An Update of Pyari's Home in Bangalore, India

The following was sent by Women Build in India as an update for the volunteers. I wanted to share this with all of you.
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Women Build is a program that allows women with means to assist women in need. It aligns the financial, labor intensive and motivational support of women who believe in equal opportunity for all with the drive to sustainably improve the lives of underserved women. Starting on March 8 2010, the International Women’s Day, Habitat for Humanity India held its first Women Build event in Bangalore. Over sixty one volunteers from around the world converged to work with the homeowners, their families and local professionals to construct simple, decent and affordable homes. The goal was to build 150 houses in the city and it has now been a year since the Women Build event begun. As a starting shot, fifteen houses were started in the area of Hedge Nagar, north of the city between March 8 – 17 in assistance with partnership organization BIRDS and further on, another thirty five have been completely finished or started in various areas over the city. The goal of this project is to enhance the dignity of women in the society and remove their fear of insecurity in shanty living conditions that makes them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Pyari’s story
Thirty-six year old Pyari works with making agarbathi’s. Her husband has an irregular daily wage job as a construction worker and together they have three children between age 12 and 19. Her husband is mentally disturbed and does not fend for there family. Before the new house was built they lived in a dilapidated hut. She says that it was a difficult time, the children were sick all the time and they had a hard time studying. The housing situation was so unhygienic and unsafe that the new house was a must. The biggest relief, she says regarding the help they got, is that Habitat gave them interest free loan. A private loan from elsewhere would have come with high interest rate, which would have meant that they would be in dept for the rest of their lives.

Pyari had spent her part of the saving for the house on her ailing husband. Through the initiatives of Bangalore Habitat Resource Centre, the Overseas Women’s Club contributed towards the roofing sheets of the house and plastering the internal walls.
With the support from Habitat for Humanity India, a year ago they began the construction of their new house together and since they moved in the children are healthier and they study better which makes Pyari happy. There was no safety in the old house and she says that she is most grateful for the contribution of the volunteers that came and helped with the construction.

Pyari’s dream was to get her oldest daughter married who worked in garment factory. But getting a suitable groom was not easy as they did not have a proper house, due to which they did not have any social status among the relatives and neighbors. Recently Pyari was able to find a suitable groom for her eldest daughter and got her married. Pyari is an example of how a proper shelter can change ones socio-economic status in Indian society. Pyari’s story is an inspiration for Habitat for Humanity India staff to walk the extra mile for those who are victims of poverty shelter and homelessness.

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Thank you all for supporting me during my Women Build trip. Your support is what gave Pyari and her family a roof over their head. So thank you!!!