Her House Devastated by Flames - Marie Josée, 65: "I Lost Everything, I Need Your Support"

Marie Josée lost her home and all her belongings in a fire that occurred last month. The 65-year-old widow, who is raising a 10-year-old boy on her own, is appealing for help to rebuild her home and regain a normal life.

In Chemin Brûlé, Block A3, Cité Saint-Louis, a small house in the CHA holds memories of laughter, shared meals, and precious moments. For over 30 years, this was the home of Marie Josée Fabienne Félicité, 65 years old. This simple yet warm dwelling was her anchor and her haven of peace. Today, all that remains are blackened walls and charred debris.

A widow since 1990, Marie Josée saw her first three children move abroad. Later, she had two more children, who also left to live elsewhere. Over the years, she found herself alone… or almost. Ten years ago, a little boy entered her life, abandoned by his parents. "When I took him in, he was six months old. His parents had left him with me. CDU helped me to get his charges," she recalls, her eyes misty. Since then, the little boy has become her only reason for living. Now 10 years old, he is Marie Josée's "little child." But misfortune turned their lives upside down. The date of Tuesday, October 21, 2025, will remain etched in her memory. That morning, her grandson was with a relative, and she was busy preparing breakfast. "I was cooking chicken curry, putting large peas in the pot. I stepped out to check the curry when I found the house was on fire," she remembers.

According to the firefighters and police, the cooker exploded, releasing burning gas pressure and igniting a fire that quickly engulfed the ground floor. Alone, she managed to escape. "God protected us… Neither I nor my little child was in the house at that moment," she murmurs. The Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the extent of the damage. The two-story house was entirely devastated on the ground floor: furniture, appliances, clothing, official documents, and personal belongings were destroyed. The heat and smoke then reached the upper floor, causing further damage. In a corner of the charred room, a melted toy serves as a reminder that this house was not just a shelter but also a cocoon for a child.

Since the fire, Marie Josée has had no home to sleep in. Her already fragile health has deteriorated. At 65, she feels exhausted and overwhelmed by the scale of the reconstruction. "I have nothing left. I need to start from scratch. My child needs a normal life… but I don’t know how I will manage," she confides, her voice filled with despair.

She makes an appeal for solidarity. The walls need repainting, some structures need repairs, the electricity and gas need to be restored, and she needs to find furniture, clothing, and appliances. "If anyone can help me, I will be grateful. I need beds for me and my child, linens, furniture, appliances… and people who can come help to clean and restore everything," she says, humble yet determined.

This house, more than just a roof, represented an entire life, memories, and a story. Today, she calls for a second chance, for herself and for the child she raises alone, so that their home can regain a semblance of normalcy and warmth.

Those wishing to help Marie Josée can call the following numbers: