FOR many, two weeks away this summer is unlikely to involve travelling to one of the poorest places in the world to labour each day on a building site for no financial reward.

But one Coppull man has chosen to do exactly that.

Steve Blundell, 52, a mechanical and electrical engineer from Hurst Brook, will help build homes for the poor in the central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan.

The father-of-three will be working as part of a team in a Global Village Programme run by an organisation called Habitat for Humanity International which goes to developing nations to provide basic housing for poor people.

Steve, who is leaving on July 1 for the capital Beshkek, said: "It has a fairly unique way of working. It is not just a case of building a house and giving it as a gift.

"It actually requests that local people purchase the building and have to put their efforts into building the property.

"Therefore, it helps to breed feelings of ownership and responsibility."

The country, which achieved its independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, has high unemployment, and malnutrition is rife. The average annual wage is £300.

Steve said: "The people there are incredibly poor. Many who we will be helping will be surviving now by stealing or begging off the streets.

"But because we will be buying local resources and equipment we will be putting money into the local infrastructure."

And Steve, who raised the £1,200 expenses of the trip through sponsorship, is ready for the personal challenge.

He said: "I wanted to put my life into something that was a little bit different. To put myself into a challenging situation."

"I will be using my own hands, feet and sweat to really help people there. I am really looking forward to it. It is a new adventure."