A house for the Rosales family

06. February 2018

Edelweiss members are helping disadvantaged people in Costa Rica

35 plasterboards, 20 roof panels, 120 tiles, 1000 nails, 200 screws, three windows, two doors, eight buckets of paint, 25 brushes, 20 rollers. This is what the brand new house of the Rosales family of nine from San José in Costa Rica is made of. It was built by 24 Edelweiss members together with five additional Lufthansa employees from Panama. The 16000 US dollars it cost to build the house was covered by help alliance.

Giving the future a new home – this is the idea behind the “Homes of Hope” project. Because for the Morales couple and their seven children between the ages of one and 16, having a proper roof over their heads promises a better life:

  • Economically: Having a debt-free home allows the families to take better care of their children. And the money that they save can be invested in education.
  • Education: Statistically, children without a permanent home go to school less often.
  • Health: Living in a proper home significantly improves the family’s health.
  • Social & emotional: A permanent home leads to stability and confidence within the family. Their lifestyle and the decisions they make are then more likely to benefit them in the future.

Edelweiss wants to meet its social responsibility as a company through this local commitment. The organisation’s members get actively involved and fill the project with life. The cooperation partner help alliance, the aid organisation of the Lufthansa Group, supports them.

The house was built in only two days. To prepare for the building work, the family had to vacate the building site and lay the foundation. On the morning of 20 January, the Edelweiss volunteers joined them. On the first day, they made a wooden construction and installed drywalls on it together with six experienced craftsmen. They also celebrated a topping-out ceremony.

On the second day, they painted the walls and covered the roof with shingles.

They also laid the electricity cables and connected the pipes in the bathroom. Finally, the house was furnished with beds, tables, chairs and a stove. The Edelweiss helpers had also been busy collecting things and handed over clothes and shoes for the parents and toys for the children. And of course the kids were given some Edelweiss model aircrafts and cuddly toys to remember the team. On Sunday afternoon, the house was handed over to the overjoyed Morales family.

Homes of Hope  

This is the 178th house built by Homes of Hope in Costa Rica. The organisation selects the families. This is based on criteria such as number of children under the age of 18, an income of less than 100 USD per week or their current living situation. However, the family must own the land on which the house is to be built or be able to buy it. The Homes of Hope organisation has been represented in Costa Rica since 2009. Help alliance has already worked with Homes of Hope in Panama.