diciembre 2018 – Hábitat para la Humanidad Guatemala

Vulnerable Families Fund

21 diciembre, 2018/en News EN /por admin

WHAT IS THE VULNERABLE FAMILIES FUND?

In 2017, Habitat Guatemala launched a campaign to help serve the most vulnerable families living in extreme poverty in Guatemala. These families would not otherwise be eligible to own a Habitat home due to their low levels of income, but are in difficult circumstances that Habitat Guatemala can improve.

Envisioned as a multi-year project, we will work year to year in order to identify families in the most impoverished areas of the country. The solutions that will be provided through the fund will be tailored to the specific circumstances and needs of each family.

Habitat Guatemala hopes to continue growing the vulnerable families fund through your generous partnership, which will allow us to serve more Guatemalan families in need.

Sucess Stories:

Crisanta López Family

Crisanta was left widowed last year and she was struggling to fix the roof of her home where she lives with six of her children.

Thanks to the help of several generous donors, Habitat Guatemala provided the López family with a new roof, a fresh coat of paint for the walls, a Chispa stove, a water filter, and a new sanitary latrine. This project improved their quality of life with a safe roof and adequate access to proper sanitation and a smoke-free environment.

The Morales Family

Álvaro and his wife, Lucrecia, are parents to four adult children, three of whom have special needs and use wheelchairs. The family lives in a two-story house and previously, the children had to be carried up and down the stairs.

With the help of a dedicated volunteer, the funds that were needed for the project were raised. Habitat Guatemala built a solar-powered elevator in the family’s home, giving the children their independence, eliminating the risk of a fall, and adapting a solution specifically to the family’s story.

Projects that need funding:

Juan César Gómez Family

Juan lives with his sister, Amalia, his niece Maribel, and his great nephew, Ángel, in the department of San Marcos.

The whole family inhabits a three bedroom house made of deteriorating wood, a leaky metal roof and dirt flooring. Amalia, Maribel and Angel share one room, while Juan sleeps in a separate one. They cook over an open flame in this space, covering the walls and ceiling with soot. This manner of preparing meals has caused several respiratory issues for the family.

Habitat Guatemala is planning to support the family by providing them with a new home. On October 12th, 2019, Habitat Guatemala will hold a race (5K &10K) in San Marcos to raise funds for the family.

We ask that you consider supporting the cause as well. Join us and be part of the construction of a better Guatemala!

DONATE NOW

Un nuevo comienzo en navidad

20 diciembre, 2018/en Noticias /por Hábitat Guatemala

El futuro de algunas familias guatemaltecas cambió el 3 de junio por la erupción del Volcán de Fuego. La actividad volcánica fue registrada como una de las más fuertes desde 1979; dejó a más de un millón 700 mil guatemaltecos damnificados en los departamento de Chimaltenango, Escuintla y Sacatepéquez.

Una de las personas damnificadas es doña Wendy vivía con su familia en un terreno ubicado en San Miguel Los Lotes, en donde el lahar no solo acabo con su casa y sus pertenencias, sino también les arrebató sus sueños y los recuerdos de sus seres queridos a los cuales perdió en la trágica erupción.

Como parte de nuestro Programa de Atención a Desastres, nos involucramos con el objetivo de atender y beneficiar a un número de familias afectadas por la erupción. La primera fase del proyecto se fue desarrollando durante 5 meses beneficiando a 58 familias anfitrionas que abrieron las puertas de su casa para poder albergar a personas afectadas y se les apoyó con Filtros Purificadores, Depósitos de agua, Pilas y Estufas Móviles.

También se les otorgó a 124 familias un apoyo económico con el cual pudieran subsidiar el 80 por ciento del pago de alquiler o con gastos que se generan en las viviendas de las familias anfitrionas y un aporte para gastos básicos que la familia damnificada necesite. Asimismo, se propuso una solución de vivienda adecuada, segura y estable para las familias, ubicada en la colonia Valle de las Flores, municipio de Palín, Escuintla, con la cual se benefició a 16 familias damnificadas para ayudar a reconstruir su vida y su futuro.

Las viviendas están construidas cumpliendo con todos los estándares nacionales de alta calidad, cada block esta puesto con pasión y amor de voluntarios extranjeros y nacionales, diversas instituciones, colegios y donantes locales e internacionales. Este proyecto involucra a las familias quienes junto a voluntarios y colaboradores Hábitat, apoyaron en el proceso constructivo.

En Hábitat para la Humanidad Guatemala, no solo buscamos construir una casa, deseamos brindar la oportunidad de un mejor futuro a cada una de las personas, familias o comunidades con quienes se desarrolla un proyecto. Deseamos unificar esfuerzos para construir hogares seguros y estables.

¡Gracias por permitirnos ser el cambio que deseas ver!

