Jiko cares for seven brothers and sisters

Jiko Mchunu was in her early teens when her father died, in 1993 from AIDS-related illnesses. Her mother died in 1998 from the same cause. Since then, Jiko has cared for her seven brothers and sisters. She worked for the local public works department on a road project which pays just R370 per month (around £30) on which the whole family had to live.

Jiko and her family lived in a mud and wood shack which was only just standing. The walls were crumbling and the floor, which was full of ruts, became a pool each time it rained. Nobody slept when the weather was bad. There was no furniture, no lock on the door for security, and hardly any possessions. Any water that they used had to be collected by Jiko from the river some distance away.

The family were discovered by Habitat for Humanity South Africa, and became the first family to be housed through the KwaXimba AIDS Project. Local and overseas volunteers came together to build the orphans a home. Now the children have a proper roof over their heads, bedrooms in which they can study and sleep soundly at night, their first-ever bathroom, a solid floor and glazed windows to keep out the elements. The house has given them a refuge; it is theirs for as long as they want it, and suddenly life is not such a struggle.

A global housing charity founded on Christian principles, Habitat for Humanity aims to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world. Since 1976, Habitat has enabled 225,000 homes to be built in 92 countries, providing more than 1 million people with safe, decent, affordable shelter. The last 100,000 homes were built in just five years. A Habitat for Humanity house is built around the globe once every 21 minutes.

Habitat for Humanity mobilizes thousands of volunteers every year to build alongside those who will live in the house. The home partner families pay for their home through a low cost, non-profit mortgage that recycles back into the community to sustain the local organisation and helps build more houses.

In communities, a local committee is formed and selects families who are living in poverty or are homeless; have a regular income (even if it's only small) and are prepared to pay back the cost of building materials over time (at no profit); and are prepared to work for up to 500 hours on their new home ('sweat equity'). This also helps to build communities, as homepartners work on both their own homes and those of their neighbours.

Houses are designed by local professionals to specific criteria and must be:

• Simple: modest in size to keep costs low, but large enough for the family's needs
• Appropriate: simple enough for volunteers to build, with designs reflecting local climate and culture
• Decent: using quality building materials from local sources wherever possible
• Cost-effective: volunteers build, under professional supervision. No profit is made on the cost of materials.

Jiko’s story. Habitat for Humanity UK is part of the international organization Habitat for Humanity International, which is active in 19 countries of Europe and Central Asia, from its regional headquarters in Budapest, Hungary. The pictures of Jiko and her family (their mud hut, top left, and in front of their new house, bottom right) come from the website.

For other stories about homelessness and the homeless, see:

Canadian website brings gifts to city's homeless

Young girl's Ladybug Foundation brings hope, support to Canada's homeless

Shining shoes in London offers escape from homelessness

Childrens' bank turns street children into entrepreneurs

Homeless World Cup changes lives, attitudes about homelessness

Women 'light the dark' for their families and communities

Irish volunteers build brick houses for homeless South Africans