The team and clients of Upton Properties, a real estate agency situated in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, donned bibs and hard hats for a week-long Habitat for Humanity building project set to brighten the future of one fortunate family.
Upton says the team and clients of Upton Properties, a real estate agency situated in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, donned bibs and hard hats for a week-long Habitat for Humanity building project set to brighten the future of one fortunate family.This is according to the director, Mark Upton, who says the team discovered that it wasn’t just the homeowners who would gain from this life-changing exercise.
“For many years, a portion of our sales commission has been allocated towards ‘giving back’, both personally and professionally. It’s been a long-time desire to engage in a project that will make a difference in people’s lives and provide a lasting change. We’ve been looking for just the right opportunity.”
A proposal to donate both money and muscle-power to build a 40sqm home in Pelican Park, an 80ha piece of land near Zeekoevlei, Grassy Park and the first Integrated Residential Development for the City of Cape Town where families of different income levels will live together in one cohesive settlement, presented the perfect opportunity to give back, he says.
Upton says during 5 to 9 October, international non-profit organisation Habitat for Humanity, celebrates ‘Build Week’, joining others around the globe to participate in special activities that highlight the need for safe, decent and affordable shelter for all.
“The project seemed just perfect. So, along with a number of large corporates and their teams, we joined this special undertaking to help build the Pelican Park community,” says Upton.
Enlisting the help of staff and clients, the Upton team committed to tasks such as mixing cement, passing 14kg building blocks, erecting, plastering and bagging walls, placing door and window frames and regularly cleaning the site.
“It was an exercise in proper team work and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to involve both my team and clients in doing something completely different from our usual everyday activities and working alongside the community to make a tangible difference in improving lives.”
Upton says supporting the fundamental proposition that ‘No one lives in dignity until everyone lives in dignity’, Habitat for Humanity believes that the provision of adequate and affordable shelter is the best way to fight poverty. They partner with home partners and stakeholders to build communities in which the members play leading roles in their own development and implement proven, practical and replicable best practice all over the country.
Through the vital work of the organisation and its volunteers, the lives of families are changed forever as they experience the pride and responsibility of homeownership, and children thrive as they live in secure, well-built homes.
He says build teams gathered each morning at Pelican Park Primary School for tea and coffee and the day’s safety briefing, as well as to collect their fluorescent bibs and hardhats. Then, joined by crew leaders for Habit for Humanity and other participants from the community, volunteers and other donors to take action and experience the pride and solidarity of accomplishing worthwhile goals.
Community members provided lunch and refreshments daily, and helped provide fuel for further labour to come.
Upton says at the end of each day, groups huddled together and team members had the opportunity to share what the day’s experience had meant to them.
“The team spirit and the essence of goodwill was amazing and our team was commended for their enthusiasm, cheerfulness and for keeping one of the cleanest sites,” he says.
“Above all, it was a privilege for all of us to be able to give back and to hear people’s stories. One particular woman told us how she had been waiting for a house in excess of 20 years.”
Print
