Photo: from a degraded house made of dry leaves (upper), Mr. Danh Den can now share a decent sturdy home (lower) with his family members. 

Seven members of Mr. Den’s extended family used to live in a shelter made of leaves and tiles. Even when his grandchildren started working, they could not afford to improve their housing situation.

Likewise, Mr. Con and his wife have spent their entire lives in a leaf-thatched house while sharing a fish-pond toilet with their children and grandchildren.

According to Kien Giang’s official 2009 statistics, more than 22,000 families in the province live in substandard housing and lack adequate sanitation.  The most urgent housing needs recorded in the province are the renovation of toilets, walls, foundations and roofs.  

Holcim Vietnam Ltd. generously donated to HFHV as a part of their overall funding strategy for 2009. The fund was used to build houses for two families in Kien Luong district, Kien Giang province. Within 3-4 months, thanks to nearly 30 volunteers from Holcim Vietnam, together with Habitat staff, local skilled laborers and neighbors, the families of Mr. Den and Mr. Con have each received a brand new house made of durable materials.

Through the funding from Holcim Vietnam, other families in Kien Giang who are suffering from deplorable living conditions will also have a chance to rebuild their houses in the near future.