Lisburn man urges others to volunteer with Habitat NI

After a very rewarding experience, volunteering with Habitat NI, David is calling on the people of Lisburn to make volunteering with Habitat NI their New Year’s resolution and help to build hope and change the lives of families around the world.

David travelled to Cambodia in 2013 as part of a Habitat Global Village volunteer team to help build homes alongside future homeowner families.

“I would strongly urge anyone making New Year’s resolutions to get involved with Habitat NI. Volunteering with Habitat NI was one of best experiences of my life. It was so rewarding to be part of a team and work alongside the future homeowner families. It gave me a true sense of how something so simple as a decent home can have a huge impact on a family,” said David

In 2014, Habitat NI have similar volunteer opportunities open to any individual or small group to destinations including Ethiopia, Cambodia, South Africa, El Salvador and Romania.

Speaking about his experience in Cambodia, David says: “It soon became clear that we weren’t just building homes, we were giving them the hand up they needed to build their own way out of poverty. It reaffirmed the unique impact of Habitat’s work on vulnerable people. I would thoroughly encourage everyone in the local community to get involved in this life changing experience and volunteer with Habitat NI in 2014.”

Over the last 12 years more than 4,000 people from across Northern Ireland have travelled as Global Village volunteers to some of the world’s poorest communities to help families in desperate need of safe, decent shelter build their way out of poverty.

As well as teams where individuals can join, every year groups from schools, churches, businesses or family and friends form their own team and embark on the volunteer journey together.

Joanne Briggs, Habitat NI’s Volunteer Manager said “Every day in almost 80 countries around the world Habitat for Humanity is helping families build their own way out of poverty.”

Habitat is hosting information sessions for individuals or groups interested in finding out more. The next session will take place on Thursday January 23 at 7.30pm at Habitat ReStore, Riverside Centre, Lisburn. Other dates and full details of the 2014 opportunities are available at www.habitatni.co.uk or by emailing [email protected]

If you would like to find out more about how you can support Habitat’s work please visit habitatni.co.uk or call 028 92 635 635.