Raising funds to build houses

Pearl Beach Memorial Hall will host a night on Saturday, July 26, to raise funds for the Habitat for Humanity Global Village Program to build houses in disaster-affected countries.

Australian Mt Everest mountaineer, guide and author Mr Lincoln Hall will be guest speaker at the event.

Seminar organiser Mr Andrew Stanger said he is excited to be able to present Lincoln Hall, who will tell what it is like to spend a night without adequate shelter near the top of Mt Everest.

Mr Stanger is a member of Habitat for Humanity and this October he will be taking time off from his normal work to work as a volunteer on a Habitat for Humanity Global Village Project in Nepal.

Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit, non-government, charitable organisation that offers people stuck in the poverty cycle a "hand-up" not just a "hand-out".

Participants in the Global Village Program volunteer to raise funds and to take part in the building of houses in countries affected by natural disasters, poverty, civil unrest and war.

Currently there are 108,000 displaced people on the Nepal-Sikkim Indian border in camps living under bamboo and tarpaulin shelters.

Proceeds from the night will go towards the Global Village Program.

"It will be a great night and there will be refreshments available by donation," Mr Stanger said.

Bookings are recommended and tickets are on sale at $35 for adults, $15 for teenagers and $25 concession.

The Pearl Beach Memorial Hall is located at 9 Diamond Rd, Pearl Beach. The night will start at 8pm.

For further information and bookings, call 4344 7331 or 0430 213831 or email astanger@aapt.net.au

Press release, 23 Jun 2008 Lynne Lillico, Pearl Beach Progress Association