Five-year-old Anna Seecharan was overjoyed yesterday as her father carried a mattress into their new home, less than a month after their old house was destroyed by fire.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed she will share with her sisters, Anna was all smiles, as her father related the joy he felt to have his own home again.
On December 11, 2016, the Seecharan’s home was burnt flat, leaving them homeless and penniless.
Robin said yesterday he had little hope for the future especially with seven young children and his wife depending on him.
But within hours of the fire, the T&T Guardian contacted founder of the Zahir Ali Foundation, Zahir Ali, who pledged to rebuild a home for the family.
On December 12, Ali visited the family, taking food and clothing for the children-Brandon, 15, Antonio, 14, Jenel, 12, Christie, 11, Selena, seven, Anna, five and Crystal, three.
Within a week’s time, Ali had a commitment from the Ricky Raghunanan Group of Companies to rebuild the house. Construction began within days but inclement weather kept the workmen away from the site, delaying the project.
The promise of a new home came to life yesterday, as Robin moved the few belongings his family had been given into the 45 x 35 wooden and concrete structure.
While the house was yet to be outfitted with windows and wired for electricity, Robin said he had made up his mind to move in.
“I did a Hawan (Hindu prayers) with my sister and I said no matter what we are going to move in today,” he said.
“The windows might come in this week...I’m not worried at all, with everything we get already, I could try to help myself easy, easy too.”
The windows spaces will be temporarily boarded over and an electrician is expected to begin work in the coming week.
“I am not worried, everything will fall into place. With the amount of help we got, I could never say thank you enough. Mr Ricky Raghunanan really blessed me this house, I hope God blesses him and his entire family.”
His two youngest daughters, Selena and Anna, kept him company while he mounted up their beds and placed vinyl on the bedroom floors while his wife, Raquel, and the elder children moved their belongings from the home of a neighbour where they had stayed since the fire.
Thanks to another donor, the family also received a new refrigerator and stove which they can take into their new house.
Seecharan said the walls were primed for paint, but he wants to allow his children to choose the colours for the house.
“I want to bring a paint chart and let them choose what colours they want for their rooms and we could decide together what colour the outside should be,” he said.
And when the school term re-opens today, Seecharan plans to take the morning off work to visit the schools his children attends to get booklists for each one of them.
“Once I get the booklists tomorrow, they should be going to school within this first week.”
Seecharan said he was also given a television but needs a living room set to complete the house.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the family can contact Seecharan at 316-6632.