26. Jun 2015
Keushkerian Family, Bourj Hammoud, Beirut, Lebanon.
STORY
It is a family of four: a father, a mother, a teenage boy and a grandmother.
The father sells coffee for a living, using a very old coffee machine on the street corner of his house in Bourj Hammoud. He earns a maximum of 15,000LBP per day, and has to pay for the material (coffee, water, plastic cups, sugar, etc.) which amount to 10,000LBP per day. He suffers from diabetes and gangrenes in his legs and had to amputate his toes. He is currently suffering from many infections and has no means to pay for his medicines, which cost 200,000LBP each month.
The mother found a job two months ago as a cleaning lady in a school. She earns 400USD per month.
The boy, 12 years old, is a student in a semi-private school. He needs tutoring classes.
The grandmother is suffering from hypertension and osteoporosis and needs chronic medicines. The family is unable to ensure all those needs.
HOUSE CONDITIONS The family’s rundown house is located in a very popular street in Bourj Hammoud. It is an old construction which has not been renovated since the grandma was a young girl.
The house is composed of the following:
- A tiny living room on the street level, which lets wind and water enter the house in the winter. The grandma, the mother and the boy also use this room as their bedroom.
- A bedroom, with a broken double bed where the father sleeps, and a broken closet.
- A rundown kitchen with a sink and counter so old they could crumble at any point.
- A very old toilet, a sink that can also crumble at any point, and a damaged water heater without shower.
- The rooftop infiltrates water during winter.
- The wall painting is falling apart, all windows are old and broken, and the main door is cracked.
- Electric cables are dangling all around the house, and spark off whenever rain comes in.
The insalubrities of the place present a serious health and security danger for the whole family.
Because of the living conditions, the family members are depressed and without ambition. There is no place for the family to gather for a meal, and no space for the boy to study.
Providing better living conditions for this family would transform their life.
BASSMA MAKEOVER
Living room makeover includes:
Electrical installation, walls and main door painting, 2 sofa beds (for the grandmother & for the mom), 1 closet, 3 tables, 1 desk & 2 chairs, 2 aluminum windows, curtains for 2 windows, 1 carpet, lighting items, decorative items, paintings and photo frames, 1 electrical fan.
Toilet makeover includes:
Plumbing, water heater, electrical installation, ceiling painting, new sink, new toilet cabinet, washbasin, shower head, toilet accessorizes and toiletry, towels & floor carpets, sanitary items (soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpastes, wipes, etc.)
Kitchen makeover includes:
Plumbing, electrical installation, ceiling painting, new sink, new closets, towels, dinner table with 4 chairs, gas stove, lighting items, kitchenware, cookware, food & hygienic products.
Bedroom makeover includes:
Electrical installation, walls painting, window reparation and new glass, one bunk bed, 2 mattresses, 1 carpet, painting, 1 closet, one mirror, one bedside chair, bed linen & bed covers, lighting items, bedside table, electrical fan, new clothes.
THANK YOU SPONSORS & DONORS
Thank you Geahchan sanitary for the entire plumbery materials donation.
Thank you Exactos for the entire painting materials!
Thank you Tapirama for offering two carpets!
Thank you Grand Hills for offering the furniture!
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped BASSMA in this project.
View Making Of photos
View Before/After photos
View Movie House Renovation 2015