Foundation completed by Sheeja & Vijayakumar

Sheeja's house construction is fast progressing

This is the foundation for the Fuller home being built for the family of Sheeja, a housewife, and Vijayakumar, an autorickshaw driver, living in a poorly thatched one-room shed. The couple have a school-going daughter. They had saved some money before they were selected for the Fuller Center's assistance. The family earns income enough to repay the interest-free loan provided by the Center. The house is expected to be complete by the end of May 2012.

The First HOMEOWNERS' MEET

A view of the gathering including the Board A homeowner receiving the Christmas gift
The high tea hosted by the vice chair

Another view of the homewonwers and the Board

The Trivandrum Fuller Center for Housing held its first Homeowners Meet on December 20, 2011. All but two of the homeowners attended the meeting which was also called to greet the families on account of the ensuing Christmas. The occasion was joyous as each had received a gift for 100% regular repayment. The Board members had a high tea with the families. The chairman, in his address alluded to the great vision of Millard Fuller and thanked all the homeowners for their presence and participation. He called upon them to continue their cooperation with the Center so that more and more homeless brethren could be sheltered in the days ahead.

Two New Families Considered for Assistance

The existing house of Shibu (a carpenter) and his family.

The house of Vijayakumar (an autorickshaw driver) and his family.

(Both these selected families live about 30 km from the TFCH)

THREE HOUSES DEDICATED TODAY, OCTOBER 20, 2011 ON ACCOUNT OF MFLB 2011

The Fuller Home of Sheeba and Family

Sheeba and her family consisting of her husband, her only daughter and her parents were living in a substandard asbestos-roofed unhealthy house built about 50 years ago. The family had a small plot of land on which the foundation alone had been erected with the meagre grant received from the local government. Sheeba has repayment capacity as she is working as a pharmaceutical agent while her husband Ambili Kumar as a camera assistant under a TV serial program producer. The family approched the Center for further housing assistance which the Center approved. The house was completed on time with the sweat equity rendered by the whole family, which now feel excited over a house of their own dedicated during the Millard Fuller Legacy Build -2011.

The Fuller Home of Soosan Rajam and Family

Susan Rajam is a grass widow with two school-going children. Deserted by her husband, she was living with her widowed ailing mother in an old tile-roofed house, occupied also by her brother's family. Susan is working as a temporary teacher in a local school now. The TFCH has helped her to build a modest house on her own small piece of land. This is one of the three houses the TFCH dedicated during the Millard Fuller Legacy Build 2011.

The Fuller Home of Saji and Family

Saji and Jini are a couple living with their small school-going children. They lived in a dilapidated house built more than 50 years ago. Saji, the head of the family, is an experienced carpenter who earns adequately for his family. The Board that inspected the family and its housing conditions felt convinced of the need and its repayment potential. The family had already procured some building materials. With the assistance received from the Center they built this Fuller home which was also dedicated during the MFLB - 2011.

Geethakumary's Fuller Home dedicated

Ms Geethakumary's family consists of her husband, who is a self-made Ayurvedic therapist, and their two children. While the daughter is working for a small salary in a private firm, the son has not started earning yet. The whole family was living in an old, tile-roofed, inadequate house belonging to a relative. With the dream for a home they had erected the foundation for a very modest house. Their efforts to secure a bank loan had already failed when she approached the Center. On a direct inquiry by the Center, their need was found genuine and their repayment capacity satisfactory. So the family was selected for the housing assistance. In four months the construction was complete. Thus the Fuller Home of Ms Geethakumary and her family was dedicated on April 19, 2011. Attending the ceremony, along with the members of the homeowner family, were TFCH Chairman Adv T H Lawrence, Vice Chairman Fr Mathew Thundathil, Secretary Mr K Johnson, Joint Secretary Mr B Beddyson and Board Member Mr N Vijayan besides the Chairman's wife Ms Jessie Lawrence and his granddaughter Megha Maria Lawrence as well as the TFCH Manager Mr T K Koshy. The photos below depict various stages of the function.

A view of the new Fuller Home

The Portrait of the Fullers being presented by the Chairman

The portrait being hung on the wall by the homeowner's husband

The first repayment being received by the Vice Chairman

Receipt for the first repayment being handed by the Joint Secretary

The Passbook being furnished by the Secretary

The Homeowner Family and the TFCH Board