Touchstone meet the families we will be building houses for this year.................................

With only 13 Sleeps to go before the team fly to Malawi, we receive details of the families we will be helping to build houses for this year.

Touchstone family profiles 

Name		Gender	Level of Education	Relationship	Status
Fayiness		F	-	Mother	Elderly caregiver
Thokozani	14	M	Grade 5	Grand son	Vulnerable
Alinafe		F	Grade 7	Grand daughter	Vulnerable

 Fayiness is from Mpanje Village in T/A Kalonga in Salima district, Malawi. She lives in a one-roomed, thatched roof house, with dirt floors, no ventilation and walls built using unburnt bricks. Fayiness used to live with her two grandchildren children; Thokozani and Alinafe but now Thokozani moved from the village. “My blindness is a problem as it disturbs my ability to take care of my orphan grandchildren, who are too young to help in earning for our household” comments, Fayiness on her predicament.

On sanitation Fayiness and her family uses her granddaughter’s latrine as she does not have her own. 

 

Name		Gender	Level of Education	Relationship	Status
Violet		F	-	Mother	Single parent
Patuma		F	Grade 4	Son	Vulnerable
Chisomo		M	Grade 1	Daughter	Vulnerable
Emeles		F	Grade 1	Daughter	Vulnerable
Robert		F	Not yet	Daughter	Vulnerable
Tomas		M	Not yet	Son	Vulnerable
Rashida		F	Not yet	Daughter	Vulnerable

 Violet is also from Mpanje Village in T/A Kalonga in Salima district, Malawi. She lives in a very small, one-roomed-house that is also  roofed with thatching grass, floor made using dirt, with no ventilation and walls built using unburnt bricks. Violet lives with her 6 children; Patuma, Chisomo, Emeles, Robert, Tomas and Rashida in her house. “The children and I are not comfortable living in this extremely small house but we cannot afford a bigger and decent house” comments, Violet on her predicament.

On sanitation Violet and her family uses her younger sister’s latrine as she does not have her own.

 

Thank you from the families we helped last year.........................

If you have ever, even in the smallest form thought about helping others less fortunate than yourself, you only have to read this to spur you on.  As you know, last year staff from Touchstone flew to Malawi and built 2 houses with Habitat for Humanity and made a huge difference to the lives of the families, here is what those families had to say;


1. Regina

Regina in front of her old house

Touchstone team happy after building Regina’s house to roofing level

Regina very excited in front of her new house

This is what Regina, a disabled widow, had to say when she was visited by Habitat staff. 

“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 myself 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.”

2. Esinta

Esinta in front of her old house

Touchstone team happy after building Esinta’s house to roofing level

Esinta’s family very happy in front of her new house

Esinta now can sit on the veranda of her new home and eat her meal with her children peacefully.  Esinta thanks Touchstone and Habitat Malawi for this rare opportunity. “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” Said Esinta. 

The children are now living a healthy life as malaria cases have been reduced since habitat Malawi gave them mosquito nets.  Furthermore, diarrhea cases have also been reduced since a ventilated improved pit-latrine was also constructed for the family.  Thus, no more use of poor and smelly latrines that attracted flies which are the carriers of germs. The air borne diseases have been greatly reduced because the house has air vents, cement floor, plastered wall and windows that make it possible to have clean air.  The children have a conducive place for study and Esinta is no longer buying grass for roofing because her house has iron sheets hence the money is used to buy other basic needs for the family.  The family is no-longer afraid of the heavy rains which are currently falling in the area as they feel protected by the strong house.

“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”, concluded Esinta full of smiles. 

As you can see the Touchstone Team left lasting impressions on the homeowners and the members of the community. The homeowners and the whole community were excited and touched with love and commitment demonstrated by the Team to come to Malawi to make a difference in the lives of the needy.  The community and HFHM staff are looking forward to another great experience with a new Touchstone team in 2017.