18, Natasha Robinson, 18, and Natalie Gough, 19 from NCHA HWCS Young Person Project at Cobwell Road, Retford, Notts.

Anthony Leeming, 20, from NCHA HWCS Young Persons Project at Corporation Oaks, Nottingham.

 2. The group was supported by NCHA support staff Sam Williams (NCHA Project Manager), Matthew West (Support Worker from Corporation Oaks) and Alex Hauser (Support Worker from Cobwell Rd/Wright Wilson Street)

3. Terratruck and M&F Fire Safety have both donated tools and safety equipment for the trip. 

4. For an interview or pictures of any of the group, please contact NCHA's Communications team.