Mayor’s Reception for Volunteers

Councillor McCaughey welcomed Pedro from Malaga and Alexjandra from Tenerife to The Braid last week and also the Habitat Manager, Isobel Blair.

Pedro and Alexjandra have been spending time in Ballymena through the European Solidarity Corps programme and are due to finish in December, when they will return home.

They have volunteered 40 hours each week in Ballymena ReStore.

Speaking about their experience being away from home and working in a new environment, Pedro and Alejandro said: “Knowing that every time we volunteer, we are making positive impacts in the local community has been so rewarding. Thank you to Habitat and to the people of Ballymena for welcoming us and allowing us the opportunity to serve vulnerable families here in Northern Ireland.”

ReStore Manager Isobel Kerr added: “Alejandro and Pedro came to ReStore Ballymena through the European Solidarity Corps. The programme has been immensely positive for Habitat, and for the communities we serve through our Habitat ReStores. Both Alejandro and Pedro have become a huge part of both ReStore and the community in Ballymena. We are so thankful for the hard work and dedication they have brought to their time volunteering and wish them all the best for the future.”

Not only have they been volunteering with the charity, they have also supported a local project in the borough by planting over 300 trees through the local ‘Friends of ECOS’ group, contributing to Council’s zero-carbon emission pathway and increasing the biodiversity of the area. Pedro also has another talent, having been actively involved in youth football in Ballykeel.

Mayor, Councillor William McCaughey, said: “It has been a real pleasure to meet Pedro and Alejandro, to hear their stories and how they’ve come to volunteer in Ballymena. It was interesting to hear more about the European Solidarity Corps Programme and how this helps people to gain valuable work experience and to engage in new cultures.”

Habitat for Humanity continue to provide low cost furniture and DIY products out of their Ballymena Restore shop. The money generated from these sales goes into supporting both local and foreign projects, helping those in need to build a secure and safe home.

To find out more about Habitat for Humanity: https://www.habitat.org/