Mary Ann (pictured) is a mother from the Philippines whose home was completely washed away by Typhoon Haiyan in November last year. In the months that followed the devastation, she lived with her family in a makeshift shelter – put together from the debris of their old house. The home was about the size of a garden shed and the roof couldn’t protect them. When it rained, Mary Ann’s family would get soaked, leaving them cold and often sick.

Mary Ann was one of the first people to receive a housing loan from Opportunity. She’s been able build a new home – a three-room brick house, complete with corrugated iron roof and cement floors, built incorporating guidelines that will better withstand the elements. She finally feels safe again and is bursting with pride when showing her new house, a place that will help keep her family secure. Over the coming months Mary Ann will be able to focus on rebuilding her business, not only trying to survive monsoon season.

Just $425 is enough to give another family the materials and tools they need – cement, nails, corrugated iron – to rebuild their lives. With the monsoon season fast approaching, your support will mean that more families can put their lives back together. Without proper shelter, families will be left to suffer through the winds and the rain. Find out more about what you can do here.