This sweet woman is named Mariana. Mariana is about 4'10" and the mother of 9 children. Mariana also takes care of her elderly mother, Maria Luisa. Mariana's home is almost like visiting a setting from Lord of the Rings. It is hard to describe but it is located up a small embankment in the bordo around a very large mahogany tree. Her house has a very uneven floor because of the large roots around the tree. Because it is located up the embankment it almost feels like you are in a tree house.
Mariana is by far the worst off of all of our Makers. We recently took some video of her home and her circumstances are desperate. She and 5 of her daughters live in one room. In the video also got cut off so you can't see the tiny lean to that is behind us in the end that she uses a tarp to shield two parentless children she has taken in, a lot like many of us would take in lost dogs. I’m overwhelmed with the need.
Mariana’s husband was caught in a cross fire gang fight and shot in the face. The bullet went in one cheek and out the other, just causing a flesh wound. They felt grateful it wasn’t fatal but because of mistreatment of the wound by not seeking the right medical care it festered and infected and he died two weeks later. I know this is a lot of information to take in and process but it’s real. She’s a person and seriously malnourished because she is doing her best keeping 5 daughters and 2 homeless children fed. I know we can do more for her. Please consider a donation today so we can get more cement, bunk beds and mattresses, stove, more roofing materials delivered as soon as possible so our volunteers on the ground can build her a safer home.
Update**
We have been able to make some improvements to Mariana's home and continue to do so. Her project to fix her house is a long process that we have to do slowly as to not attract attention from the gangs or rivalry from others. We have fixed her sleeping quarters with new walls, roof and cement. We have also purchased new beds and mattresses and we are now focusing on her kitchen doing the same thing. It will be awhile until all of Mariana's needs are met but if they are any extra funds will be used for other Makers like Mariana.