NMTT Delegation Travels to Washington DC to lobby for funds .
With Niall Mellon leading the charge, flanked by our great supporter Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a delegation of NMTT volunteers and staffers travelled to Washington DC to ask the US to back our cause to house the homeless in South Africa.
Archbishop Tutu accompanied Niall Mellon on this mission to convince some of the most powerful politicians in the US to support the NMTT’s work in South Africa financially, specifically our plans to build a Super Housing Factory to mass produce quality homes for the poor.
They, along with a small delegation of volunteers, met with the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at his offices on Capitol Hill. The meeting was a very positive one, with Senator Reid promising to examine how he and his office can support the NMTT.
Then, it was onto a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), a group of influential African-American politicians, including Charlie Rangel, who is chairman of the Ways and Means committee, and Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick, chair of the CBC. Here, Archbishop Tutu appealed to the CBC to continue their support of South Africa, as they did during the apartheid regime.
The Arch appealed to them to assist Niall Mellon on his mission to help the most vulnerable in South African Society and to complete the journey, which began with the anti-apartheid movement.
Niall also made a rousing call to action to the Congressional Black Caucus, outlining the charity’s plans to launch the world’s first charity owned Super Housing Factory. His appeal for funds for the Super Housing Factory was warmly received with many members pledging their support, but also offers of assistance to link the charity with other groups in the private sector.
Finally, Niall Mellon and Archbishop Tutu had a private meeting with Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Speaker is the most powerful female politician in the US and a heavyweight in the Democratic Party. Once more, they were warmly received and the meeting was overwhelmingly positive. Speaker Pelosi pledged her support and committed her staff to assisting the NMTT in our quest for funds.
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