My Story

In October 2020 myself and 17 other employees from Lloyd’s and the London market will be heading out to Malawi with the charity Habitat for Humanity.

They build houses for orphans and vulnerable people who are desperately in need.

In Malawi, poverty is prevalent and about four out of five families live in substandard homes. They have little hope of ever being able to afford a decent house.

A typical village hut is built of mud bricks with a dirt floor and grass-thatched roof, which requires frequent repairs. These conditions put the families at high risk of all kinds of diseases with leaky roofs making the house damp and mud floors attracting insects.

There are about 1.5 million orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi out of a population of 18.57 million.

21,000 new units are needed every year for the next 10 years to meet housing demand – this far exceeds supply.

The team and I will work with local builders and organisations to complete the build with volunteers coming from all over the world to help.

I volunteered for this program as I want to be part of the positive change that habitat for humanity are having on so many small and vulnerable communities such as Mulanje.

By constructing well sheltered, secured homes it not only opens up more opportunities for young children and carers, such as being able to go to work without leaving their possessions.

It also removes so many of the risks and health worries they would currently be dealing with.

To do this I need to raise £2000 towards this trip and more of the great work that habitat for humanity does every year and towards their many projects in Malawi and elsewhere in the world.

If you could possibly donate towards this incredible cause I would really appreciate any help you could give.

Thank you all and best wishes,

Ellie