No More Shacks! Archbishop Desmond Tutu joins Habitat for Humanity to eradicate poverty housing in South Africa.

Sunday 27 May to Sunday 3 June 2007, Cape Town, South Africa

UK volunteers to join forces with local South Africans and other international volunteers to build simple, decent homes as part of the Desmond Tutu Community Build.

International housing charity Habitat for Humanity Great Britain and its volunteers always like a challenge. In just one week, more than 60 volunteers from the UK will work on Habitat for Humanity's Desmond Tutu Community Build. They will join forces with volunteers from the USA and South Africa to build 12 new homes in partnership with low-income families from Mfuleni township, 40 kilometres outside Cape Town.

The need for decent housing in South Africa is great, with almost 10 million South Africans living in poverty housing - nearly 1 in 5 of the population. It is for that reason that Habitat for Humanity is especially delighted that Archbishop Desmond Tutu has offered his support and encouragement for this build.

The build kicks off on Sunday 27 May with an opening ceremony, in which volunteers and families involved in the build will meet and watch a pre-recorded message of support from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Building work will start on Monday 28 May and the Archbishop plans to visit the site on Wednesday 30 May to meet with local families and volunteers.

Helen Flower, Habitat for Humanity's Media and Communications manager says, "We hope that as the cement walls go up, other walls will come crashing down - walls between language and gender, colour and culture. The build will ensure that 12 families can face the Cape winter in simple, decent homes, but more than that it is also an important reminder that millions of families around the world struggle everyday to survive and bring up their children in appalling housing conditions."

ENDS

PRESS ENQUIRIES - To arrange interviews, photo opportunities and media coverage on the ground with UK staff and volunteers in Cape Town on the Desmond Tutu Community Build or for further general information about the Desmond Tutu Community Build please contact Nicola Sutherland, Marketing Executive on + 44 (0)1295 220184.