The “The Ladies' pavilion” project aimed to participate in the reconstruction and renovation of widows' homes to provide them with decent housing, protect their children, and give them hope for a better future. The Daughters of Charity of the “Maison Divine Providence” could only finance the work of the masons and certain building materials.

The project was carried out in three stages. The sisters supervised the work and the beneficiaries participated in it.

First step 
The families were made aware of the project and applied for permission to rebuild their homes.

Second step
The work began with the manufacture of bricks and the demolition of Anastasia's house, which was on the verge of collapse. After demolishing it, the ground on which the new house was to be rebuilt had to be excavated. Then the materials arrived: sand, cement, stones, nails, sheet metal, frames, etc.

Third step
The construction of the foundations began, followed by the walls, roof, and flooring. Finally, the walls were plastered, and the work was completed with the installation of doors and windows.

"We encountered difficulties. As the beneficiaries live close to the city, there were problems finding certain things that are not easily available there. For example, we had to fetch water from very far away from their homes, and sometimes there was a shortage of water. Wood and planks are expensive, and we had to travel very far into the hills to fetch them and bring them back. We put a lot of energy and courage into this work. But everything turned out well, thanks to God and to you who gave us what we needed so that nothing was lacking!" Sr. Josiane

The house belonging to Beatrice and her two children has been repaired.

Anastasie's house has been rebuilt. Anastasie is a poor 60-year-old widow. She lives with her son and three children who have been rejected by their mothers: two girls and a mentally ill boy. They all lived together with goats and pigs in a small house full of holes that was in danger of collapsing on top of them. During the rainy season, they struggled to protect themselves. They also suffered from the cold and were exposed to diseases such as pneumonia and malaria because of the rainwater that stagnated inside the house. As a result, Anastasie was always worried and couldn't work very far away: feeding and supporting her family was very difficult.

The aid received also enabled the construction of a house for another woman, Francine, an elderly widow suffering from HIV/AIDS, who had been rejected by her family and thrown out of the family home.

Francine had returned to live with her parents, who died after her return. Her brothers and sisters wanted to share the inheritance, including the house in which she was living: they took her out of her parents' house so that it could be divided up. Desperate, Francine was welcomed into the community 10 km away. The sisters then rented accommodation for her. As part of the project, the sisters decided to find her a decent place to live. Now, with tears of joy, Francine thanks the sisters and benefactors who showed her compassion, while her own brothers and sisters rejected her, with all her heart.

« Les familles sont émerveillées, la joie est immense, elles ont retrouvé de l’espoir pour leur avenir. Ils sont très épanouis car ils sont tous dans des maisons propres et dignes, ils ont une pièce où dormir alors qu’avant certains vivaient dans la même chambre avec le petit bétail. Ils n’ont plus de maladies causées par la saleté, la pluie et le froid. Parfois même, dans ces maisons en ruines, on leur volait certaines choses ! Mais maintenant, les nouvelles maisons sont solides et bien fermées. 
En un seul mot, ces familles ont la sécurité et la paix du cœur. » Sr Josiane

"The families are amazed, the joy is immense, they have regained hope for their future. They are very happy because they all live in clean, decent houses and have a room to sleep in, whereas before some of them lived in the same room as their small livestock. They no longer suffer from diseases caused by dirt, rain, and cold. Sometimes, in these ruined houses, things were even stolen from them! But now, the new houses are solid and well secured. 
In a word, these families have security and peace of mind." Sr. Josiane

Project partners

Nîmes

Marseille - LPO