Before-and-after photos released by the Helping Antigua and Barbuda Progress Initiative (HAPPI) show the dramatic transformation underway for a family of nearly 30 people, as an aging wooden house gives way to a new eight-bedroom, four-bathroom home.

The project, which HAPPI describes as its most ambitious to date, will provide accommodation for a household made up largely of children. The initiative said the undertaking has presented challenges but remains focused on delivering a permanent home for the family.

“Building more than just a house—we’re building a home,” HAPPI said in a social media post.

The organization credited Minister for Social Transformation Rawdon Turner and Michael Joseph for their vision, while acknowledging the work of the HMP A-Team on the construction site. It also thanked Mary Baltimore and the Social Protection Board for their continued partnership and support.

In a statement accompanying the photos, Turner said seeing the family’s previous living conditions left a lasting impression.

“The first time I stood in front of this home, I was overcome with emotion. I could not believe that children were waking up, going to bed, and trying to build their dreams in conditions like these,” he said.

“It broke my heart. In that moment, I wasn’t just looking at an old house. I was looking at a family that deserved so much better. No child should have to grow up believing that this is all life has to offer.”

Turner said the project is already making a difference despite still being under construction.

“This HAPPI project is still underway, but it is already transforming the lives of 30 individuals,” he said.

“I am humbled and proud to be part of a government that does not turn away from hardship, but instead reaches into our communities with compassion, proving through every HAPPI project that we care deeply about the people of Antigua and Barbuda.”

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Before-and-After Photos Show Dramatic Transformation as HAPPI Builds New Home for Family of 30.