Graham Fay Daily Diary

My trip started on Wednesday 13th October 2004, assembled at Dublin Airport with 24 other Volunteers we travelled via Heathrow to CapeTown arriving early on the morning of Thursday 14th. After a quick change at our hotel we were driven to the Imizanu Yethu Township. You build up a mental image of what to expect but the reality is something different, it is impossible to prepare yourself. Amongst it all you can't help but feel the excitement from the people seeing us disembark, nearly everyone has a wave or wants to shake your hand, I soon get the hang of the local handshake. A quick talk from Niall Mellon and he brings us on a tour of the township, I am shocked and saddened by what I see. It is not right that people should have to live in these conditions. Now more than ever I feel positive about why I am here and what we are going to achieve.

At the top of this mountainous site you start to get a feel for the scale of the problem, shack sizes are an average of 9 feet square, occupancy of between 5-7 people, In between are a warren of narrow pathways strewn with rubbish, barbed wire, broken glass, uneven surfaces, no lighting and an unbearable stench. We found them difficult to negotiate during our tour, what can it be like at night or when it rains? We retreated in silence.

Day 2 - Friday 15th October: 24 Blocklayers arrive at lunchtime. We have some teething problems with readymix mortar which soon get sorted. About 20 locals estate agents arrive to help the blocklayers - Not all white South Africans have forgotten these people.

Day 3 Saturday: 300 more Tradespeople & Volunteers arrive, work is going on now on all 50 sites, We get most internal walls complete and lose some of our blocklayers to other sites, we hope to start putting up roof trusses tomorrow. There are a lot of kids hanging around site (no school), A Health & Safety Nightmare!

Day 4 Sunday: Starts Well, a little overcast and cool which is welcome. We make good progress until lunchtime when the heavens open and stop work in it's tracks, the water flows in rivers down the site. We retire to the local "Shebeen" (Pub) for a pint with the locals. The "Shebeen" on a better day, is actually one of our previous houses which has been cleverly converted to a hostelry, beer (one type only, though nice & cold) is 90 cents a pint!

Day 5 Monday: The site is a bit sloppy after the rain, I can't help but wonder what last night was like for the people at the top of the hill in those shacks, all the same it feels good to be back to work again.

Day 6 Tuesday: We start fitting Roof Trusses, Electricians First fix wiring, Plumbers first fix, it feels good to see the roof going on.

Day 7 Wednesday: Disaster Strikes, torrential rain for most of the day means we get little or no work done. Everyone is feeling a little dejected. Until someone suggests a trip on an open top truck in the pissing rain to visit the local school, spiffing idea!

Day 8 Thursday: Officially now the last day as most people are taking Friday off, we are way off being finished because of the weather. I ask if anyone will work Friday, most say yes. A few are knackered and say they just can't do it. It is perfectly understandable. Everyone works their ass off to make up time. A lot of the other sites are finished so we get extra help.

Thursday Night We had a Celebration Dinner in Capetown for everyone, Guest Speaker was Archbishop Desmond Tutu. A choir of people from the Township performed for us, a memorable night!

I would like to thank everyone who sponsored me to go on this trip, without your kind generosity this would not have been possible. I hope you agree that the challenge was a great success, not only have we re-housed over 350 people, more importantly we have raised the profile of this worthwhile cause and hopefully encouraged others to take action. I also wish to thank Anne-Marie, Emma, Harry and Charlotte for their support and understanding.