Jonathon and Susan with baby Katie, Habitat NI homeowners with Executive Director Peter Farquharson

Susan said: "Working alongside so many volunteers to build our own home has been an amazing experience. We have met wonderful people from schools, churches and companies all over Northern Ireland and teams even travelled all the way from Los Angeles and ! Without Habitat we could not have afforded our own home and we are so grateful to all the volunteers who have helped make our dream possible."

The Ezidi Family. Habitat NI homeowners

Francis and Agnieska Ezidi moved into their new home in Habitat's mid-Shankill project at the beginning of June. Francis said 'I feel so blessed. We could never afford a house if it were not for Habitat for Humanity, they do great work all over this world'.  

Minister Ritchie volunteers with Habitat for Humanity

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today got her overalls on and paint brush out to close Volunteers Week on the Shankill project. The Minister who spent the afternoon painting and finishing joinery work on the Shankill project said: "Volunteering is a very enriching experience.  I would encourage everyone to get involved as it can make a real difference in your own life and the lives of others. I'm pleased to have been able to spend some time today helping the Hutchinson and Ezidi families make the final preparations for moving into their new home. Today has given me the same satisfaction and achievement volunteers everywhere enjoy. Meeting new friends and having fun go hand in hand with volunteering."

An energetic team from Bel Air Presbyterian participated in the pilot of Habitat NI's Global Village peacebuilding programme in June. In-house trainers facilitated the new programme which delivers a number of interactive groupwork sessions, equipping participants to respond to the global challenge of peace building. 

Guest speakers from business, church and reconciliation backgrounds shared their personal journeys with the team, challenging team members to play an active role in their own communities.

One of the participants summed up the impact of the programme:

'What we learned is applicable all over the world and I feel inspired to take this back home to our city and make a difference'.