Josefa Bixcul lives in a small community in rural Sololá, with her husband, children and their spouses.

As part of Habitat for Humanity Guatemala’s Healthy Home Kit program, families can build a sanitary latrine on their property. “We feel really happy with the new latrine, it is clean now and we have more privacy.” says Josefa. The old latrine was not in good conditions and really old.

Laura, one of Josefa’s daughter expresses: “We had a good time with the volunteers. They worked really hard and they shared with us, and chatted a lot,” she continues, “thank you for your support. We feel happy now and we wish you all a Merry Christmas!”

Aquilina lives with her husband, her son, and his family in different houses on the same piece of land in Sololá, Guatemala. Aquilina’s husband works in agriculture, while Aquilina stays at home and weaves traditional clothes to sell.

By partnering with Habitat Guatemala, Aquilina’s family was able to build a new smokeless stove. Before, she used to cook over an open fire on the floor, and often got sick because of the smoke.

To the volunteers she says: “Maltiox! Thank you very much for your help and support, now I can cook easier and faster without smoke in my eyes. I feel happy.”

Anastacia Calel, lives with her husband Oscar, and two children, Karina (5), Francisco (4) and one more baby on the way, in the department of Sololá, Guatemala.

Anastacia used to cook on her mother’s stove, that is old and in bad shape already, but now with her new smokeless stove, she says that it uses less wood, it heats really fast and has enough space to cook a lot of meals at the same time.

In addition to constructing a smokeless stove with the support of Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, Anastacia and her family also now have their own water filter and sanitary latrine. Anastacia says: “We used to drink water that had not been filtered, but now we get sick less often. And while before we shared a latrine with ten of our relatives, we now have our own to use. I am happy and they are happy too!”

“We had such a good time with the volunteers that came, they played with my children.” Shares Catarina. “Thank you for the opportunity you gave to my family, it is really important to us, may God bless you all.”