DUT student appeals, ‘help complete building project’
The community is encouraged to help fund the finishing touches to the Mtshali home.
A PROJECT to help build a family a home is nearing completion, and former Durban University of Technology (DUT) student Wandile Mthiyane, who is the founder of Ubuntu Design Group and an Andrews University Master’s student, is encouraging the community to help with labour, funds or a partnership with the design group.
Mthiyane, (22), a DUT Town and Regional Planning student, moved to the United States of America in 2012 after being awarded a five-year scholarship to pursue a triple major in Architecture, Town Planning and Civil Engineering at the prestigious Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
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He was put in touch with other young bright minds from all over the world by World Merit 360 in New York, to discuss and brainstorm ways to effect global change in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This task fitted well with Ubuntu Design Group’s work which aims to effectively develop communities around the world. The project, which is actively seeking to reignite the spirit of Ubuntu (I am because you are), has won several international awards.
Using his architectural skills, talents and his devout Christian principles, Mthiyane saw a need to reach out to the Mtshali family, a couple who are both physically challenged, and their 15-year old son, who has since been taken in by relatives.
Mr Nkosinathi Mtshali, who became bedridden after his legs completely failed, and his wife, Fikisiwe, lived in a small one room shack in Umbumbulu, KwaZulu-Natal, and when Mthiyane and his fellow peers from Andrews University visited the family, they decided to collect and donate funds to build a new home for them.
The construction of the Mtshali family house started in March. Mthiyane said the group now have an almost-finished product, prior to roof installation, and said roofing is a crucial component to installing other infrastructure.
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“The family desired to have a safe and happy home for both them and their son and hoped to give back to their community and create a sustainable living situation by running a daycare from their house. We are close to making Mrs Mtshali’s dream of owning a creche come true, but we need to put the finishing touches on this home to make it a viable, self-sustaining and income generating space,” said Mthiyane.
He said not only had the group aimed to give the Mtshalis a home, but local labour was used to build the Mtshali home, and the group had investigated the broad community needs beyond the Mtshali home.
Help finish the Mtshali home
“We are looking for people who can donate either their own or their company’s time to install infrastructure, donate direct funds to help us cover the remaining costs of labour or people who can form long-term relationships to help us achieve scale,” he said.
Interested people can visit the website: https://ubuntudesigngroup.org/
Donate at: www.crowdrise.com/buy-a-brick-build-a-home-the-mtshalis-family/fundraiser/wandilemthiyane
Contact: wandilemthiyane94@gmail.com or view the blog at: https://wandiletech.wordpress.com
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