Ismael and his granddaughter, Leticia

To Ismael Ramiro Ochoa Calderon, the year revolves around the lifespan of his corn. His milpas, or maize plots, are a distinctive feature of La Esperanza, a small outlying neighborhood of Quetzaltenango. Every fall, Ismael and his family gather to harvest, package, and sell his crop at market. However, this scene of agricultural livelihood has not always been easy, nor the most accessible.

“I used to live far away from my corn fields. It was very difficult,” Ismael tells us. “My family also needs to sell gas for a living. So they would have to travel all the way down that hill to get people their gas tanks.” He points up to a steep, rocky hillside that resides behind the house.  “Before, at the old house, a lot of water would get into between the cracks of the roof. The walls and floor were warped, and our clothes would be ruined.”

It was that hill that motivated Ismael to build a new life for his family. Luis, Ismael’s brother, told Ismael about Habitat and how the organization provided affordable, sustainable housing opportunities to deserving families such as his own. Ismael decided to apply on a whim, and fifteen days later, he was approved for a house that would rest on a small plot of land next to his corn crop. Construction began in July and ended in September. Now, Ismael, his daughter Brenda, and his granddaughter, Leticia, live comfortably in a place that protects them from the elements.

The new house is nothing like the old one. “There is so much space and light. We are so content to have this new house; there have been no problems.” Ismael smiles as he walks through the kitchen and living room. He points out the window to a row of buildings in the distance. “We’re closer to town and the fields, and we have better access to the market trucks that pass through the neighborhood.”

There is no doubt that Ismael and his family will thrive in their new environment.

Diana (29) and her husband, Selvin (31), have been living in the Colony for the past five months. Both lead busy work lives; Diana is a University Coordinator and organizes free courses for aspiring students of all ages in Usumatlan. Selvin spends his day traveling as a businessman. Both had always dreamed of having a place of their own.

“Before, we were living with a friend, who had left us her house to care for it,” says Diana. “We were there for about a year. We didn’t want to live with our parents, and we still hadn’t married because we had no home. Until March 2016, we lived there, and then my friend returned.”

For monetary reasons, the couple quickly became apprehensive about moving and were unsure about the future. However, they found that Habitat could offer a solution.

“We knew about the Amway Colony, and my husband decided to talk to people who had lived there for the past few years. We decided to give it a try and applied. Last November, we were approved, right before the building began.

Diana is elated that their decision has paid off. “We’re so content here. And grateful, because it was an incredible opportunity. Here in Guatemala, it’s incredibly difficult to finance your own house. Plus, we were happy to be part of the construction here. My husband would come every Saturday to help.”

She smiles. “This has been something incredibly new and exciting, while also familiar. It feels like we were destined for this.”

The thing she’s most looking forward to? “We want kids! I already have a room ready!”

Hardworking and studious, Hortencia Mijangos Jacinto (23) and her husband, Mario (33) were made for one another. Mario Works as a Systems Engineer, and Hortencia is currently studying towards a college degree in the same subject. The couple recently married and were eager to find a housing solution that worked for both of them. Between long hours at Mario’s engineering job and Hortencia’s need for a suitable study space, a house that was both quiet and conveniently located became a priority.

Hortencia recalls that there were ups and downs about their previous living situation. “We rented in Teculután for seven months. The house was also a Habitat house, but was more isolated rather than located in a community, like the Colony. We were paying and paying, but we weren’t getting any closer to saving money for our own house. That was really frustrating.”

However, living in a Habitat house before pursuing it own had its benefits. Ultimately, Hortencia and Mario decided to apply for their own, and they have never looked back. Hortencia is happy to note that the biggest changes have helped her manage her studying schedule. “The town is closer, and you can drive between places pretty easily. Although I still have to go towards Zacapa for class, I don’t need to worry about public transportation, because the neighborhood has a bunch of motorcycles that pass by.”

Thanks to quiet space that Habitat volunteers afforded her, Hortencia will be able to achieve her degree within the next year.