As of the 30th June 2017, sixteen families living in the villages of Chimombo, Mpanje, Jeke & Dayison have been assisted through our project; eight houses were completed and eight houses were at various stages of construction.
Here is what some of the families had to say;
Pelepetuwa who is a single mother of 5
"I was very excited when I heard I would receive a new home with the help of Touchstone. During the construction I ensured the building materials were kept safe and not tampered with. I am very happy to have a new home, I am now able to harvest water for household use and care for my children”.
Martha who is a single mother
of 4
“I
could not believe it when I was selected as one of the families for the project
in Salima. I was so excited to move into
my new home. I am thankful to Habitat
for Humanity and Touchstone for selecting me to be one of the beneficiaries of
the project”.
Esinta who is a single
mother of 3
“I am now able to have plans in life like any other person in the
community with no worries at all because I have a good house with a beautiful
paint that many people admire, my future and that of the children is bright and
secure.
I
would like to sincerely thank Touchstone for helping me and my family to have a
new life. I have never seen this kind of love and I would like to wish them all
the best in their lives. As you can see now, although the heavy rains are
coming I have peace of mind because I know my house is strong that it can
withstand heavy rains and wind. My
children are now sleeping peacefully thereby being very attentive in class and
I know that they will have good grades. Thank you Touchstone and Habitat, may
you continue to do the same to other needy people like me”
Anne who has 6 Children
“The
new house provided by Touchstone is the family’s pride, as such we have peace
of mind, can live comfortably and can bring friends freely. There are no termites and no bedbugs in the
house. I thank Touchstone for giving me
and my family a decent house to live in.”
Esita who has 4 Children
“I
like the new house, it makes me smile because it is spacious, the roof is made
of iron sheets and does not leak, the walls are strong because they are
reinforced using cement, and the floor is easier to clean because it is made of
cement. The children’s books are not
easily destroyed because the water does not get into the house.”
Regina who is a disabled
mother of 3
“My life has been so miserable for a
long time because of the house I was living in. The house was so bad that
mosquitos and other insects could breed inside the house during rainy season.
My children and I have suffered from malaria for a long time especially the
young child. As that was not enough, fever
and coughs were frequent due to dust that could easily enter in the house
during the dry season. I can now open my windows in the morning and let fresh
air come in. I can now mop my house for good hygiene, our beddings now are dry and clean. I would like to sincerely thank the Touchstone friends
who came all the way from UK to come see me and build my house. I will never
forget their love as we played together during the construction of my house. I hope I will see them again. May God continue
to bless Touchstone and Habitat for the greatest gift that I will cherish for
the rest of my life.”
Violet
is 83 and a caregiver to two Children
“I had 3 wishes in my life, one of which
was to have a decent house and now this has been fulfilled. Through the Touchstone project, so much more
than what I hoped for has been granted; a house with good windows, good floor,
iron sheet roof, latrine and a bathroom.
The children’s lives have changed tremendously, as they no longer have
to sleep on a wet floor. I am so
grateful, such a priceless gift, what Touchstone have done for me is
commendable and it’s a project I would want to continue.”
Janet
who is a single mother of 4
“When the news came that I will have a
house, I did not believe it until I saw the bricks and sand coming. Now life is different in the new house; when
it is raining I feel good as I am no longer bothered to stay awake or run away
from the house at night, I am so
thankful to Touchstone for the precious gift.
Continue doing the good work you are doing.”
Atabiya
who is a single mother of 5
“I am grateful to the heavens for decent
housing; if only you came when the rains are falling down you would have seen
the housing poverty that I have been living in.
I am so thankful to Touchstone for a decent house that I never imagined
to have. I pray for the continuity of
the project to change more lives that do not have good houses and sanitary
facilities.”
Laina
who is a carer for her 6 Grandchildren
“My family and I can now sleep without
anxiety, thank you.”
Idess
a 27yr old widow of four
“I am happy knowing that my children
have a better place to live and a future.
God should bless Touchstone who have supported me and my children.”
Maness
a mother of three
“I love the fact my new house does not leak
and it protects my family. I thank
Touchstone for building the house for me and my family and pray you keep up the
good humanitarian work to help other vulnerable people.”
Moreen
who is a single mother of two
“I can now look forward to many future
rainy seasons where I will not have to worry about the leaking roof making me,
my children and property wet. I used to
say this kind of water coming into the house should be running in the field not
the house. I am so happy to receive the
house, joy will continue from now to the day I die. I would love to see the project benefiting
other vulnerable people.”
Violet
lives in a one roomed property with her 6 children
“On behalf of myself and my children I
thank Touchstone and their team of volunteers who built our home. We are grateful to move from a dilapidated
house into a decent one.”
Eunice
whose husband committed suicide, leaving her to care for their 8 children
“God has remembered my problems to give
me a house. Touchstone team came all the
way to build this house this year. I
thank you Touchstone for helping me own a decent house.”
Fayiness
who does not know which year she was born, but does know she reached puberty in
1950. She is a widower looking after her
grandchildren
“I am thankful that I have been
remembered and can enjoy such a blessing in my old age.”
These are the reasons why we feel so passionate about the project, along with being able to be part of the community and building the houses means so much to us.
