Please help us support our very dear family friend, Annette.

Annette and her 3 children were made homeless yesterday when a large fire in Masiphumelele, an informal settlement near Cape Town, destroyed her home.

Annette had saved up for a long time to buy and build her own house earlier this year, which was slightly bigger than the one- room house she had rented for her family before. Having been completed a few months ago, her new home offered her family more stability.

Last night a fire spread through Masiphumelele and Annette’s home and all of her belongings were destroyed.

Informal settlements in South Africa such as this one have very basic amenities and the majority of homes are shacks, fashioned out of corrugated iron to form 1-2 rooms. In 2011 conservative estimates suggested between 2.9 and 3.6 million people lived in informal settlements in S.A. The average annual income in this area is around $1,350. The city of Cape Town aim to provide one tap for every 25 families, but a ratio of 1 water source to every 1,200 people is not unusual. We take for granted that clean water and shelter is a human right.

Annette is the kindest, most generous and caring person who always helps everyone around her. In addition to her 16 year old daughter and 9 year old son, she has an adopted 7 year old son, whom she rescued from an abusive family situation. She is an inspirational member of her community and any donations would go a very long way for her. We have known Annette for 3 years and spend time together every February in Scarborough, where Annette works, cleaning houses.

We would like to raise enough money to help Annette build a brick house to give her the security she needs and deserves for her, her children and her community .