In the early years of Lola Haydee Acosta, she dreamed to have a beautiful house once she settled down. At the age of 18 years old she got married and got pregnant at the age of 19 years old. She got seven (7) children- four (4) boys and three (3) girls. At the age of 28 years old, her husband died and oblige to face the challenges of life alone. Living alone as the breadwinner of the family. She worked as a helper of a dried fish maker and when the fish is scarce for dried fish she vending fish in the adjacent Barangays of Bagumbayan just to make both ends meet. She tried her very best to send her children to school but because of poverty only two of her children finished high school and her five children are undergraduate of elementary. Her four children died in their mid-30s.

HAPI Homes’ Recipient, Lola Haydee now is in her late 70s and too weak to make her dreams possible. She thought she was hopeless, helpless, and powerless. It is very clear to her that her dream of having a beautiful house will never come true. But after the interview, she was surprised to hear that EEGCI in partnership with HAPI Homes International will build her a decent climate change resilient shelter to improve her living conditions. Lola Haydee was teary-eyed when she heard the good news. She never expected that her dream will become a reality. On February 4, 2018, HAPI Homes Executive Director,  Mr. Alvin Ballares,  turned  Marissa Torres Langseth’s (HAPI Founder and Philanthropist) personal donation to EEGCI Organization. The amount of P5, 000.00 as the counterpart of HAPI Homes to buy materials for the said shelter. On the same day, EEGCI Carpenters volunteer build the new shelter of Lola Haydee.

“One Last shot of the old house”
Happiness is very evident on the face of Lola Haydee as well as on the faces of EEGCI CDOs.

After the turnover of the decent shelter, Lola Haydee is very thankful to God that he heard her prayers. She never expected that she would be able to rest her fragile body in a comfortable and decent shelter. She said that she is now free from any worries, her body could no longer experience cold, she doesn’t have to be awakened every time that there is rain, and most of all she can now sleep soundly and safely together with her three Grandchildren.

Before we leave, Lola Haydee never forgets to say thank you to EEGCI and HAPI Homes for the good deeds. She said that she will not forget the help that we provided to her and her family she added, she will continue praying for the safety of all volunteers so that we would be able to help less privileged.
Conclusion:

If we cared enough to our less privileged brothers and sisters, it is proven that volunteerism is the very good tool in combating poverty. Through this Build a decent climate change resilient shelter for the homeless project in partnership with HAPI HOMES more families could be saved from a catastrophe, improve their living conditions and bring back their long-lost dignity.

In the case of Lola Haydee Acosta, never too late to have a decent shelter as long as EEGCI and HAPI Homes are there to take care of her. She is now living in a comfortable shelter and could rest her aging aching body during night time.

Name of Beneficiary: Mrs. Haydee Acosta

Age: 76 years old

Address: Brgy. Bagumbayan. Valladolid, Negros Occidental

Occupation: Fish vending, helper, dried fish maker

Dependents: 3 grandchildren

Status: Widow for 48 years

Number of Children: 7 children

Article Author

Arturo Alvarez
HAPI Bacolod Member
HAPI-Green Movement Director
EEGCI Chairman