Mapuru Community Development Project – Arnhem Land
Habitat for Humanity SA helps people on low incomes into home ownership by bringing together volunteers, donors and suppliers to provide housing at a very low cost. In addition Habitat undertakes community development projects.

The Mapuru Community Development Project aims to improve conditions in the Mapuru community in East Arnhem Land. The community of Mapuru consists of about 100 Aboriginal (Yoljnu) living on their homelands in Arnhem Land. The location is very isolated and overcrowding in this small community, which only has 10 houses for 100 people, is common.

The current project involves engaging young people in Mapuru in construction training as they help build a secure storage shed and shelter for the local airstrip as during the rainy season (November to May – up to 3 metres of rain), food and other supplies are delivered to the airstrip and left. By the time they can be retrieved the items are, at times, soaked or have been sitting in the sun – the weather conditions can be quite extreme.

UCF provided a grant of $2,000 to assist in the construction project which will provide building skills (e.g. cutting, welding, fixing, measuring, making concrete etc.) for up to 20 people and provide and enduring benefit  to the community.