Q&A
1. Tell us more about the “House Renovation” project
BASSMA works throughout the year to renovate the rundown homes of deprived families and elderly people, making sure that they become healthy places to live in. The unhealthy conditions of the place present a serious health and security danger for the whole family. Due to these living conditions, the family members are depressed and without energy. There is no place for them to gather for a meal, and no space for the children to sleep or study. Providing better living conditions for this family would transform their life.
It includes the following services:
– Rebuild of the basic infrastructure
– Reparations and Restorations
– Painting, cleaning, and pesticides
– Refurbishments, from carpets and couches to household appliances, and other necessary equipment
– Payment of Rent, Electricity and Water Bills
2. Based on what do you choose the families?
After an on-ground research conducted in very poor areas, we select one house in bad conditions and fully renovate it after studying the family’s socio-economic situation.
3. Who did you choose this year?
We chose this year the Hasrouti family.
It is a family of seven: a father, a mother, and five babies: one boy and four girls.
The father sells coffee for a living, using a very old coffee machine on the street corner of his house in Nabaa, selling the coffee cup at 500 LBP. He also works from time to time as a plumber. He earns a maximum of 15,000 LBP per day, therefore, the family is unable to meet their needs.
The family lives in an old ground-floor run-down house in Nabaa, in very precarious conditions, especially due to the building’s waste water running down to the garden and into the house.
The house consists of two rooms: a kitchen and a bedroom/living room.
– You enter the house from the so-called kitchen which simply consists of a sink and a damaged counter which threatens to crumble at any time. A small embedded closet is used to store the kitchen items.
– The toilet is built outside in the garden at the other end of the “kitchen”: it has no sink, a damaged toilet, and a nylon cover serving as a rooftop instead of a proper rooftop and a window or a fan for aeration.
The second room serves both as a living room and a bedroom for the 6 family members. It includes 2 broken sofas and 2 broken closets. The father, mother and 4 children all sleep on these two sofas. In addition, they live in unhealthy house conditions:
The building’s waste water is flooding the ground-floor apartment, the rooftop infiltrates water during winter, the wall painting is falling apart, the windows are old and broken, the main door is cracked and electric cables are hanging all over the house, and spark off whenever rain comes in.
4. How do you finance your project?
The main sponsor for the project 2016 is Banque de L’Habitat who grants long term Housing loans to all Lebanese citizens whether resident or not. We also count on the donations of generous people and companies for offering donations in-kind of furniture and other construction material.
5. Who helps you execute the job? Who are the volunteers?
Dedicated and kind-hearted people such as students, employees, businessmen, volunteering to build a better community.
6. What is the ultimate purpose of this mission?
The House renovation project is an important component of BASSMA’s family rehabilitation program, since it guarantees security and safety for a stable family life. After all, every person has the right to live in decency and in healthy conditions.
7. If someone wishes to help, what are the means?
You can participate in BASSMA’s house renovation program through Volunteering or Donations. We are counting on your generous contributions to transform the life of a family in need: financial or in-kind donations.
For online donation please visit our website http://www.bassma.org/DonateNow
Or contact us at 01-393077 / 03-068519, Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 3pm.