The handover ceremony for 102 disability friendly houses, ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines and bathrooms that were constructed under the Empowering Families of Persons with Disabilities (EPWD) Project took place on 11th September, 2020 at Salima Community Ground. The project was aimed at improving the physical living conditions as well as reducing the vulnerability of families of PWDs in Salima district. The target beneficiaries for the project are people with hydrocephalus, amputees, profound deaf, heart contiguous, epilepsy, albinism, mental disability, cerebral pursy, virtual impairments, and physical disabilities among others. The project was implemented from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019.
The ceremony was attended by traditional leaders, beneficiaries, the District Commissioner, officials from the District Council, Officials from Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) and officials from the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare (MoGCDSW).
The Senior Chief Kalonga highlighted the importance of targeting of PWDs as a clear demonstration of HFHM’s commitment towards leaving no one behind in the fight for housing poverty among the vulnerable groupings. The senior Chief pledged to support the beneficiary families in taking care of the houses and informed the gathering of the combined efforts that the local leaders and the community will employ in order to mobilize resources locally towards supporting other vulnerable families requiring housing support. The project beneficiaries were excited and pleased not only for the transformational impact the houses have brought in their families but also the dignity that comes with living in a decent house.
HFHM National Director-representative Francis Sande, in his speech said that the organization is committed in the fight for housing poverty among the vulnerable groups. HFHM has partnered with MACOHA with funding from Hope and Healing of Canada, formerly known as Christian Blind Mission (CBM) and HFH Canada and supported the PWDs in its quest to improve housing conditions. He further made a request to the District Council to support the beneficiaries with land certification documents in order to ensure land security for the families.
Receiving the project on behalf of the council, the Vice Chairperson of Salima District Council, Councilor Chizonga, expressed his utmost appreciation to the HFHM for the project. “There is high housing poverty particularly among the vulnerable groups in Salima, the project will go a long way in addressing this challenge. The District Council is committed in providing land certificates to the beneficiaries of the project, this will be done when Malawi Government starts the registration of customary land in the district. I applaud HFHM, MACOHA and Hope and Healing of Canada for the technical and financial support rendered to the communities of Salima.” He further urged the family beneficiaries, and the community local leaders to take good care of the houses that have been provided.
