About 18 months ago, HIPPO built a house for a lady who was in great need.  We did a story about her and called it “The Lady in the Box”.   Maria’s neighbours actually called her that because her house was a box, so tiny and made up of discarded pieces of wood.   She was in a bad situation, forced by circumstance to do terrible things to survive.  We relocated her to some land outside of the slum that her brother-in-law, Joseph was kind enough to donate.   Here she could begin to grow some food for her and her children and have a safe place to raise them.   I was so impressed by Joseph’s generosity, that we also built him a house on the same land because his house, where he took care of 5 grandchildren, was falling down. 

On this trip, I decided to check in on Mama Maria to see how she was doing.  I was a little apprehensive on the drive over, as you never know what you might find.   Would this be a good story?  Or would this one break my heart?  Well the answer is…..both.

Mama Maria is doing quite well.  She has planted banana trees and other small crops to feed her family.   She gathers food such as papayas that grow on the property as well as greens and vegetables.  The sad part is that Joseph has passed away.  Now Mama Maria looks after the 5 children as well as her own.  I guess it was in God’s plan for us to build that house for him as now his grandkids are safe, sheltered and have a relative on the property to care for them. 

Maria’s daughter attends our school and her son Patrick will begin Top Class (Kindergarten) at the start of the new school year in February. 

Please click on the youtube link to see Maria and Josephs houses under construction with some added update pictures at the end.   Joseph is the tall man waving goodbye near the end.