Celebrating Mother’s Day Building Homes with Habitat for Humanity

May 08, 2008

Media Advisory: Kalisa/Uwamahoro Family Groundbreaking Celebration
Saturday, May 10, 11:30 a.m.
10 Kanazawa Circle, Twin Oaks, Madison
Contact: Cheryl McCollum, cmccollum@habitatdane.org, 658-8158 (cell)

Local Women Build Coincides with National Women Build Week
(MADISON, WI) – Habitat for Humanity of Dane County will celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend by holding a groundbreaking ceremony for a local Women Build project.  This summer and fall, local women volunteers will be swinging hammers and pounding nails and will be the main builders of the home.

Lowe’s Home Improvement is providing a $5,000 grant for the project and is a sponsor for National Women Build Week, May 4-10. The main sponsor of the home is Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Habitat for Humanity of Dane County will build the home with the Evariste Kalisa and Clementine Uwamahoro family. Evariste and Clementine moved to Madison four years ago. They are originally from Rwanda and experienced first hand the 1994 war in Rwanda.  They lost many of their family members during that genocide.  

“Clementine and I believe that the foundation of a good society is its’ families,” said Evariste.  “The best way to achieve our dreams is first finding a safe place to live. We thank Habitat for Humanity with all our hearts for choosing us to take advantage of this unbelievable opportunity and for helping us to stay a part of this community. And helping us to own our house! We also thank all of you who will become our family members and give us hope as we travel to transcend our bad memories from the recent past in Rwanda. We hope to serve our community and continue to be involved to serve as a good example for future generations.”

Evariste and Clementine have three sons and live with Evariste’s 77-year-old mother who came from Rwanda to join them two years ago. They also have an adopted daughter, who is now 19.

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Habitat for Humanity of Dane County provides simple, decent, affordable housing for families who might not otherwise become homeowners. Eligible families pay monthly mortgage payments on a 0% interest loan, and contribute 350 hours of sweat equity in the building of their homes and an additional 25 hours helping other Habitat homeowners build their homes. For more information, call 608-255-1549 or visit www.habitatdane.org.