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Disaster Recovery Project Leaves Legacy, Builds to Last!

Disaster affected families that benefited houses from the UNDP-Japan funded project in Zomba and Phalombe could not hold their appreciation for the project for bringing hope for future generations of families in need. The project facilitated the development of formal land certificates entitling the beneficiaries to occupy the land where the project house has been built. The project has also trained the beneficiaries in wills and inheritance. Habitat for Humanity Malawi (HFHM) engaged the Judiciary Department which provided legal advice on the importance of having a will. Today, HFHM has just finalized one of such trainings for Traditional Authority Chikowi in Zomba at St Martin Parish Hall for 50 home owners who have benefited a house from the project. The participants were taken through some provisions under the Constitution of Malawi providing for the right to acquire property and the need to protect the property they have acquired so that appropriate beneficiaries inherit it. The participants were taken through the process of writing a valid Will as provided for under the Deceased Estates (Wills, Inheritance and Protection) Act, 2011. Child rights was also highlighted in the training as they are some of the most vulnerable people in the community. Prevention of domestic violence Act and many more Human rights were also tackled during the training. The training was conducted by Her Worship Hellen Kachala Zomba Senior Magistrate Court and Her Worship Eneth Banda, Senior Child Justice Court

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LAND PARCELS FOR FAMILY BENEFICIARIES FOR UNDP-HFHM PARTERNESHIP FOR INCLUSIVE DISASTER RECOVERY PROJECT IN ZOMBA AND PHALOMBE

Habitat for Humanity Malawi (HFHM) in partnership with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with funding from Government of China, is implementing a project called “UNDP-HFHM Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Recovery”. The project runs from 29th February, 2020 to 31st March 2021.The main aim of the project is to support human security through safe and dignified access to climate-resilient housing for affected communities in Malawi displaced by floods from Cyclone Idai. Through this partnership, the project plans to construct 180 flood-resilient houses for the most vulnerable flood-affected communities in Zomba and Phalombe Districts while also restoring two community markets and two community water points. The project will also strengthen the capacity of district and national authorities, private sector firms and communities to apply techniques from the Safer Housing Construction Guidelines (SHCG) including training on inclusive disaster recovery through climate- and weather-resilient housing targeting the most vulnerable, that includes; women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. The project is being conducted in Traditional Authorities Mwambo and Ngwelero in Zomba and Kaduya and Jenala in Phalombe. The following maps shows the land parcels of the family beneficiaries who have benefited a house in the project. Map Of TA Jenala Showing Land Parcels For Family Beneficiaries For UNDP-HFHM Partenership For Inclusive Disaster Recovery Project Map Of TA Nkhulambe Showing Land Parcels For Family Beneficiaries For UNDP-HFHM Partenership For Inclusive Disaster Recovery Project Map Of Zomba Showing Disaster Recovery Project Climate Resilient Housing Beneficiaries

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World Habitat Day! “Recognizing the true value of housing to economic recovery from COVID-19”

From April, 2020 Habitat Malawi began implementing the UNDP-HFHM Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Recovery project with the overall goal of supporting human security through safe and dignified access to climate-resilient housing for the affected communities displaced by floods from Cyclone Idai in Phalombe and Zomba districts. Jinny Wisikesi a 43-year-old woman living in Nambiri village in the area of Traditional Authority Nkhulambe in Phalombe district. Jinny lost her husband in 2012 and has since then assumed the sole responsibility towards the care of her children. When the 2019 Cyclone Idai hit Phalombe Jinny’s home was among the many houses that got destroyed by the floods. Since losing her house in 2019, Jinny has lived at a camp, in a tent and currently in a relatives’ house. Jinny’s family was identified as beneficiaries for the project and at the moment Land Certification for her land has been done and delivery of materials that will be used in the construction of her house has commenced. Since assuming her role as the head of the house, Jinny has relied on piece work and running a small business in order to provide for the family. Identified as a beneficiary at a time when COVID-19 has caused economic shocks worldwide. Due to travel bans and restrictions Jinny’s small business of selling cooked rice and beans to people that frequent Nkhulambe for agricultural business purposes has suffered many losses and consequently failed. “When we heard about COVID-19, I had fear especially for people like me in the village. Here in the village we share space and housing; our way of life, culture and traditions are rooted on being around one another. Even the simple regular hand washing is a big issue since we cannot afford to buy soap. Habitat came in at the right time since the small business that I rely on has failed and I have no money to build another house, at the same time the rain season is fast approaching. The provision of the house has allowed me to have additional time for other productive activities. I am currently concentrating on my small garden and producing vegetables to help sustain my family. Thanks to this project am now at peace knowing that even if COVID or anything else happened to me, my children will have a home which they can call their own. My dream of having a house in the midst all these challenges has been fulfilled.”– Jinny shares

