Blog – Página 40 – Hábitat para la Humanidad Guatemala

Healthy Home Kit – Lady Cojtí – Rotary Club of Greater Bend

26 abril, 2021/en Meet our families, News /por profiles

Lady (23) lives with her husband, Cruz (25), and their 2 children, Ángel (3) and Fernanda ( 8 months), in the community of Las Canoas Altas, near Lake Atitlán, in the departament of Sololá. Cruz works in the fields, while Lady stays home and takes care of the household.

As part of Habitat Guatemala’s Healthy Home Kit, families receive a smokeless stove, a sanitary latrine and a water filter. This helps them improve their health by giving them adequate access to proper sanitation, potable water and a smoke free environment. When Lady and her family found out about this project through the local committee representative, they knew it was a great opportunity to improve their family’s quality of life. «A year ago, we moved to our own house, and some relatives gifted us with a small grill but it was very uncomfortable, and the smoke was very harmful to my eyes,» says Lady. When asked how she feels with her new stove, she answers, «I feel happy, my new stove is working great! I can cook easily and it heats up fast. Plus, the smoke no longer stays inside our kitchen.»

Before receiving their new latrine, Lady explains that as a family they did not have a latrine for themselves, they had to share one with her in-laws and eight other relatives. «Now, we have our own latrine, our own privacy!» explains Lady. Things are going great with their water filter too. Now, they can drink potable water and not get sick.

Lady finishes with a message to Rotary Club of Greater Bend and Rotary Club La Ermita, «Thank you all for supporting us, and thanks to God as well. As a family, we are very grateful to all of you… especially during these difficult times. We might not be able to pay you back for these products, but we continue praying for all of you.»

Engels Barrios – Huron Valley – Sarah Teare

31 marzo, 2021/en Meet our families /por profiles

Engels Barrios (33), is the proud new owner of a Habitat home! He lives by his own, next to three more houses inhabited by his siblings, who also built with Habitat in the past. Engels is currently working as sales and business advisor.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala to build his home, Engels rented several houses for almost 8 years; “When I was renting, it was very uncomfortable because I had to be packing and moving my stuff all the time. So, one day my parents gave me this piece of land, and I decided it was time to build my own house,» he refers.

When we asked how he feels with his new home, Engels answered, “I feel great! Knowing that now I am paying for something that is for my own is very satisfactory, because I do not have to worry anymore about having to leave a place, and I am thankful for that.» In the future, Engels is planning to build some fences or walls outside the house and add a second floor.

Regarding to COVID-19 pandemic, Engels mentions, “Regarding to that, now I know that I can come back home and be safe here, it is the best feeling.” he continues, «what I enjoy the most of my house is that, even though outside is very warm or cold, inside it stays fresh and cool.»

About the time shared with the volunteers Engels recalls, “Because of work I could not be present during that week, but my family, specially my sister, Lissette, and my parents, were here, and everyday they shared pictures and videos with me,» he continues, «It was a great week, they not only helped my family, but the community, because they were playing with all the children from the block and they were all really happy.»

He finished by sharing a message to the volunteers, “Thank you all very much for your support, even though I could not be present, receive our greetings from me, and my family,» he continues «I invite you to continue on supporting more families.»

Uk’u’x já Project – The Tum Family

30 marzo, 2021/en Meet our families /por profiles

Doña Juana lives with her husband, Jorge, and their three children, Silvia (17), Gaspar (15), and Oscar (12) in the community of Batzul, Chajul, in the department of El Quiché. Juana takes care of the home, while Jorge works in the field, and he is also a part of the local leadership committee in his community.

Before partnering up with Habitat Guatemala to receive a Smokeless Stove, the family cooked, for more than 10 years, on a stove that was in poor conditions. “Our stove was very old, causing the smoke to stay inside our kitchen. It caused my wife to suffer from several diseases,» he continues, «when they showed us the design of the stove, I decided to demolish my old kitchen, which was full of holes and rotten pieces of wood, and we built a new one. You can see it is new, we have a new kitchen and a new stove now!” says Jorge.

Both Jorge and Juana feel content with their new stove; “We are very grateful and feel happy with it! It has been a great improvement for us to receive this new model of stove.” Juana adds: «I can cook all of our meals at the same time, the smoke goes outside, and we are saving wood at the same time!»

They conclude by sharing a message to the donors: “Thanks to each one of you! May God bless you! Thank you for visiting us and supporting us with this project for our community.” – Jorge.

(pictured, the family’s old stove)

Uk’u’x já Project – The López Family

30 marzo, 2021/en Meet our families /por profiles

Doña Teresa lives with her husband, Sebastián, and their three children, Francisco (18), Susana (15) and Marta (6), in the community of Chemal, Chajul, Nebaj, in the department of Quiché. Teresa takes care of the home, while Sebastián and Francisco work in the field.

Before partnering up with Habitat Guatemala to receive a Smokeless Stove, Teresa used to cook over an open flame on the floor, which is called a “poyo” in Spanish. “I used to cook on the floor, the smoke made my eyes red and caused my children and I to get sick as well as suffer from headaches,” she explains.

Now, after a few months of using their new stove, Teresa feels really happy with it; “We are content with our stove, it is working well. There is no more smoke inside our kitchen anymore, and we have no more teary eyes!” She continues, «Now, I can cook all of my meals… tortillas, atol, and beans, at the same time.»

They finish by sharing a message to the donors: “We are very grateful to you all for your support and for providing us with this stove to improve our health” – Teresa.

(pictured, Teresa’s old stove, or «poyo»)

Uk’u’x já Project – The Chávez Family

30 marzo, 2021/en Meet our families /por profiles

Doña Martha lives with her husband and their four children, Juan (10), Ana (7), Kevin (5) and Nelson (7 months) in the community of Pasojoc I, Zacualpa, in the department of El Quiché. Martha takes care of the home, while her husband works in the field.

Before partnering up with Habitat Guatemala to receive a Smokeless Stove, Martha used to cook over an open flame on the floor, which is called a “poyo” in Spanish. “The old stove was in poor conditions, and it consumed much more wood, I cooked on it for seven years,” says Martha. Cooking like this, caused her to suffer from different respiratory diseases and red eyes due to the smoke, which is very common problem with women, as most of them take care of the house chores.

She feels satisfied with her new stove; “I feel happy with my new stove! Now, when I prepare my tortillas I do not have to be on my knees, I can just stand up by the stove, without my knees or back hurting.”

Martha sends a message to the donors: «Tiox! Thanks to all the institutions involved in this project. Thank you for providing us with this stove.»

(pictured, Martha’s old, or «poyo»)

Uk’u’x já Project – The Hernández Family

30 marzo, 2021/en Meet our families /por profiles

Antonia lives with her husband, Antonio, four of their children, and their grandson, Antonio Jr., in the community of Chemal, Chajul, in the department of El Quiché. Antonia and her daughters take care of the home, while Antonio works in the field.

Before partnering up with Habitat Guatemala to receive a Smokeless Stove, Antonia used to cook over an open flame on the floor, which is called a “poyo” in Spanish. “Our poyo was built with a grill over some blocks. We cooked like that for over 15 years,” says Antonia. This caused her and her family different respiratory diseases and red eyes due of the smoke that stayed inside the house.

Antonia feels really happy with her new stove; “Our new stove is completely different!” She continues, “Now, we only use three or four pieces of wood. With the old one, we used up to 10-15 pieces every time we wanted to cook. And the best part is, that smoke leaves the house!»

They finish by sharing a message to the donors: “Thank you for providing us with this stove, we are improving our health now that we have it.” – Antonia.