What a privilege

What a privilege it has been these last two days, sharing the joy with the new house owners and with their village communities. Mrs Blue Gum and Mrs Khaka were each chosen by their local communities to be worth beneficiaries for a new house. They are both total characters, full of life in spite of age related frailties.

Each handover ceremony began with a beautiful mass, celebrated by Fr Bernard, with lots of singing and dancing, held just outside of their new homes, to which Chiefs, Village Leaderslocal people attended.

After Mass there was the official cutting of the ribbon and blessing of the house followed by a lovely meal cooked by village members.

As well as getting a house they each received a colourful crochet blanket and a suitcase (aka chest of drawers). One of the ladies, absolutely delighted with her suitcase on wheels said it was the first time ever she had owned one.

Each handover was an extremely happy event with people of all ages jubilant for the lady recipients. The chief in one village said “it is not just a gift to the lady but also to the whole village as over the years they have done their very best to keep her previous house intact, from filling in mortar to cutting grasses to place on her roof, The villagers are delighted with her new home”

N4BW thanks donors for making the build possible and Fr Bernard who acted as Project Manager, liaising with the community, the suppliers and the builders