Norbord electrician in charity mission to Guatemala

Finlay Macrae

AN Inverness electrician is making a charity trip to a third world country to build sustainable houses for impoverished families.

And Finlay Macrae's trip of a lifetime has been made possible by his employers, Norbord which manufactures panel boards.

The 25-year-old will be making the trip to Guatemala on May 13 for 10 tens to take part in the Habitat for Humanity project and Norbord, based just outside Inverness, has agreed to pay for Finlay's return flights as well as his expenses.

Finlay's trip has been organised by Stiho, a building materials supplier, which works alongside the Habitat for Humanity charity to organise humanitarian trips to Guatemala, India, Indonesia and Malawi. Finlay will work in Solola in Guatemala with 20 other individuals to create safe buildings for families and the hope of a better future.

Across communities in more than 90 countries including Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Habitat for Humanity has assisted more than 1.75 million people to renovate or build over 350,000 homes since it was formed in 1976.

Finlay who has worked as an electrician at Norbord for almost four years and is also a professional shinty player said: "This is a great opportunity to learn more about other cultures and lifestyles whilst getting involved in projects that will help to improve the life of people in the village of Solola. I've never been so far afield and I'm sure my time in Guatemala will be an amazing experience. I am so grateful for Norbord's support and for making this trip possible."

Karl Morris, managing director of Norbord, added: "We are acutely aware that many countries do not have the funds to construct safe homes for families to live in. As a company that creates wood panels - a vital component in the construction industry - we are eager to help countries find appropriate and permanent long-term solutions to their housing issues.

"We are delighted to support Finlay's endeavour for this charity and wish him all the best. I am certain that he will be an asset to the team and will come back armed with some fantastic experiences."