Een nieuw huis voor Rosa en haar familie
Eind 2023 werd het noorden van Kenia geteisterd door zeer hevige regenval, veroorzaakt door El Nino, wat leidde tot overstromingen in steden en dorpen. Er is toen veel schade ontstaan aan huizen, infrastructuur, vee en gewassen. Door Mozaiek en Compassion is er een fonds ingesteld waarmee de lokale kerk direct noodhulp kon geven aan gezinnen, huizen, infrastructuur, medische hulp en andere zaken.
De 50-jarige Rosa is een van de mensen die haar huis verloor. Maar dankzij de hulp van de lokale kerk een nieuw huis heeft mogen ontvangen. Haar getuigenis is gepubliceerd op een regionale Keniaanse website.
Renewed life for flood victim as church build a home for her
Rosa Mukwadiga is high in spirits as she narrates her new lease of life after excruciating fire tragedy at the only place she called home for years and subsequent devastation by floods.
The 50-year-old had been hosted by a well-wisher on a quarter-an-acre piece of land at Development area within Isiolo's Bulapesa ward when the tragedy struck.
Luckily, a friend allowed her move into a different piece of land in neighbouring Wabera ward where a single roomed timber house had been set up.
"The room was too small and could not accommodate my entire family. I resolved to erect makeshift structure (made of polythene) where I would sleep with some of the children while others slept in the room that was donated to us," she told The Press Point.
She collected the plastic bags used on the makeshift ‘house’ while on her way home from a quarry where she worked at the time.
Unknown to her, disaster would strike once again in November last year after the compound was marooned in floods which swept away her few household items, leaving her in dire need of assistance.
"We grappled with cold-related illnesses and spent most of the time in and out of hospital. At some point, the children could not go to school," she shared.
It was until recently when her family was considered alongside five others to benefit from houses built by the Compassion International Kenya through the Methodist Church of Kenya (MCK).
The four-room semi-permanent house at Ngaintethia village, at the border of Isiolo and Meru counties, has a study room and three bedrooms for minors, teenagers and parents for privacy purposes.
"I never thought I would at some point get any tangible help. At some point I fell sick and could no longer fed for my family. I was forced to rely on well-wishers for food," Ms Mukwadiga recalls.
She said the help was a huge relief to her family.
Fred Maingi, an official at the local MCK Child Development Center (CDC), said the initiative was part of their efforts to ensure children that they support grow holistically just like other children who are brought up in well-off families.
"We intend to ensure children who we support not only grow up in a conducive environment but also appreciate where they have come from by helping improve the condition at their homes," noted Mr Maingi.
The official revealed that they support children from families living in extreme poverty, who they identify with the help of other local churches, within a five kilometers radius from the CDC location.
Supported by Mosaic Church in Netherlands, the program is currently supporting over 300 children within the scope area.
"Once we have identified potential beneficiaries, we pay a visit to ascertain they are needy to ensure we do not help undeserved individuals," he said.
Besides ensuring a conducive environment for the children, the program also takes care of the beneficiary's education and supports the family venture into incoming generating activities. The beneficiaries are supported until they attain 20 years of age.
Ms Mukwadiga has appealed to county government to ensure the village has access to water for domestic use, saying they were trekking for a long distance to access the vital commodity.
Bron: Renewed life for flood victim as church builds a home for her | The Press Point (23 juli 2024)