The right to adequate shelter is a basic human need, encompassing affordable housing that meets requirements for security, structural stability, durability, and protection from inclement weather. Climate change effects have particularly affected women and children through severe floods that have destroyed homes, leaving many homeless.
Unfortunately, in most rural areas of Malawi, poverty forces people to live in slums despite challenging weather conditions. Without proper shelter, elderly women and children struggle to manage the effects of diseases like AIDS and natural disasters including floods and drought. These challenges prevent affected families from providing basic needs for their children.
Mai Aisha Trust, with support from Ummah Welfare Trust (a UK-based charity organization), has built 30 houses in Namakango village (Katema Area) in Mangochi for widows, the elderly, and the poor.
How the situation has improved in targeted areas:
- Beneficiaries have been relieved from hardship, now living in decent homes that don’t leak during rain
If other well-wishers emulate this initiative, they can help build capacity for sustained house-building efforts.
