Tarikwas Temporary House
The impact of mossy foot disease is far wider than the health issue that presents such a visible need. Hundreds of women have been abandoned by their husbands as a result of the stigma associated with this disease, leaving them with no means to live and support themselves and their children.
Due to a generous donation from one of our partners, scores of homes have been built for those in need of housing. Mossy Foot Project partners with the local community and local churches in these projects. The community provides labor and supplies such as brick and mud, while Mossy Foot Project provides the more difficult to obtain roofing, nails, doors, and windows.
Tarikwa’s Story
Tarikwas Feet
Tarikwa Doda is a 30 year-old woman with three children. Twelve years ago her feet began to swell because of mossy foot disease. Unable to deal with her condition, her husband abandoned Tarikwa and the children to marry another woman. Later, her son ran away because his mother could not provide for him. Tarikwa waited for God to help her. One day a Mossy Foot worker saw her and brought her to the local Mossy Foot clinic where she is now receiving treatment and beginning to see improvement.
For 12 years, Tarikwa lived in the dilapidated cottage that she moved into when she first got married. She often feared it would fall down on her and the children. During a very hard rain one day, the house did collapse. Fortunately, the family was able to escape in time.
Tarikwas Collapsed Old House
For a while, Tarikwa and her children lived with some neighbors. Then, using poles from the collapsed house, the neighbors built her a shelter that was even worse than her original cottage. She could see the moon and stars through the holes at night. When it rained she had to just sit and get wet. Sometimes she thought about ending her life.
When the Mossy Foot workers talked to Tarikwa’s neighbors, they decided to build a better house for her. The Mossy Foot Project provided the nails, roof, door, and window. Some local churches provided the labor, poles and mud plaster. Tarikwa and her children are now living in their brand new house. She farms her small piece of land and they are raising corn to supply for their own needs and to sell.
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- Construction is starting
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- Tarikway’s Finished House
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- A family has a home!