September 2007 Houses of Hope: Housing for People with HIV and Their Caregivers In Shyira, Rwanda

Four Homes have been built

Funding Raised to date $32,450

Thank you we have made a difference together!!!!!

We are privileged to have been able to choose four people to receive a “Houses with Hope-Rwanda” house. With the help of our HIV social worker, Domitille, we chose four of the most needy patients. They all are women, three of whom are widows. They all have children, and all are struggling just to get enough every day to eat. They were also all in poor housing conditions, with leaky roofs, no kitchens, and no latrines, and with no means to replace their houses. Here are their profiles:

One of the first patients we chose was Maria Nyirabahutu. Maria was one of the first people in our church-sponsored HIV association. She was widowed in 1994, during the period of war and genocide. She has only a very small parcel of land, and works for others to get some food to eat. She has 5 other people living with her—her daughter and four grandchildren, in a very small one room house. She does not know how to read. She has been fortunate to be on anti-retrovirals for 2 years, and she has done well on the medications. In addition to building her a new house, we are hoping to set up a small area where she can raise some animals, as a way of making a living.

One of Maria’s neighbors, Clementine Nyirabarangaritse was one of the next patients we chose. Like Maria, Clementine is also a widow. She has three children-ages 15, 11, and 6. She estimates that she earns about 2400 Rwandan francs a month, which is about $5. Her old house leaked water (this area of Rwanda gets a lot of rain) and was very small. She, with the help of her community, was able to persuade a man to switch parcels of land with her, so she could have a site for building her house (thus far, Houses with Hope has not bought land for the houses; the sites have either been provided by the community, or the land has been provided by the recipients themselves). She says that she was so happy, when she heard the news that she would be receiving a house.

Liberathe Uwimana is the youngest of the women, at the age of 34. She was married to an older man who died last year of HIV and tuberculosis. She lives with her two children, ages 7 and 3, who are HIV negative, and her younger sister, age 15. Her own mother is also a widow, and has remarried. (In Rwandan culture, men often are reluctant to help their step children, so it is likely that Liberathe would find it difficult to get help from them, and it may be why her younger sister is living with her). She is currently in temporary lodging, in a small house with 2 rooms, and no kitchen. The kitchen of her new house has been completed and work on the rest of the house has begun. She said that she was very happy and that she praised God when she heard that she would be receiving a house.

Godelive Mukamana, is the only one of our group who is still married. However, her husband is handicapped-his eyes were poked out, and his arms were cut off during the war and genocide of 1994. She has 3 children, all HIV negative. She lives in a house with her children and mother in law. Her husband stays in Kigali, where he begs from people. She can read, and finished school through 8th grade. Her house was in bad condition, especially the roof, which leaked water badly. We have been able to save her house, but have done extensive renovations, to give her a home that is a true haven for her and her children.

These are the four women for whom Houses with Hope has been able to start building houses. We are hoping that they will all be finished within the next few months. The other day, the HIV social worker alerted me to another woman that has no housing. I was pleased to tell her that it should be feasible. We are hoping to keep providing houses for people as long as we are able.

Louise King, MD

Donations are tax deductible and should be written to “Chatham United Methodist Church” in the memo put “Houses of Hope-Rwanda”.

Any question please contact: Amy Ball mrsamyball@yahoo.com

Houses With Hope-Rwanda
September 2007

To learn more about Shyira, Rwanda and the Kings see www.shyira.org
Coming soon to the website will be a Houses With Hope-Rwanda section.

As we receive more photos we will send them to you via email. Thank you again for your assistance to House With Hope-Rwanda, we have had over 350 donors!!! Raising awareness and the feeling that we can make a difference continues to be an important part of this project. If you or your child would like to design an event to raise money for Houses With Hope-Rwanda please contact Amy Ball @ mrsamyball@yahoo.com