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A small group of Young Professionals from GHD's Auckland office
have been making an outstanding contribution to a Habitat for
Humanity project in South Auckland.
Habitat for Humanity is an international not-for-profit
organisation that aims to eliminate poverty, housing and
homelessness by building adequate and basic housing for people in
need. Since 1976 Habitat for Humanity has built, repaired and
renovated homes in nearly 100 countries, with a new house being
completed every 15 minutes.
Our team in New Zealand has clocked up over 456 hours of
personal time on a project in Wymondley Street, Otahuhu – an 11
house Habitat for Humanity sub-development. Because our team has
contributed more volunteer hours than any other company in New
Zealand, Habitat for Humanity has decided to recognise GHD as a key
supporter by naming one of the houses "the GHD house".
Marisha Jaglal, a traffic engineer with GHD's Auckland
Transportation Group, has been coordinating the GHD volunteer team.
"It has been amazing," she says, "most weekends I have more
volunteers than I need, and people have really thrown themselves
into the build. There is no suggestion that they are doing it just
to do the right thing. They have loved every minute of it."
Vikram Dass is one GHD Young Professional who has made a real
commitment to the project. "I feel privileged to have been one of
many who provided regular support to these families, and I love the
fact that Habitat for Humanity encourages volunteers to share their
experiences and knowledge. My favourite things about working on the
project have been learning the basic, and not so basic, tricks of
DIY; gaining confidence in using some pretty neat power tools;
building relationships with the volunteers and tradespeople on
site; bridging the gap between my design experience and practical
experience; taking pride in the tasks assigned to me (it is great
to look at something and be able to say, I built that); and keeping
Cassie the Labrador busy chasing mud balls."
A group of GHD Young Professionals have run the programme
totally by themselves, enlisting support from the Auckland
Marketing Team for a GHD sign for the project site. The team is
looking well into the future and plans to expand the volunteer base
and involve some clients and partners of GHD.
"We have paved the way and set up a good system and relationship
with Habitat for Humanity," adds Marisha. "Now we would like to see
others in the company take it further. It is a great opportunity to
learn new skills but more than anything, you are changing a
family’s life."
For more information, contact Marisha Jaglal or
view the video.