Over the next two days, we will wrap up our tour of homes by looking at the dwellings in which our sponsored children live in Asia.

Like the other regions we visited in earlier posts, the construction methods of homes in Asia are largely determined by the available materials. This means that many homes are a mix of wood, thatch, tin, and plastic, as these homes in Bangladesh demonstrate. The water pots on the house at left may also help this family collect water while they hold the roof down. Land ownership is not common among the global poor; many families are forced to rent the land on which they build and pay exorbitant rates (often the majority of their meager incomes) for the smallest parcels. The images below show how precarious some of these homes are in Bangladesh, built over rivers or along railroad tracks.
These types of shelters also occur in Nepal, where the sprawling city of Kathmandu leaves many small pockets of low-slung dwellings along roadways and rivers.Even if your sponsored child lives in a home built of more sturdy materials, the integrity of the buildings is still in question. These two images show typical roofs in areas of Nepal. Notice the bricks holding down the tin roof, and the mess of tiles in the photo at left? These homes may have access to electricity, but as you can see the source is a jerry-rigged tangle of cables. It is safe to say their supply of power is sporadic at best.
The construction methods of homes in India also vary by region. These homes are built of stone and handmade brick, providing more quality shelter against the seasonal monsoon rains.Along the coastal or more rural areas of India, a mix of materials are used. Notice the children perched on the couch on the front porch of the home at right?
Very few families living on the edge of extreme poverty own their homes. Families may move with some frequency if a landlord is especially demanding or a parent’s job changes. Has your sponsored child written about his or her home? Share what they've told you about where they live in the comments below!