25 South Africans from the JDI Foundation took part in a one day build at Mfuleni as part of their “Do-It Day”. JDI is a non-profit organisation which helps organisations working with the poor to achieve their aims through sharing of their members’ time, skills, money and energy. “Do-It Day” is an annual event where the JDI Doers donate their time to a specific project. The Niall Mellon Townships Initiative was one of three projects chosen this year. The Doers spent the day digging foundations and pouring slabs along with Mfuleni community members under an unseasonably hot African sun.





South Africa celebrated Women’s Day on Wednesday 9th of August. While most people took the opportunity for some rest and relaxation, 25 of the country’s future leaders donned their work clothes and spent the public holiday labouring at Netreg. These sixteen year olds painted homes and cleared off sites. They are part of “Umanyano Africa”, a leadership programme aimed at identifying South Africa’s future leaders from schools across the Western Cape. Christmas came early to the local school in Netreg, the Klipfontein Primary School. Thanks to the Niall Mellon Townships Initiative, the learners here now have brand spanking new sports gear to wear during their school tournaments. The school won both the soccer and netball leagues it was involved in last term, but they had to borrow the kit for these events. Now with their new gear, the children of Klipfontein Primary will be aiming even higher this term.


Sixty first year architecture students from the University of Cape Town spent a morning on a fact-finding mission around Mfuleni. The young people have linked up with the Niall Mellon Townships Initiative to investigate what the community needs in terms of a multi-purpose centre. The students were led on a tour of the township by community leaders. It is hoped their findings will be put to use when plans for the NMTI sponsored multi-purpose centre are drawn up.


The first sixteen beneficiaries of the Netreg Housing Project moved into their new homes today. These sixteen families are the first of 191 who now have a quality brick house to call their own. There was a festive atmosphere in the township all day, with hundreds of people from the local community turning out to wish the new home-owners well. Loud cheers rang out as each set of keys were handed over to the beaming beneficiaries. Construction at Netreg is nearing completion, but there is a major push on to ensure that all the families in the community are in their new homes as soon as possible.





Students from the University of Cape Town (UCT) took part in a week long volunteer build at the NMTI’s building projects in Mfuleni and Netreg. Some thirty students from the Department of Construction Economics and Management participated in the five day build. Most were first year students who had opted to do the practical training requirements of their degree with the charity. It was the first time volunteers were on site at Mfuleni and they were warmly welcomed by the local community, with one community leader deciding to throw her weight behind the initiative by also joining in the build.





The Niall Mellon Townships Initiative is delighted to announce a major sponsorship agreement with Prebena, one of the world’s leading nail product manufacturers. The two year deal is expected to generate in the region of €100,000 for the charity, which will help significantly in its mission to build quality homes for South Africa’s poorest people.

Prebena, which is distributed in Ireland by John Murphy (Castlerea) Ltd, has agreed to donate €1 for every unit of Prebena nail products sold in Ireland to the Niall Mellon Townships Initiative. As part of the agreement, Prebena will also donate €10,000 worth of building materials and fund a service technician to take part in the annual Building Blitz in Cape Town. Commenting on the initiative, Ronald Steen, Managing Director, Prebena said, "We are delighted to be able to link up with the Niall Mellon Township Challenge and contribute to this worthy cause. We encourage anyone involved in the building industry to support the Niall Mellon building programme by taking part in the annual build, or through the purchase of Prebena nail products."


Anti-poverty campaigner and rocker Bob Geldof visited the Niall Mellon Townships Initiative project in Imizamo Yethu. The Dublin man was in South Africa to perform with his band, as well as meet with former South African president Nelson Mandela, who told him about the NMTI's work in Cape Town. Sir Bob spent about an hour in the township surveying the work of the charity. Community leaders and charity workers accompanied the front-man for the Boomtown Rats as he inspected the quality homes built here over the past three years.




Minister for Housing Dr Lindiwe Sisulu and Niall Mellon officially handed over the keys to the first two beneficiaries at Netreg on Thursday April 13th 2006. Monica Booys and Lydia Richards, both single mothers, were overcome with emotion at finally having a quality home to live in. They are among the 191 beneficiaries whose houses are being built at Netreg by the Niall Mellon Townships Initiative. But, there was a surprise in store for the community. At the request of Minister Sisulu, another 191 housing subsidies are to be made available to the community at Netreg. Niall Mellon immediately pledged to build these homes at Netreg as soon as those subsidies become available. Also at the event was MEC for Housing and Local Government in the Western Cape, Richard Dyanti.



