Last year in October, HFH Zambia was proud to present its 2,000th house to Mary Chimfwembe at the Tiyende Pamodzi Project site in Chazanga, Lusaka. Mary is a 39 year old widow; her husband passed away four years ago and left her with five children. Mary is not in formal employment; she only has primary school education which does not allow her to find a decent job. For her source of income, she sells fritters next to a busy road near her house to earn a living. The family survives on the little profit she is able to make but this is never sufficient to meet all the basic needs of life. Many times, the family only eats twice a day as food is hard to come by.

The 2,000th Dedication Ceremony was officiated by the CEO of HFHI, Jonathan Reckford, and the Vice President of HFH Africa and the Middle East, Greg Foster. The ceremony was also attended by partners and donors, including the Board of Directors Chairperson, Mrs. Mary Kazunga, Vice Consul to the American Embassy, Stuart Denyer, and other cooperating partners. Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Mr. Reckford said Habitat for Humanity aims to bring partners within Zambia and outside together to increase the number of families it serves. He also thanked everyone for believing that we can solve poverty in Zambia.

Mary was identified as an eligible beneficiary of decent shelter through working partners such as the SOS Family Strengthening Programme. When this news was brought to Mary’s attention, she did not think it was true – not until the day she saw the building materials delivered to her house and finally the arrival of the Global Village team that would assist in the construction of the house. This team was the Bloxham Baptist Church, an Irish Global Village Team.

Mary said the team was very friendly and knew exactly what they came here to do “because at the end of the whole program, they saved us with something we can call our own, a home”.

Mary has not only received help from HFHZ and its partners but she now belongs to a women’s club called the Chitukuko Club for Widows and OVC’s. These women have been an inspiration to Mary and have given her a lot of support. They continue to help in any way they can. Mary says: “The greatest thing one can do is give freely to whoever is in need and God will bless you in return abundantly.”