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HFHM hands over 102 disability friendly houses constructed in Salima under EPWD Project

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.

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Disaster risk reduction and response

The project was initiated after the floods that occurred in the early months of 2015 and affected 1.1 million people, including displacing 230,000 people. The aim of the project is to provide shelter solutions that will assist in recovery and promote resilience by enhancing the capacity of the affected population

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Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

The aim of the project is to improve the sanitation status and wellbeing of 450 slum dwellers in Kauma Slum in Lilongwe through equitable access to better sanitation by June 2018. Over 1,800 families have accessed water and sanitation services since May 2014 when the project began.

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Housing support services (HSS)

The HSS project aims to increase resources available to low-income families, making it easier for them to obtain and develop decent housing, through the provision of microfinance loans and construction technical assistance. The project is being implemented in partnership with a Microfinance Institution. The partner offers loans to clients while Habitat Malawi provides technical advice. The project intends to assist 24,000 clients with housing support services by June 2018. To date, over 16,000 clients have benefited from this program across Malawi

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Ophans and vulnerable groups (OVG)

The OVG program started in 2009 and to date, Habitat Malawi has constructed over 300 houses for the vulnerable families. The project intends to improve the living conditions for 450 OVG families and reduce their vulnerability by June 2018. In FY16 alone, 86 families were serves with decent housing. The services include: Improved housing: Two, three or four-room houses for vulnerable families including a ventilated improved pit-latrine to improve sanitation and hygiene. Malaria prevention training: Three insecticide-treated mosquito nets are provided per family. Families are also trained in good sanitation and hygiene practices to prevent diseases, including malaria. HIV prevention training: The training is aimed at preventing new infections arising from sexual exploitation, especially of the girls and caregivers. Vocational skills training: Provided to older children, especially those who dropped out from school. The package includes provision of tools and equipment, like carpentry or sewing machines. Property and inheritance rights training: Aiming to protect orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) from property grabbing, the training is offered to OVC caregivers and gate keepers.

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Who We Are

Habitat for Humanity Malawi is affiliated to Habitat for Humanity International, which originated in Georgia, the United States of America in 1976. Habitat for Humanity Malawi was established in 1986 and is one of more than 70 international Habitat for Humanity offices. Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity Malawi seeks to provide shelter as one way of eliminating poverty and improving the lives of orphans and other groups of people; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to improve the sanitation status and well-being of residents of informal settlements; and Disaster Risk Reduction and Response to improve access to better and safer shelter for families living in areas prone to disasters. Since its establishment in Malawi in 1986, Habitat for Humanity Malawi has reached out to over 133, 598 people with access to decent disaster resilient housing: over 70,000 people with access to improved water sanitation and hygiene. Our Vision A Malawi where everyone has a decent place to live. Our Mission Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings together people to build Homes, Communities and Hope. MISSION PRINCIPLES Demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ Focus on shelter Advocate for affordable housing Promote dignity and hope Support sustainable and transformational development. Our beliefs: We believe that: 1. Every one of us deserves the opportunity for a better future 2. Land lies at the foundation of life. Without secure land, there can be no secure housing, and housing is the to stability and opportunity. 3. A decent place to live can remove barriers to opportunity, health and success that might have been part of the family’s life to years and in many cases for generations.

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