First Lady gifts WCD family $15M home for Christmas

First Lady Arya Ali on Wednesday handed over the keys to a brand-new home to the Reddy family of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
Just one week before Christmas, the family, headed by 39-year-old single mother and sole breadwinner Lisa Reddy, entered their furnished three-bedroom home valued at $15.3 million.

The occasion has marked a significant milestone in the journey toward stability and self-sufficiency for a family which has faced tremendous challenges.
The home has been designed to accommodate Lisa and her four sons – aged 2, 7, 11, and 13 – as well as her 63-year-old mother Daisy Reddy, who has a speech and hearing impediment. It is furnished with a sofa, television, stove, fridge, dining table and chairs, and beds.
Sadly, the matriarch of the family, 94-year-old Lucille Reddy, passed away in September just before the house was completed. This loss has been deeply felt by the family, as the matriarch had been a guiding force in the family’s hope for a better future.
“This home represents so much more than just four walls. It’s the fulfilment of a dream that has been passed down through generations,” the First Lady said shortly after handing over the keys to the house.
“I am incredibly proud to be a part of this journey, and to support this family as they begin a new chapter in their lives. I hope this home provides them not only shelter, but also the hope and security they need to continue building a brighter future.”
The First Lady has also said this project is part of a larger effort by her office and the Government of Guyana to support persons with disabilities (PWDs) and women, particularly those in vulnerable situations.
In addition to the new home, the First Lady has pledged $500,000 to the family to acquire a poultry farm which would supplement their monthly income and support the educational aspirations of the four young boys.
As sole provider for her family, Lisa has worked tirelessly to care for her children and her mother, despite challenges and limited resources.
“This is a dream come true for our family. I want to thank God and our First Lady who made this possible. She was here yesterday, putting up curtains, cleaning and sweeping. She is more than a First Lady to us. She has a kind heart. Words cannot explain how I feel right now,” a tearful Lisa related.
She added that her sons have told her this is a “baton” handed to their family, and it is their duty to ensure they pay it forward by being a blessing to another family.
This is the third house handed over to a family by the Office of the First Lady in as many years. In 2022, a $12.2 million house was handed over to a family of six siblings, and in 2023 a $13.6 million house was handed over to a family of four whose sole breadwinner was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The First Lady’s work has been focused heavily on economic empowerment of women and vulnerable groups like PWDs. For this year alone, 100 women have received technical and skills training through her office: 40 women from the hinterland received maritime and offshore training; 45 women from Region Two received training in cosmetology; and 15 women were trained in various disciplines at the Carnegie School of Home Economics.
Additionally, three single-parent mothers have received $1.5 million in grants this year to fund start-up projects.