Victoria and her husband Christopher lived a peaceful life with their two young sons in Malawi. Their bamboo house was modest, but it was home.
In February 2024, their world was turned upside down when devastating floods ravaged their community. Their home was destroyed, and all their belongings were swept away.
Forced to leave their lakeside home, they sought refuge with relatives of the village chief.
Starting to rebuild
Together with our partners, CARE Malawi, we were able to support Victoria and Christopher with a shelter kit, cash assistance and other essential aid.
With these items, Victoria and her family took their first steps towards rebuilding their lives. They started by approaching the village chief and securing a plot of land. Then they used the cash assistance to pay rent and purchase poles to construct their temporary shelter.
“We paid rent for the year to stay here, which we paid from the cash we received. We also used the money to buy the poles to build this temporary house.”
Victoria was so happy that her family had their own space and independence once again.
“This temporary shelter gives us our own home, rather than having to live with other people.
“The items are also very useful; mosquito nets will keep us safe from malaria. We lost all our items, but now we have blankets and pots that we can use to re-start our lives.”
Planning for the future
Building a new life was not without its challenges. But as they settled into their temporary shelter, Victoria and Christopher began to plan for their future.
They decided to use the remaining cash to start a small business selling fish from the lake, a venture that they hope will provide them with a sustainable income.
“We don’t plan to go back to lake land, because it will likely flood again. We will build a permanent place here through the money we generate from our new business.”
Thanks to your support, many other families like Victoria’s were able to start rebuilding their lives with dignity and hope.
Shelter gives a firm foundation for people as they start the process of getting back on their feet.
