Fife woman helping to build better life for women in India

Kerry Marshall (36), will set off next month as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build 2018 project.

The customer service administrator who works for Miller Homes will travel to Delhi on March 3 as deputy team leader to a team of 12 volunteers to construct housing for women who need it most.

Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build programme brings female volunteers from across the globe together to help build homes for women and communities.

The expedition will involve an intensive week of construction work for the volunteers, who will be doing everything from mixing mortar and brick laying to building walls and putting up roofs during the trip.

Miller Homes has been an ongoing supporter of the programme since 2016, raising more than £250,000 for the cause.

The housebuilder also took part in the three-day ‘Hope Challenge’ last summer, with the Scottish team raising over £7500 for the charity, and previously sponsored a team of volunteers to travel to Malawi to help build ‘Habitat Homes’ for families in the local community.

Ahead of her expedition, Kerry, who was part of the team who travelled to Malawi in September 2016, said: “Our week in Malawi was one of the hardest but one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences of my life. Our team target was to build three houses in one week but we managed to complete four, which was a massive achievement.

“Spending time with the families who we are building the homes for is a truly eye-opening experience, and the extreme poverty that so many of them suffer is harrowing to see first-hand.

“It taught me that I often take for granted how fortunate I am, and I knew that I wanted to do more with Habitat for Humanity.

“The Women Build in India will be another tough week, both physically and mentally, but I can’t wait to get out there and get started. The project makes such a difference to the lives of so many families, and it’s a privilege to be involved.”

Habitat for Humanity’s focus is on shelter, and the charity recognises that home is the cornerstone of hope for those living in poverty.

Working with established partners in more than 70 countries across the world, the charity offers simple, sustainable solutions to help lift some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world out of poverty housing.

The average ‘Habitat Home’ costs around £3000 to build and provides families with a home which is wind and watertight.

For more information visit www.millerhomes.co.uk.