The 13 Houses Campaign keeps growing: with the launch of the call for proposals on 30 August 2022, we witnessed the Vincentian desire to strengthen a ‘network of charity’ for homeless people that goes beyond geographical borders.
The objective of the call was to extend a particular invitation to Vincentian Family members in countries yet to join the 13 Houses Campaign, so we could widen the Vincentian mission at the service of the poorest.
The call (which ended on February 28, 2023) saw various expressions of interest from new countries in particular: Liberia, Lesotho, Sudan, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mexico, Bolivia, Syria and Vietnam. The expressions of interest received also came from different branches of the Vincentian family, including: Daughters of Charity (DC); Congregation of the Mission (CM); International Association of Charities (AIC); and Vincentian Marian Youth (VMY).
Month after month, by word of mouth, you have helped us strengthen this movement; we feel honoured to bear witness to this lively interest in the service of the poorest and we look forward to seeing new projects in these and other countries. Thanks to the 13 Houses project stories we hear, the work of Vincentian Family members is brought to life, inspiring others to continue serving people experiencing homelessness. We hope the call offered encouragement to new countries to start their own project. Here you can find a list of countries that still need to join the Campaign: our mission continues!
Vietnam answers the 13 Houses call: an example of Vincentian collaboration
The Congregation of the Mission – in collaboration with other Vincentian branches (DC, VMY, SSVP) – chose Phinh Ho Parish to start a 13 Houses project in October 2022. The project, ‘Houses for Poor Families’, involved the construction of four new houses over three months, benefitting around 30 indigenous people who were living in inadequate housing. The families saw their homes completed just before Christmas and experienced the Vincentian warmth of love and hope in their lives.
Despite the challenges encountered, (such as the difficulties related to the transportation of materials in mountainous areas) the Vincentian fathers, sisters and the beneficiaries cooperated to complete the project. The houses represent just a first step of a systemic change to empower these families to live a dignified life. The Vincentian branches will support them with the education for the children, the provision of vocational training (for example repairing cars, cutting hair etc.), and supporting the parents to get a job or start a small business from their homes (for example, selling fruit and vegetables).
As Fr Francisco Xavier Nguyen Thanh Ly, CM Visitor said: “This project, it’s not just about building a house but building a better home”.
