Dr. Dieter Schonwetter stands outside the finished home he and volunteers from the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences helped construct as part of a Habitat for Humanity Manitoba build.
Family of four building life in new home thanks to Habitat Manitoba, Rady Faculty
On March 28, a wide smile crossed Ifeyinwa’s face as Dr. Dieter Schonwetter handed her the keys to her new home. She was officially a homeowner.
Schonwetter, a Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry professor, and 57 volunteers from the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences helped construct Ifeyinwa’s four-bedroom townhouse in June 2024.
More than 50 volunteers from the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences helped construct the four-bedroom townhouse.
It was part of a five-day Habitat for Humanity Manitoba build that included students, faculty and staff representing dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and rehabilitation sciences. The Rady Faculty also raised $100,000 for Habitat Manitoba.
The key ceremony took place in the living room of Ifeyinwa’s new home in Transcona. Members of the media, Habitat Manitoba partners and build volunteers filled the room.
Before presenting Ifeyinwa with the keys, Schonwetter said to her that a home is more than just walls, rooms and doors.
“It’s a place where memories will be made. You’ll have the opportunity to create dreams here,” he said.
After the ceremony, Ifeyinwa said she was overwhelmed, excited and grateful to everyone.
“It’s a day I’m going to remember for a long time,” she said. “It just feels like, ‘Oh, yes. I won the jackpot.’ That’s what I felt. It’s been a long journey.”
As well as supplying volunteers, the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences also raised $100,000 for Habitat Manitoba.
Ifeyinwa was living in a cramped two-bedroom apartment with her three children – ages 13, 15 and 18. It lacked privacy and study space for her kids, and she was concerned about the building’s security.
Ifeyinwa, who immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in 2018, dreamed of owning her own home. But she said that as a single mother of three, there was no way she could afford a house without Habitat Manitoba’s help. The organization provides affordable homeownership programs.
“We build so many more homes because of the generosity of the hearts of Manitobans in so many different ways, and this is also our chance to celebrate that generosity,” Jamie Hall, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Manitoba, told the group gathered in the living room.
Hall spoke about the organization’s strong partnership with the Rady Faculty, which has participated in four other builds over the years.
Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-provost (health sciences) and dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, said in a statement that social responsibility and accountability are core values in the Rady Faculty and that housing is a key social determinant of health.
Volunteers from the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences included students, faculty and staff representing dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and rehabilitation sciences.
“The contributions of Rady faculty, staff and student volunteers to build this house and provide financial support is a testament to our University of Manitoba’s commitment to community engagement and the impact we can make. We are proud to be partners with Habitat Manitoba and wish all the best for these families in their new homes,” Nickerson said.
At the ceremony, Ifeyinwa’s new neighbour was also presented with keys by a representative from the Manitoba REALTORS Shelter Foundation.
Ifeyinwa now plans to join future Habitat Manitoba builds.
“There are people who volunteered to be part of my home, so I want to do that for the next person and the next person, and over time, we will build a better community,” she said.