Mellon Educate Capetown Building Blitz - An experience to remember

Last year and in 2017, I traveled to Capetown with Mellon Educate to the Blitz as the solo volunteer from Perth. Fundraising $7,000 in Perth seems completely easy to traveling across the world to meet new people and experience something different. I am undertaking this task again this year!

We are transported out to the townships every day. The change in scenery from the picturesque landscape of Capetown to the cramped tin roofs of the township is shocking and confronting but it also gives you a sense of the harsh reality that millions of people face every day. There are several numbers provided about the number of people living in the township but in reality, the true population is far greater than anything we can estimate.

Surrounded by children attending school we worked from 8 am to 5 pm daily, I worked as part of the painting team. I assisted with completing the indoor clearing and prepping of classrooms across one full school block. We worked in groups and there was plenty of opportunities to build friendships as well as learn about other fundraising initiatives. 

We built new classrooms on three sites during the week. I have never seen buildings created so quickly and so skillfully. There were over 300 volunteers from all over the world (predominantly UK & Ireland) so it’s safe to say that there is always someone to chat to and never quiet room. 

One of the most confronting moments for me was on my first blitz in 2017, the shack visits where a boy 14 informed us of his current living situation. Through his tears, he told us that his mother who was 31 had died in a shack fire and he was currently staying with family who could not afford to keep him there. Eventually, his family would need him to relocate. This is the haunting reality of many of the township children. His father had his own family now and could not take him in. These children love the opportunity to go to school as it is a safe haven for them and they also get two meals a day. 

This year we will be building even more school classrooms in another township and I hope you can support me in this work.