First Phase of Great Love Housing Project
in El Salvador Completed
Reported by Tseng Chia-hung, El Salvador
(Translated by Stanley Peng,
Northern California)
The first phase of the Great Love housing
project in El Salvador has been completed. After a simple
ceremony, 119 household residents joyfully moved into their
new homes. Following the move, volunteers visited and interviewed
the residents for their feedback on the new houses. Some cannot
wait to start preparing their first meals.
To the El Salvador Great Love housing residents,
that day was their dream came true. After waiting nearly half
a year, the 119 disaster victims were finally able to top
living as refugees and live in real houses. Their gratitude
touched the Tzu Chi volunteers. "Seeing the happy faces
of these people, we deeply hope that they can have a chance
to rebuild their homes, stand up again on this land and live
normally with family and jobs," said Tzu Chi volunteer
Tseng Chia-hung.
People thought it a little unreal when they
first opened the doors to their houses. They stood outside
for a while without daring to enter. The houses are not very
big, but they are more than enough to keep out the wind and
rain. Inside there are beds, furniture, and all the coziness
of a home. The residents' delight gave volunteers the utmost
encouragement and assurance. One woman could not wait to go
into the kitchen to prepare her first meal in the new house.
Seeing the smiles on the villagers' faces, volunteers acknowledged
that the joy of owning a new home had gradually alleviated
the pain from the earthquake.
