Elderly Woman Gifted New Home by Hand in Hand Ministries

Today, another family in Belize celebrated moving into a brand-new home, thanks to the Hand in Hand Ministries Building for Change Program. This amazing initiative finds people who need better living conditions and, with the help of volunteers and sponsors, builds them new homes. This morning, senior citizen Ana Campus was all smiles as she received the keys to her new house. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us a heartwarming story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

This morning, sixty-nine-year-old Ana Campos received the keys to her brand-new home, a generous gift from Hand in Hand Ministries. She’s the five hundred and twenty second person to benefit from their Building for Change program. Ana shared her heartfelt gratitude for everyone who helped make her new home a reality.

 

Ana Campos, Homeowner 

“I am happy that I got a new house. Thank God. I appreciate and thank everyone who put in effort to help build this new house. Hand in Hand, everybody.”

 

The new house is in the Holy Emmanuel area, right on the same lot where Ana Campos’ old home stood. Her previous house wasn’t suitable for her, her husband, and their two young grandchildren, making this new home a much-needed improvement.

 

Ana Campos

“I am thankful because I used to struggle over there in that small house. And now that we got to a bigger space, we have more space to move around. I’m so thankful to the people who help me build the house.”

The project was funded by Hand in Hand Ministries’ long-time partners, Belize Bank. Chairman Filippo Alario shared that Belize Bank staff went above and beyond, contributing their own time and resources to make this donation possible.

 

Filippo Alario, Chairman, Belize Bank

“We are committed to continue doing this over the years. Our staff has been absolutely instrumental. About forty of our staff members have committed their personal and family time to come on a weekend with rain, there was sun, and they battled the weather and they completed this place for Ms. Campos, so we are extremely excited, very happy.”

Belize Bank has been a partner of Hand in Hand Ministry for over thirteen years., becoming the first corporate sponsors for them.

 

Filippo Alario

“Over the years, we’ve been building, I think, about fourteen houses. Today’s a very special day. We’re giving a house to a very needy family, the Sanacampos. She’s elderly. She has an extended family. They all live here. And for us to be able to give her a house that now she can turn into a home, it’s It is an absolute privilege and it fills our hearts with hope. And I think that is what a home is, right? It gives you dignity, it gives you hope. And that is what we want to give them.”

 

Construction on the house kicked off on Friday, and by Wednesday, it was all set for the family to move in. The new home boasts a bathroom, a kitchen, a cozy living area, and two bedrooms. Rashida Bethram, Director of the Building for Change Program, shared these exciting details.

 

Rashida Bethram, Director, Building For Change Program

“With Hand in Hand Ministries, we believe in giving families a hands up rather than a hands out. And the purpose of the program is to give them a start. So the house is basically a shell. With the partnership with the bank provided an upgrade to the home where they get interior painting, they get a ceiling, they get electricals, they get plumbing and they also receive aluminum windows for the nice fine touch. And the Belize bank has also decided this year to do a fine addition of a veranda to the home.”

 

This home is the twenty-second home built through the ministry just this year. All the teams are dedicated to assisting Belize’s underprivileged population and providing safe, comfortable homes that will last them years.

Britney Gordon for News Five.