The Niall Mellon Township Trust was established in 2002 to provide homes to the impoverished communities in the townships of South Africa.

The charity’s mission is to eradicate urban poverty in South Africa by replacing shacks with low cost, high quality housing and community facilities. More information on the charity can be found on the website www.irishtownship.com

The charitys main fundraiser is a yearly building blitz where volunteers raise money and travel to South Africa to build houses in the townships. November of 2007 saw the biggest blitz to date with 203 houses being built in one week by 1380 volunteers. This year, however, it is planned to surpass this figure and bring 2000 volunteers to the township of Khayelitsha about 30kms from Cape Town.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for the charity. Because of the enormous support and interest the volunteers have generated, the charity now has a workforce of over 1,700 South Africans building homes all year round. Last year approximately 5000 homes were built for some of South Africa’s poorest people while this year the target is set at 7000.

This is the second year I have been involved with the charity; I travelled to South Africa and took part in last years builders blitz. From the trip I was so lucky to experience first hand the enormous difference that the charity has made to so many peoples lives in the townships. I can honestly say that it is an extremely worthwhile and genuine charity.

I intend to travel again this year and would greatly appreciate any support that you could give towards helping me meet my intended fundraising target of ˆ5000.

If you would like to contribute to my fundraising please click on the "make a donation" button below.

Thank you, all donations are very much appreciated. Thanks a million for your support, it really is a fantastic charity and a really worthy cause.