Build a Home, Not Just a House
Donation protected
I am a Peace Corps Volunteer living in the town of Manjacaze, in the province of Gaza, in Mozambique. I have been here for 18 months, and my service will continue to the end of the 2017 calendar year. Since coming to Manjacaze, I have become a member of a Mozambican family, lead my a mother, Mana Marta, and her 5 children, Nilsa, Ercio, Nelcia, Selma and Lindo. I am raising money to assist her in finishing a house that she has been building little by little for the past 15 years.
Mana Marta works at the administrative level for the local hospital (she used to be a nurse and then got promoted). She also owns a small store that sells soda and alcohol, and works with a local performing group that gets paid to play at local events and celebrations. On top of all that, she is a seamstress when she has time, making dresses for neighbors and friends for a small profit. She is super hard-working and spends all of her money supporting her 5 children...even with 4 jobs, she still comes up short. She does have a husband, but she is one of three wives and each of the other two wives also have 5 kids. The husband, Arlindo, lives 4 hours away with wife #3, and up until recently he only visited Mana Marta on Sunday afternoons. She would make him dinner and he would eat quickly and leave, before going back to House 3. Just recently, Arlindo told Mana Marta that he doesn't want her anymore. For the past many years, he refused to help buy the kids' notebooks or uniforms for school. Mana said she that lately she has been having to choose between sending her kids to school with shoes, or feeding them. That is a decision no mother should ever have to make (in my opinion).
Beyond all that, Mana has been slowly but surely trying to build a nice house for her and her family. All on her own, she has so far constructed the foundation and the walls for the house. She still needs a roof, windows, doors, and to finish the floor. Currently she and her 5 kids live in a two-room reed hut without windows and just 1 light bulb. The house's walls don't quite meet the roof, so whenever it rains the rooms flood and Mana sends her children to stay overnight with neighbors to avoid sleeping on the wet floor. All their belongings stay in bags, also to protect from rain. Their bathroom is a latrine and their "kitchen" is a little hut made of reed that is detached from the house.
Despite the living situation, they are usually smiling, working hard, and willing to offer me a hot meal. I love stopping by and sitting on the porch of the unfinished house, chatting and drinking tea with them. They really are my family here.
We have used the current funds raised to finish the roof, which is the most costly--money and time wise--of the whole project. Now, we need to smooth out the walls using a thin layer of concrete, as well as have windows and doors made and installed.
Having a stable reliable house to come home to would truly change her this family's life. Additionally, this would support the important idea of women's empowerment here in Manjacaze, because it is extremely uncommon--if not unheard of--for a woman to own her own house and be able to support her family without the support of a male spouse. While Mana Marta is already doing this, the "house" that they use now is nearly unlivable. This would take weight off her shoulders, and allow her to use the money she would otherwise use to finish the house to fund higher education for her three children that are still in primary/secondary school.
This is a project that has been tugging on my heart since I became an American member of this Mozambican family and I thank you in advance for your empathy, kind heart, and generous donation. Every amount helps.
Mana Marta works at the administrative level for the local hospital (she used to be a nurse and then got promoted). She also owns a small store that sells soda and alcohol, and works with a local performing group that gets paid to play at local events and celebrations. On top of all that, she is a seamstress when she has time, making dresses for neighbors and friends for a small profit. She is super hard-working and spends all of her money supporting her 5 children...even with 4 jobs, she still comes up short. She does have a husband, but she is one of three wives and each of the other two wives also have 5 kids. The husband, Arlindo, lives 4 hours away with wife #3, and up until recently he only visited Mana Marta on Sunday afternoons. She would make him dinner and he would eat quickly and leave, before going back to House 3. Just recently, Arlindo told Mana Marta that he doesn't want her anymore. For the past many years, he refused to help buy the kids' notebooks or uniforms for school. Mana said she that lately she has been having to choose between sending her kids to school with shoes, or feeding them. That is a decision no mother should ever have to make (in my opinion).
Beyond all that, Mana has been slowly but surely trying to build a nice house for her and her family. All on her own, she has so far constructed the foundation and the walls for the house. She still needs a roof, windows, doors, and to finish the floor. Currently she and her 5 kids live in a two-room reed hut without windows and just 1 light bulb. The house's walls don't quite meet the roof, so whenever it rains the rooms flood and Mana sends her children to stay overnight with neighbors to avoid sleeping on the wet floor. All their belongings stay in bags, also to protect from rain. Their bathroom is a latrine and their "kitchen" is a little hut made of reed that is detached from the house.
Despite the living situation, they are usually smiling, working hard, and willing to offer me a hot meal. I love stopping by and sitting on the porch of the unfinished house, chatting and drinking tea with them. They really are my family here.
We have used the current funds raised to finish the roof, which is the most costly--money and time wise--of the whole project. Now, we need to smooth out the walls using a thin layer of concrete, as well as have windows and doors made and installed.
Having a stable reliable house to come home to would truly change her this family's life. Additionally, this would support the important idea of women's empowerment here in Manjacaze, because it is extremely uncommon--if not unheard of--for a woman to own her own house and be able to support her family without the support of a male spouse. While Mana Marta is already doing this, the "house" that they use now is nearly unlivable. This would take weight off her shoulders, and allow her to use the money she would otherwise use to finish the house to fund higher education for her three children that are still in primary/secondary school.
This is a project that has been tugging on my heart since I became an American member of this Mozambican family and I thank you in advance for your empathy, kind heart, and generous donation. Every amount helps.
Organizer
Sarah Biz
Organizer
Eudora, KS