Forty charitable members of the University of Cape Town’s Rugby Club gave up their Saturday to lend a hand building homes for shack-dwellers living in Netreg on the N2. The volunteers came mainly from the under 20 teams and were led by former South African number 8 and polar explorer, Dugald Macdonald. The students were throwing their considerable weight behind the expansion of the Niall Mellon Townships Initiative into its second township. The burly eighteen to twenty year olds laboured from early in the morning and by down-tools time they had laid slabs for nine new homes.


A new year, a new township. The Niall Mellon Townships Initiative begins work at a second Cape Town township, Netreg. This ‘coloured’ township is just off the airport road, the N2 in Cape Town and the community here has been waiting for 20 years for decent housing. This new venture aims to build 200 homes for shack-dwellers within six months. Builders from Imizamo Yethu will be working alongside the Netreg community in an effort to transfer skills. Veteran volunteer, Hugh Brennan from Wicklow, is also appointed as Chief Executive of the charity.


"The Week the Irish Came to Town", a documentary about this year's Township Challenge, is aired on UTV and repeated on New Year's Day. Well known Northern personality Gerry Kelly and his crew filmed the progress of Week Two's volunteers, concentrating on those from the North. The Dublin office receives more than 250 calls offering support following the hour long documentary.


Week Two of the Township Challenge sees 500 volunteers descending on Imizamo Yethu with the target of 100 brick homes firmly in their sights. Former world champion boxer, Chris Eubank, throws his weight behind the project and labours alongside the Irish volunteers. The weather once more is against the Irish, however, only a handful of houses are damaged in this week's storms. By the end of the week the volunteers surpass their target by completing 106 brick homes. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern writes to the volunteers to congratulate them on their achievements. South African Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu thanks the volunteers personally at a gala dinner at the Convention Centre for their selfless efforts to house the poorest people of South Africa.


Week One of the Township Challenge 2005 gets underway. 200 volunteers make up the 'advance party' for this year's building blitz. They are made up mainly of block layers and labourers whose job it is to get ready as many houses as possible for the arrival of the rest of the trades in Week Two. Disaster strikes mid-way through the week when Cape storms destroy thirty of the sixty houses built. However, the hardy volunteers are undaunted and through an enormous effort by the end of their week they are back on track.


Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu paid a flying trip to Dublin to lend his support to the Township Challenge. The Nobel Peace Prize winner said he was left "breathless" by the generosity of Irish people to his fellow countrymen and women. Archbishop Tutu, Niall Mellon and Imizamo Yethu resident Tembela Toko all appeared on the Late Late Show to chat about this year's challenge.


More than 650 volunteers are signed up for the Niall Mellon Township Challenge 2005. Because of the huge response, this year's volunteers are being split into two groups. The first batch of around 200 builders leaves Dublin on the 28th of October 2005. The second group of 450 volunteers departs on the 4th of November. This year's volunteers are aiming to build at least 100 houses in Imizamo Yethu.


Niall Mellon and Sharon Corr appear on UTV's The Gerry Kelly Show to appeal for volunteers for the 2005 Builder's Week. Sharon made her first visit to the township, along with the other members of The Corrs, during the first volunteer builder's week and has been supportive of the project ever since.


The Irish government donates 250,000 euros to the Niall Mellon Township Challenge. Minister of State for Development Conor Lenihan T.D. announced the funding during an official visit to South Africa where he witnessed the building project in Imizamo Yethu first hand.


Shack Attack yacht took line honours in the Governors Cup Race in Cape Town.


An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern sends a letter of thanks to Irish Township and all the volunteers for their work. View here.


353 Irish builders travel to Cape Town for the second Irish Builders Week. 50 houses are completed in 7 days.


The documentary : The Millionaire, the Builders and the Shanty Town, filmed on the Builders Week 2003 is aired on RTE. In the following 3 days more than 1000 people phone Niall Mellon's office with offers of help.


A fire in the township destroys 1300 shacks rendering a population approaching 5000 people homeless. Just three of the houses built by the Irish were damaged by the fire which demolished the surrounding shacks.


The builders from 2003 are honoured at a civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin in the Mansion House.


153 Irish builders arrive in Cape Town on the first Irish Builders Week. 25 houses are completed in 7 days of hard work.


Niall Mellon launches a South African based housing initiative to rebuild an informal settlement in Imizamo Yethu, Cape Town, South Africa.

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