Reflecting on the Success of Our BBC Radio 4 Appeal: Back in January, we launched an important BBC Radio 4 appeal hosted by Daliso Chaponda, a comedian and passionate advocate for Habitat for Humanity’s mission.

Daliso, who hails from Zambia and Malawi, shared his powerful message about the fundamental human right to have a safe, secure and dignified place to call home. Thanks to the incredible generosity of BBC Radio 4 listeners, we are now able to reflect on the la sting impact your support has made in the fight against housing poverty.

We are overjoyed to announce that, following the broadcast in January, we raised over £12,000! This generous donation will go directly towards providing life-changing support to families in need. We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who donated and took action, making this appeal such a success.

Daliso’s Powerful Message: The Story of Tasila

Daliso Chaponda’s heartfelt appeal focused on the struggles faced by families like Tasila’s, a mother of three living in Makululu, Zambia. A community of around 60,000 people, Makululu is an informal settlement where the living conditions are harsh, and the threat of eviction or “land-grabbing” looms large. As Daliso pointed out during the appeal, housing is not just about having a roof over your head—it’s about dignity, security and the opportunity for a better future.

Tasila, like many in her community, faced the constant fear of losing her home, despite having lived there for years. Much of the land in Zambia is classified as “customary land,” owned by local indigenous communities and passed down through generations. However, without the correct legal documentation, people like Tasila are vulnerable to losing their land and homes to outside forces.

Habitat for Humanity’s Role: Empowering Through Education

Habitat for Humanity plays a pivotal role in empowering communities like Makululu. Thanks to the support generated by this appeal, we’ve been able to offer land-rights training, financial literacy education and home improvement workshops to families who need it most. Tasila’s story highlights the power of this training, which allowed her to gain the legal occupancy license necessary to secure her home. Moreover, by learning vital DIY skills, she can now improve her home, making it safer and more resilient to the elements.

One of the most heartening aspects of the training program is how it enables individuals to not only protect their homes but also to save money and make long-term improvements. Belina, another member of the training program, shared her excitement about learning how to build a safe, sustainable home: “I’m learning all about how to save money and build a safe home. From my little savings, I’ve started buying cement and materials to improve my home, and I’ve started saving to pay for my own occupancy licence.”

The Impact of Your Generosity on Global Communities

Thanks to your contributions, Habitat for Humanity Great Britain has been able to continue and expand our work in Zambia and especially in Makululu. The £12,000 raised from this appeal will directly fund more training sessions and provide crucial resources to families in need. This support will help ensure that more families, like Tasila and Belina’s, can escape the cycle of housing poverty and create safe, secure and sustainable homes.

We cannot overstate how grateful we are for the BBC Radio 4 listeners who contributed to this cause. Your support has made a real and lasting difference, and we are thrilled to see how it has already impacted communities. But this is just the beginning. There are still many more people in need of assistance, and with your continued support, we will be able to reach even more families who are looking to change their circumstances for the better.

Looking Forward to a Brighter Future For All

As we look ahead to the months and years to come, Habitat for Humanity remains committed to its mission of building homes, communities and hope. Every donation, no matter the size, plays an integral part in helping us move closer to a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your incredible generosity during this appeal. You are helping to transform lives and provide families with the opportunity to build a better future. We look forward to continuing this journey with you and making even more progress in our shared fight against housing poverty.

Although our BBC Radio 4 appeal has ended, you can still support our work year-round by donating. Your generosity will help us continue to provide life-changing resources to families in need. Please use the donation form below to make a difference today.

Together, we can make the world a safer, more secure place for all.