María lives with her husband, Fermín, and their three children, Fermín Jr. (23), Mynor (22) David (19) and Luis Enrique (16), in their new Habitat home in Valle de las Flores Habitat Housing Community in Escuintla. Fermín works as a security guard, while María is a homemaker and has a small tortilla shop in her house.

The López family is one of the 41 families who received a fully subsidized Habitat home through the Fuego Volcano Disaster Response project. The families who have benefited from the project are from the communities of San Miguel los Lotes, Los Barrios and El Rodeo. The Fuego Volcano eruption affected over 1.7 million Guatemalans, leaving many dead and missing, and thousands seeking refuge in temporary shelters.

Following the tragedy, the family lived in a shelter for a few months. Then, they moved to Quetzaltenango because one of her sons fell ill. That is when they received the visit from Habitat Staff who told them about the project. After a few months, they started to build a new home for themselves.

Nine months have passed since the family moved into their home in Valle de las Flores. When asked how she feels about her new home, María says, ”I feel grateful to God. Grateful to all the donors and volunteers that without knowing us, they helped us. Thanks to Habitat for looking after us.” She continues, “I had already lost hope, but you came and helped us. That is why I am thankful and calm. In the future I would love to have a big garden, full of flowers!”

The family enjoys  spending time together inside the house, as well as going to the nearby field to watch everybody play. María shares that their lives have changed for the better. “We never imagined what was going to happen to us. But, since the day that we moved in I feel changed and hopeful to start a new life.”

The family has many memories of the construction process, and the volunteers and donors that helped them. “We came and built with all of the volunteers. It was a great experience. We were able to spend time with them,” says María.

She finishes with a message to all of the donors and volunteers; “I cannot give you enough thanks. I would like to have all of you here to give you a big hug. I would not ever imagined to have a house of my own. I used to say to my husband; ‘I think that I am going to die before I have a house of my own’ and now it is a reality thanks to all of you! May God bless you. I will keep all you forever in my heart.”

María lives with her husband, Bernardo, and their son, Merly Leonardo (27) in their new Habitat home in Valle de las Flores Habitat Housing Community in Escuintla. Bernando is currently working as a bus driver, while María is a homemaker.

The Castellanos family is one of the 41 families who received a fully subsidized Habitat home through the Fuego Volcano Disaster Response project.  The families who have benefited from the project are from the communities of San Miguel los Lotes, Los Barrios and El Rodeo. The Fuego volcano  eruption affected over 1.7 million Guatemalans, leaving many dead and missing, and thousands seeking refuge in temporary shelters.

Following the tragedy, the family lived in shelters, with relatives and then rented a small house made out of metal corrugated sheets. It was then that they received the visit from Habitat Staff, who sought to include them in this project.

A few months have passed since the family moved into their home in Valle de las Flores. When asked about how they feel with their new home María says; “We feel happy and grateful. The weather is nice and we have our own space now.”

In the future, the family is planning to paint the house and plant a big garden as well. “We enjoy time with our granddaughters here. We go to the field to watch everyone play and if we want, we can just take a bus and go to the nearest town,” says María.

The family has many memories regarding the construction process with all of the volunteers and donors that helped them, “Our lives have changed in a big way. We feel safer and more secure here. Thanks to Habitat, to the donors and everyone who helped us,” says María.

She finishes with a message to all of  the donors and volunteers; «Thank you all, for your support. Thanks to you, we now have a safe place and an adequate house.  May God bless you.”

Angela lives with her three children,  Alan (15), Joselyn (14) and Angela (8), in their new Habitat home in Valle de las Flores Habitat Housing Community in Escuintla.  Angela is a homemaker and her children are studying in Palin Escuintla.

The Alvarez family is one of the 41 families who received a fully subsidized Habitat home through the Fuego Volcano Disaster Response project.  The families who have benefited from the project are from the communities of San Miguel los Lotes, Los Barrios and El Rodeo. The Fuego volcano eruption affected over 1.7 million Guatemalans, leaving many dead and missing, and thousands seeking  in temporary shelter.

A few months have passed since the family moved into their home in Valle de las Flores. When asked about how they feel with their new home, Lilian says; ”I feel calm and content. Before I felt lost without a place to live. Now, little by little we feel more stable, because we know it belongs to us.”

The family is planning to add a fence around the house and Angela expresses, “I want to add a garden too.»

She shares that her kids are still in the process of adapting to the new house, but with time they will feel more comfortable. “When I have a free time after doing all the house chores, I enjoy sitting down and relaxing with them,” says Angela.

The family has many memories about the construction process with all of the volunteers and donors that helped them, “It was of great help what they came and did. They helped me paint and finish other details,” says Angela.

She finishes with a message to the donors and volunteers; “Habitat is an organization that really helps to fulfill the dreams of many people. I am very grateful to all of you. Thanks to you we now have a place to live. May God bless you for all your help.»