Housing in Africa with Habitat for Humanity
Every morning one third of the world's population – that's two billion people – will wake up in appalling poverty… squalid, spirit-crushing poverty. Most were born into those conditions and many will die in them… too many will die as a consequence of them.
Help us to help make a difference by with a modest contribution of £25.00, £50.00 or £100.00. Send your cheque made payable to Silver Agency to; 702 eagle Tower, Cheltenham GL50 1TA.
Poverty housing damages people's lives in so many ways. It's dirty, smelly and often unsafe, it affects people's health and wellbeing; their children's education; their employment prospects. But most of all, poverty housing traps people in poverty and robs them of hope and opportunity. It oppresses the soul and keeps the poorest people poor.
At Silver we have decided to take a hands-on approach to helping people break the chains of poverty through improved housing.
The Silver Lining initiative involves Silver and the Silver Crew raising donations and travelling to actually help build houses for those in desperate need. In Tanzania, for example, many village families live in 'tembe' houses, made of mud stuck to a wooden frame. The houses have dirt floors and thatched roofs, with rarely enough space for the family size.
These structures require a tremendous amount of maintenance, and whole walls often collapse in the rainy season. This type of housing encourages an explosion of unwelcome visitors who bring health and safety risks with them:
termites damaging the wood, insects and snakes in the thatch, rats tunnelling through the mud to find the food stores, and ticks and other parasites lying in wait for human hosts. Adding to the already great health risks, many families have to share latrines, but more often they do not have access to a sanitary latrine at all. In urban areas, whole families often live in one or two rooms, sharing inadequate 'facilities' with ten or more other families.
The Silver Lining initiative helps our staff experience a new culture, meet new people, and learn more about the community they are working in to make a real difference, from laying bricks to putting on the roof.
Silver Chief Executive Graham Dodridge has just returned from Kenya. Please click left to read the tale of his experiences. Mechele Kitching is currently planning her trip in early 2009.
Don't forget to help us in this vital mission. Your donation of £25.00, £50.00 or £100.00 will make a big difference to someone's life. Thank you for your support.