The huge amount of charity work done by a Belfast based priest was
recently recognised when he received a special award from the Northern
Ireland Assembly.
Habitat for Humanity volunteer Fr Raymond McCullagh received the
award for his, “outstanding contribution to international development.”
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit non-denominational Christian
movement dedicated to the global vision that everybody has a right to
safe and decent shelter.
Since 1993 Habitat NI has built more than 90
homes across ten communities in Northern Ireland in partnership with
some 16,000 volunteers as well as being involved in several projects in
third world countries.
At a special ceremony held at parliament buildings in Stormont, Fr
Raymond received his award from the all-party group on International
Development (APGID), which also launched a new international development
strategy on the evening.
According to the group members, Fr Raymond, through his work as
chaplain in the University of Ulster and his participation in the
Habitat's Global Village programme, has provided not alone for
developments in Northern Ireland but has also been the catalyst for
Habitat NI's partnership with Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia.
This partnership began when a team from the University of Ulster
visited Ethiopia in 2005.
Ever since this visit, a special relationship
has existed between the University of Ulster's Global Village Team and
the Habitat Humanity Ethiopia.
To date the strategic partnership between the two groups has built
homes for 150 homes for Ethiopian families.
Fr Raymond also confirmed
that he will travel to Ethiopia again later this year.