Emilia Mejía – Canoítas, Santa Rosa

20 diciembre, 2018/en Familias /por j.bailon

El pasado fin de semana se tuvo la oportunidad de apoyar a la familia de Doña Emillia Mejia López en la aldea Canoítas, Santa Rosa para que ella y los integrantes de su familia mejoren su calidad de vida con una estufa mejorada, la cual se construyó con la ayuda de voluntarios de Fundación Telefónica.

Doña Emilia originaria de la comunidad Canoítas, y desde los 8 años cocina con leña, tanto tiempo de cocinar a fuego abierto ha provocado que sufra de tos e irritación de ojos. Gracias al apoyo del comité local se enteró de que Hábitat para la Humanidad Guatemala estaría apoyando a familias con estufas mejoradas.

Nuestras estufas están diseñadas para aprovechar al máximo la energía que genera la leña, reducir el riesgo de quemaduras, minimizar el consumo le leña, lo cual beneficia también la economía del hogar y lo más importante mejorar la salud de las familias ya que le humo sale de los hogares. Estas estufas se construyen con materiales del lugar como el adobe, arcilla fibras naturales, y cuentan con una plancha de metal que contiene tres hornillas y una chimenea.

Healthy Home Kit: María Pichol

20 diciembre, 2018/en Meet our families, News /por admin

Doña María lives with her husband and four children in the department of Sololá, Guatemala. While she takes care of her home and family, her husband works in the fields.

María used to cook on a stove that was old and in bad shape, which made her sick. “We feel happy and safe now. We save wood now too, we do not have to buy so often,» she says.

As part of the Healthy Home Kit, María’s family also received a sanitary latrine and a water filter. The latrine that used before was around 15 years old and they had to share it with the rest of their relatives. They have also noticed a big change with the water filter, as now they feel that the water tastes better.

They cherish the good memories shared with the volunteers: “they put a small gift inside the stove so we can remember them always,” María continues, “we are very grateful with them and for their support, may God bless you.”

Smokeless Stove: María Sis

20 diciembre, 2018/en Meet our families, News /por admin

María Sis lives with her husband, and five children in the department of Sololá, Guatemala. Her husband works in agriculture, while she takes care of the house.

By partnering with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, Victoria and her family now have their own smokeless stove. Before, she cooked on an old stove in poor condition. María explains that with her new stove, she now saves a lot of wood and can buy more food with that money saved. “I feel happy with my stove, it is pretty,”

“Thank you all for coming and help me build my stove. Have a Merry Christmas,” she says to the volunteers.

Healthy Home Kit: Anastacia Morales

20 diciembre, 2018/en Meet our families, News /por admin

Anastacia lives with her husband Francisco, and two little boys, Pedro Josué (11) and Pedro Henry (8) in the department of Sololá, Guatemala.

They used to cook on an open fire stove, before they received a new smokeless stove. “The smoke used to get in my eyes and my son burned his hands several times,» shares Anastacia about her former stove.

“I feel happy with my new stove. It is really big and I can cook several meals at the same time. We do not have to use a lot of wood and it’s pretty too!,” refers Anastacia about her stove. They also received a latrine and water filter as part of the Healthy Home Kit. Now, they do not have to share a latrine with the rest of their relatives and can drink safe water from the filter with out having to boil it first.

To the volunteers, she says: “Thank you for your support, we feel really happy with the stove and latrine, may God bless you all and repay your work.”

Healthy Home Kit: Catarina Zapeta Calel

20 diciembre, 2018/en Meet our families, News /por admin

Catarina Zapeta lives with her husband Juan and their seven children in the department of Sololá, Guatemala.

By partnering with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, Victoria and her family now have their own smokeless stove, sanitary latrine, and water filter.

Catarina and Juan explained that before receiving the new stove, they used to cook on an open fire stove that made them sick and made it hard to cook. They also had to use a lot of wood. “Our new stove is really good, we are happy because it is safe and it does not use a lot of wood, we have more space to cook too,” says Catarina.

About the latrine, Juan explains that before “we had to share one with two more families,” but now they feel good because they have their own privacy. With the water filter, they do not get sick anymore and the children are feeling better.

When asked about the volunteers, Catarina and Juan have positive memories. “Thank you for coming here and building with us. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

Smokeless Stove: Clemencia Morales

20 diciembre, 2018/en Meet our families, News /por admin

Clemencia lives with her parents, siblings, and nephews, in the department of Sololá, Guatemala. She is a single mother and takes care of the whole family.

Clemencia feels very happy with her new stove, and says, “the old one used a lot of wood and took longer to heat. The new one does not uses much wood and heats really quickly! My sister and I are in charge of making the tortillas and now it is easier and faster!”

She has many memories of the volunteers: “One of them left a little stone inside my stove. It was from her garden, she said, and they also left a little heart shaped with wire.” Clemencia sends a message to the volunteers: “I am very happy and I want to thank everybody that helped us with this stove. We feel privileged to have this gift.”