“I
am
overjoyed
by
this
new
home.
Now,
for
the
first
time
in
years,
my
son
can
sleep
indoors.
The
relief
I
feel
is
indescribable.”
Mwaedza’s
new
house
was
built
as
part
of
a
CARE
project,
launched
in
January
2024.
Strengthen
Shelter
Preparedness
and
Response
pilot
project,
funded
by
the
Volant
Charitable
Trust,
aims
to
strengthen
national
shelter
preparedness
and
response,
with
a
particular
focus
on
the
disaster-prone
province
of
Manicaland.
“In
partnership
with
the
government,
we
identified
a
gap
in
Zimbabwe’s
disaster
preparedness
strategy,
especially
regarding
shelter
response.
CARE
and
the
Government
of
Zimbabwe
identified
an
opportunity
to
improve
how
people
like
Mwaedza
can
have
better
shelter,”
says
Walter
Mwasaa,
CARE
Zimbabwe
Interim
Country
Director.
This
led
to
the
launch
of
the
project
that
involved
community
members
in
designing
housing
prototypes
that
could
provide
quick,
temporary
shelter
in
times
of
crisis.
As
Mwaedza
reflects
on
the
transformation
her
family
has
experienced,
she
is
filled
with
hope.
“I
would
walk
inside
the
new
house
while
it
was
being
built
and
just
wonder
if
this
was
really
happening
to
me.
It’s
better
to
work
hard
and
search
for
food
while
living
in
a
decent
house.
The
stress
of
the
old
place
was
overwhelming,
but
now,
I
feel
like
I
can
breathe
again.”
With
her
new
home
complete,
Mwaedza
is
preparing
for
the
upcoming
rainy
season
with
renewed
confidence.
“The
rainy
season
is
starting,
but
this
year
will
be
different.
I
no
longer
have
to
fear
the
storms,”
she
says,
her
eyes
shining
with
optimism.