A new house, a new hope

October 4th marked an anniversary Silvia and her family will not soon forget.

Last year, around noon, the winds whipped up in their neighborhood in Cañete, Peru. Silvia was outside doing some chores, two of her children were playing nearby, and her other four children were at school.

“Suddenly, an unexpected spark changed everything,” says Sister Ana María, Cañete site director. They had solar panels on their home, their only power source in an off-the-grid neighbourhood. A panel overheated and burst into flames.

Like many families, Silvia cooks with firewood, and had dry kindling stacked just inside the house. “That firewood quickly fueled the flames, and in just minutes the fire destroyed everything,” says Sister Ana María. Their wood and plastic home crumpled in less than half an hour.

“Silvia and her family had lost absolutely everything,” she says. “Their home, their clothes, their food, and even their children’s school supplies. But in the midst of the pain came hope.”

As soon as the Cañete team heard the news, they launched into action. They sent word to Chalice, requesting support through the critical needs program. Thanks to donors’ swift generosity, Silvia and her family were soon moving into a new house.

“A firm, simple structure, but filled with dignity,” says Sister Ana María.

“Now my children no longer have to sleep on cardboard,” says Silvia. With tears in her eyes, she added, “thank you Chalice for giving me back my home.”