Celia lives with her husband, Cesar, their son, Iker (3) and 5 more relatives, in a small community near Lake Atitlán, Sololá. While César works in agriculture, Celia takes care of Iker and weaves traditional clothes.

As part of Habitat Guatemala’s Healthy Home Kit, families receive a smokeless stove, a sanitary latrine and a water filter, to help them improve their health by giving them adequate access to proper sanitation, potable water and a smoke free environment.

“I used to cook in a small open-flame stove. It consumed many wood, which was very costly. I wished to have a big one, in order to cook for everyone, and the new one is bigger!! It is easier to cook because it is big and has plenty of space. enough space to cook for all my family.  And the best part is the wood. With only five small pieces of wood it cooks perfectly.»  Celia has felt a difference in their health; no more eye irritation because the smoke no longer stays inside the kitchen.

Before receiving their new latrine, she explains that their old latrine was in poor conditions and not near the house. “Now, the new one is more comfortable and private. It is covered with wood and no longer with plastic.” The family has also felt a difference with their water filter. Before they drank water directly from the sink, and boiled it occasionally causing them intestinal diseases. Now, it is easier and safer to drink potable water from the filter. “Now, every member of the family can drink water whenever we want, we do not have to boil it,” says Celia.

Celia refers to her time with the volunteers; “They were very fun to work with,we worked together and built our stove,” she continues, “We are grateful for your support, thank you for our kit. It has been of great help for me and our family, we are taking good care of it. Our family is happy.”

Wendy (28) lives with her husband, Manuel (28), and their two children, Adbiel (4), Eliu (3), in the community of Santa Lucía Utatlán, in Sololá. Both of them dedicate to clothing industry, Manuel as a tailor, and Ofelia waves traditional clothes.

As part of Habitat Guatemala’s smokeless stove program, families receive a stove, to help them improve their health by giving them a smoke free environment. She found out about this program through a local Habitat committee member and decided to work together with other women, to build their adobes and have everything ready for when the volunteers came to build.

Wendy  feels satisfied with her new stove;“Receiving this stove has been of great help for our family because we save wood and money. The stove stays warm and allow us to cook everything at the same time.  We no longer have to buy wood so often,» she continues, «I like to prepare my tortillas, beans and boil water on it.»

She refers to her time with the volunteers; “It was a beautiful day! we all worked together, they finished fast and we shared lunch together,» she continues, “Thank you all for your support in building my stove. May God bless you, fell welcome when you want to come visit.»