A family of five in Mbeya has been given renewed hope after Tulia Trust launched the construction of a new house for Ms. Queen Andembwisye, whose home was destroyed by heavy rains and strong winds, leaving her and her dependants without safe shelter.
The intervention follows a directive from Tulia Ackson, the founder of Tulia Trust and Member of Parliament for Uyole, after the foundation assessed the family's living conditions and identified an urgent need for support.
Speaking during the handover of construction materials at Tonya Street in Ilomba Ward, Mbeya City, Tulia Trust Communications Representative Hady Kalinjila said the family had been facing severe hardship since the collapse of their house.
He noted that beyond the loss of shelter, the family has been struggling to meet basic needs, including food and education expenses.
Ms. Andembwisye, he said, survives on irregular casual jobs, making it difficult to support her household.
“Our assessment revealed that the family required immediate assistance. The mother has no stable source of income, while her children are still attending school. It became clear that a sustainable solution was needed to restore their dignity and security,” Kalinjila said.
He added that the foundation had already delivered key construction materials, including cement, sand, steel bars and bricks, enabling work on the new house to begin.
Ms. Andembwisye lives with her three school-going children and her mother-in-law. Their previous house had deteriorated significantly after being battered by persistent rains and strong winds.
The project is part of Tulia Trust’s community outreach initiative, Tulia Trust Mtaani Kwetu, which supports vulnerable families by providing decent housing and other forms of social assistance.
According to the foundation, dozens of families facing difficult living conditions have already benefited from the programme, which seeks to improve welfare and strengthen community resilience.
Local leaders welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention for a family that had exhausted its coping mechanisms following the disaster.
Tonya Street Chairperson Leonard Japhet said community leaders had been doing what they could to assist the family but lacked the resources required to address the housing challenge permanently.
“This support has come at the right time. The family has endured difficult circumstances for a long period, and this house will provide them with the safety and stability they desperately need,” he said.
Tonya Street Chief Japhet Ndele praised the foundation for extending assistance to vulnerable residents, saying the project reflects a commitment to addressing pressing social needs at the grassroots level.
Once completed, the new house is expected to provide a safe and dignified living environment for Ms. Andembwisye and her family, bringing an end to months of uncertainty and restoring hope for a more secure future.
