Housing charity Habitat for Humanity Auckland, Takapuna Grammar School and the Rotary Club of Devonport are partnering to build a home for an Auckland family in housing need.

The Big Habitat Build will take place from 10-28 March 2015, and will provide an opportunity for hundreds of Takapuna Grammar School students and local volunteers to participate in its promotion and construction.

The five-bedroom home will be built over just 16 days on the Lake Road frontage of Takapuna Grammar School’s grounds on Auckland’s North Shore and, upon completion, will be transported to its permanent site in Clendon Park, South Auckland. The build is part of a seven-home development which Habitat is currently building in Clendon Park, with the full project due for completion in December 2015.

Takapuna Grammar School students will be involved in a number of aspects of the build as part of their curriculum learning, notably in design, communications, local service, and business.

Student Danielle de Marigny says she’s honoured to be a part of the project. “It is always fantastic to help those less fortunate than ourselves, and we’re also looking forward to participating in the build, which is a rare and exciting opportunity in itself.”

The Rotary Club of Devonport will assist by providing financial support and sourcing products and services for the build from the local community, as well as helping to promote the project throughout Auckland.

This partnership will not only provide a decent and affordable home for an Auckland family with significant housing needs, but delivers a number of opportunities for local people to engage in a worthwhile and necessary community project.

Habitat for Humanity Auckland is hoping that local businesses and individuals will get behind the project and chip in for this first-of-its-kind build on the North Shore. Willing volunteers will help on all aspects of the construction, and all are welcome regardless of physical ability, skill, and experience.

Habitat’s resource and development manager Conrad LaPointe explains, “We see each build as a process that can enable as many people as possible to get involved in the provision of decent, healthy, and affordable housing for families in need. That Takapuna Grammar pupils are engaging with this process on so many levels shows that the benefits of these community builds can be wide-ranging, and provide exciting learning opportunities.”