Former US President Bill Clinton, left, speaks as actor Brad Pitt, community members, and volunteers look on during a groundbreaking ceremony for Pitt's Make It Right Foundation's house construction project in New Orleans.- Xinhua/Reuters

US former President Bill Clinton joined actor Brad Pitt -- along with 600 students from around the world -- to formally break ground on Pitt's Make It Right Foundation's house construction project in New Orleans yesterday.

"We hope to see a huge change here in the next six months," Pitt told a group of residents in Lower 9th Ward. The project plans to begin building affordable homes for Hurricane Katrina victims.

Along with Clinton, Pitt, residents from the area and the students cleaned and prepared more than 10 blocks of the neighborhood that will welcome the first returning residents to the area.

"We are excited about today, but need to remember that our project is one small part of addressing a much larger need. Thousands of people still need help in order to return home," said Pitt.

One hundred and fifty sustainable and affordable green homes will be built in New Orleans devestated Lower 9th Ward as a result of donations and grants from people and organizations.