MARIA FILOMENA: SMILING AT THE RAIN
María Filomena spent all her life looking for a place to live with her 4 children in Somoto, Nicaragua. A single mother without a formal job, she had no other option but to build an improvised shelter with black plastic covers. She and her children faced many difficult days in the makeshift home, including the impact of two consecutive category-4 hurricanes in 2020.
“THE WINDS KEPT GETTING STRONGER… THE WATER WASHED AWAY OUR BELONGINGS. I WAS VERY SCARED FOR MY CHILDREN AND COULD ONLY PRAY FOR THE RAIN TO STOP.”
— MARIA FILOMENA AGUILAR
According to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB 2019), Nicaragua has a 70% housing deficit, which is equivalent to a shortfall of 1.5 million homes, one of the highest in Central America. As a response, ANF works in partnership with local organizations and generous friends to provide dignified homes to vulnerable families like Maria Filomena's.
We met María Filomena the day she received her fully-equipped new house with two bedrooms, bathroom, furniture, eco stove, electricity and potable water. She was all smiles as she proudly welcomed us into her house.
“I CAN’T STOP SMILING! THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOUSE I HAVE EVER SEEN, I GET TO CALL HOME. LET IT RAIN! LET IT RAIN!
Today—with an adequate roof over her head—María Filomena is able to smile and welcome the rain.
May God bless Maria Filomena’s home and those who made her house construction a reality. With your help, we can truly transform lives and bring back smiles in Nicaragua.
If you want to join our mission of providing dignified housing to vulnerable families, please consider making a donation today.