Moms Aid hands over fully equipped home to vulnerable family in L. Gan

A single mother and her three children have received a fully equipped modern home through the Hiyavahi (shelter) project by Moms Aid, after years of living in unsafe and unstable conditions in L. Gan.

Moms Aid said the new house was donated to Aminath Neenan, a mother of three who had been living in poverty in a deteriorated structure with no secure place to call home.

According to Moms Aid Director of Operations Zain Zareer, the organisation follows a detailed assessment process when selecting families for its annual shelter project. Priority is given to single parents, mothers with children under 18, families facing severe housing insecurity, and those affected by domestic violence.

Neenan was selected this year after the NGO verified that she had been living in abandoned houses with her children, with no permanent shelter and no alternative if she was asked to leave.

She said she had been renting a small space for MVR 2,500 since the birth of her youngest child, relying on the single‑parent allowance to cover rent. Feeding her children was often a struggle.

“There were days I didn’t eat for two or three days so I could give whatever little food I found to my children,” Neenan said tearfully. “It broke my heart when they said their stomach hurt from hunger.”

Zain said he first met the family in 2019 while providing medical assistance. After assessing their situation, Moms Aid added them to its long‑term care list and has been supporting them ever since.

Neenan said she did not initially know that the NGO planned to build a house for her.

“I remember Zai asking about my housing situation. When I heard they were trying to get me a home, I thought of the power of God,” she said. “I prayed Tahajjud every night for a safe place for my children, even for a time when I may no longer be here. That’s why I couldn’t hold back my tears when they laid the foundation.”

The foundation stone was laid on 27 June 2025, and after six months of work, the house was officially handed over to the family on 13 January 2026.

Moms Aid Exclusive Director Fathimath Riyasha said the shelter project is conducted annually to support one vulnerable family from their care list. To date, the NGO has renovated 27 homes and built seven new houses, including Neenan’s.

Moms Aid said the transformation in Neenan’s living conditions was made possible through the generosity and cooperation of donors and supporters. The NGO expressed hope that the public will continue to extend their support to help more families in need.