11 Feb 2011

Habitat for Humanity pleas for volunteers for project housing Fiji cyclone victims

4:25 pm on 11 February 2011

Habitat for Humanity New Zealand is urgently appealing for volunteers to help its rebuilding programme in a part of Fiji battered by a cyclone a nearly year ago.

In March last year Cyclone Tomas wrecked entire villages on Vanua Levu, leaving many people homeless.

Habitat is constructing 46 houses, with funds from the New Zealand aid programme, using volunteer labour.

The project is about half finished with Habitat having sent small teams to Vanua Levu for short periods.

But it needs more volunteers for a group going late this month and Habitat spokesperson, Lou Meyer, says they want up to four people who can give two weeks of their time.

He says building skills are not necessary.

"They are very simple in design, there's no plumbing and no electricity. You don't need any building experience whatsoever. We've got a permanent building staff from Habitat Fiji and so we are looking for muscle and labour."

That's Habitat New Zealand spokesperson Lou Meyer.