Upton Properties build hope... and a home

Upton Properties build hope … and a home

There were whoops, war cries, shouts of laughter, a great deal of physical exertion and many an aching muscle as the team and clients of Upton Properties, a leading 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.

Putting money, material and muscle to the task, the Upton 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,’” explains Director, Mark Upton, “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 that would allow us to do so.”

A proposal to donate both money and muscle-power to build a 40m2 home in Pelican Park, an 80 hectare piece of land near Zeekoevlei, Grassy Park (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.

“During the week 5-9 October 2015, international non-profit organisation Habitat for Humanity, celebrates ‘Build Week’ and has joined others around the globe to participate in special activities that highlight the need for safe, decent and affordable shelter for all,” explains Upton. “The project seemed just perfect!” he says. “So, along with a number of large corporates and their teams, we joined this special undertaking to help build the Pelican Park community,” he explains.

Enlisting the help of staff and clients, the Upton team committed to tasks such mixing cement (dugha), 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,” says Upton, “and I’m really so grateful to have had the opportunity to involve both my team and clients - doing something completely different from our usual everyday activities and working alongside the community to make a tangible difference in improving lives.”

Supporting the fundamental proposition that ‘No one lives in Dignity until Everyone lives in Dignity’, Habitat for Humanity believe the provision of adequate and affordable shelter is the best way to fight poverty, partnering 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 home ownership, and children thrive as they live in secure, well-built homes.

Build teams gathered each morning at Pelican Park Primary School for tea and coffee and the day’s safety briefing, and to collect their fluorescent bibs and hardhats. Then, joined by crew leaders for Habit for Humanity and other participants from the community, volunteers and donors from all walks of life joined together to take action and experience the pride and solidarity of accomplishing worthwhile goals. Community members provided excellent lunch and refreshments daily, and helped provide fuel for further labour to come! At the end of each strenuous 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 just amazing,” comments Upton, “and our team were commended for their enthusiasm, cheerfulness and for keeping one of the cleanest sites!”

“Above all, it was an incredible privilege for all of us to be able to give back,” he says, “and to hear people’s stories; one particular woman told us how she had been waiting for a house in excess of 20 years!”

“What a gratifying experience. We’ll never forget it!” he concludes.