Republic of Mauritius- Full Concrete Housing Unit Families receive their keys at Caroline

Start-up kits were also handed over to National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) beneficiaries who have followed training in eco-bag and pastry making.  Following the event, Minister Wong proceeded with the inauguration of a volleyball cum basketball pitch and mini soccer ground at Olivia Community Centre, in Olivia.

In his address, Minister Wong spoke of the various governmental measures introduced to enhance the quality of life of people living in underprivileged conditions. Many NEF beneficiaries, he highlighted, live in housing units which are in bad conditions and deemed to be unfit for living. Therefore, he said, based on an application for a housing unit and criteria set for the scheme, the two eligible families add to the list of the 98 beneficiaries who have already received their units.

The FCH project, the Minister indicated, which is a joint collaboration of the NEF and the Ministry of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, has as objective to provide decent housing units of 40 m² and 50 m² to eligible vulnerable families so as to improve their lifestyle with the provision of adequate facilities put at their disposal.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Bholah emphasised on the training programmes that are being dispensed at the National Cooperative College (NCC) to NEF beneficiaries so as to enable them set up micro enterprises. For his part, Minister Sesungkur spoke of projects such as the Metro Express which are being undertaken with a view to modernising Mauritius and enhance the quality of life of citizens.

The Housing Unit

The housing unit, equipped with two bedrooms, a living/dining room, toilets, bathroom and kitchen, is of 50m2. It is to be noted that the applicant for housing support should be owner of the land proposed for the construction of the house. Those families who have a plot on land on lease from Government are also eligible for housing support from NEF.

Start-up kits to beneficiaries in eco-bag and pastry making

The NCC has provided training programmes free of charge to 58 NEF beneficiaries, 25 in eco-bag and 33 in pastry making. The training, which started on 21 May 2019 and ended on 20 June 2019, aimed at regrouping beneficiaries into cooperative for them to start their own income generating activity.  The beneficiaries have received start-up kits to help them in their activities.

Volleyball cum basketball pitch and mini soccer ground

The project, initiated following NEF intervention in the region of Olivia, is geared towards a needs based approach to promote the welfare of the youth of the locality.