A former prison guard from Mississippi loses her job for caring for an inmate’s newborn, and her perspective

Roberta Bell’s journey is a moving example of the courage and strength of compassion, demonstrating the enormous influence that one person can have when motivated by empathy. Roberta, a 58-year-old mother of five and grandma of eight who resides in the charming city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, is regarded by many as a hero. Her life took an unexpected turn this year, showing the world the power of love and bravery to transform lives.

Roberta met pregnant convict Katie Bourgeois, who was almost out of prison, while she was a correctional officer at the Louisiana Transitional Center for Women. Katie was in a terrible predicament because she had no relatives to support her after her kid was born. Roberta took the crucial choice to take care of the baby until Katie could return home while Katie was unable to do so.

There were, however, repercussions to this choice. Roberta was sacked from her job at the correctional facility after her supervisor saw a conflict of interest in her conduct. For Roberta, though, it was a minimal cost. Kayson, Katie’s son, was born just over a week after she lost her job. Roberta had been looking forward to his visit to the hospital. She brought him home, clothed him tenderly, and held him in her arms, showing him the tenderness and love of a mother.

Kayson was under Roberta’s care for two months before Katie was able to see her son again. Even though Roberta was going through a difficult time personally, her compassion and selflessness were evident when she said goodbye to the infant to whom she had been so close. Millions of people were moved by her heartfelt and real narrative of generosity, which struck a chord with people everywhere.

Donations poured in from people moved by her story; diapers, formula, and other necessities arrived. Numerous kind presents from strangers adorned Roberta’s living room. Even more astonishingly, their contributions added up to an incredible $90,000. Even though she was unemployed, Roberta kept giving back, using some of the money she was given to assist a fellow pregnant prisoner who was having financial difficulties.

That was not the end of Roberta’s quest. Rather, it opened a new chapter in her life. Since then, she has started a new project that she is very enthusiastic about called The Serenity House. The Serenity House, which is situated in the serene Mississippi countryside, is being renovated to serve as a haven for women reintegrating into society after serving time in jail. Roberta is committed to giving these women a place where they can find direction, support, and a feeling of belonging, just as much as she had loved her job at the prison.

Roberta gladly answers every call that comes in asking for her assistance; her phone is always vibrating. Her experience is a prime illustration of how one individual, driven by compassion, understanding, and a steadfast faith in second chances, may significantly impact the lives of others.

Uber driver saves up for 8 years to build a genius expandable container home

Imagine dreaming of an expandable container home that can travel with you, unfolding into a comfortable living space quickly, and equipped with all the essentials.

That’s exactly what Kamal Kadhar dreamed of ten years ago, inspired by innovative designs he discovered online.

Despite lacking formal construction training, Kamal started a journey fueled by determination and passion.

Using his earnings from eight years of driving for Uber, Kamal built a compact yet expandable container home measuring 7.5 feet by 24 feet.

Kamal Kadhar during his interview about his expandable container home.

The beauty of his creation lies in its portability – it can be towed by a 4×4 vehicle, eliminating the need for cranes or forklifts.

Kamal’s journey began in a field outside Tiruchirappalli, a southern Indian city, where he constructed his first prototype.

What sets Kamal’s creation apart is its simplicity and resilience. He opted for mechanical winches instead of complex hydraulics to ensure ease of deployment in remote locations.

As Kamal describes it, the expandable container home is like an octopus – small when needed, expandable when necessary, and can withstand disasters like fires, hurricanes, or floods.

Kamal and a friend assembling his expandable container home prototype using winches.

The relocation process is as easy as moving a shipping container, making it legally transportable anywhere in the world using a 4×4 SUV.

The journey wasn’t without its challenges.

After investing almost a decade of hard work and facing financial strain, Kamal’s family was on the verge of giving up.

However, witnessing the prototype changed everything. Realizing the idea’s value brought relief despite the personal and financial sacrifices.

Kamal’s unconventional path involved learning everything from YouTube, combining his experiences as an Uber driver with visits to construction sites and apprenticeships at a builder’s shop.

The relocation process is as easy as moving a shipping container, making it legally transportable anywhere in the world using a 4×4 SUV.

The journey wasn’t without its challenges.

After investing almost a decade of hard work and facing financial strain, Kamal’s family was on the verge of giving up.

However, witnessing the prototype changed everything. Realizing the idea’s value brought relief despite the personal and financial sacrifices.

Kamal’s unconventional path involved learning everything from YouTube, combining his experiences as an Uber driver with visits to construction sites and apprenticeships at a builder’s shop.

His creative mindset was founded on his father’s small scrap metal shop, where he played with metal and aluminum, shaping the project to resemble a regular shipping container.

The main structure starts small at 7ft 6in and expands to 20ft.

The expandable container home uses built-in leg jacks so it could be assembled in anywhere.

The expandable container home takes less than 2 hours to build, with a foundation not required.

It can be adjusted on uneven surfaces using built-in leg jacks.

The roof opens with stainless steel hinges, both mechanical and electrical components, avoiding hydraulics for reliability.

The roof opens to add solar panels, maximizing power generation for personal use or resale to the government by connecting to the grid.

The sides expand mechanically, controlled by a hinge, making it easy to pull and open with just one finger.

Unfloding the foldable kitchen at Kamal's container home.

The kitchen, also expandable, is attached to the bathroom facility. Utilities run down the middle, and it’s designed to hook up to city sewage.

The living area is spacious, with a total interior size of 300 square feet, and the bedroom features a foldable bed.

This house has been tested in a remote village, and even non-professionals helped build it confidently.

You can expand it and adjust the interior to make it more spacious.

Setting up the Murphy bed.

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