Doña Carmen, lives with her husband José, and their two children, Selvin (16) and Wendy (12), in a small house in the outskirts of San Pedro las Huertas, Sacatepéquez. José works as a taxi driver in Guatemala City while Carmen owns a small tortilla shop in their home.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala, Carmen used to cook over an open flame (where she used to prepare the tortillas she sold) and did not have access to proper sanitation or safe drinking water.

“When a friend came to my house and told me about this project, I was very excited, because I have been wanting my stove and proper sanitation for a long time!” says Carmen.  When asked about how she feels with her new stove Carmen answers: “I feel very happy,” she explains that her tortilla business is now growing thanks to her new stove.

As part of the Healthy Home Kit, the family also received a sanitary latrine and a water filter. Before receiving their latrine, the family did not have adequate sanitation and therefore had the need to practice open defecation.  “This solution has made a big change in their lives, Carmen explains: “For me this latrine means a lot, it was a big help.”

Regarding the water filter, she says, “The water filter has helped us stop getting sick. Before we drank contaminated water that made us sick and it was dirty because of the dust too,” she continues, “now it is pure and clean.”

To the team that made this project possible doña Carmen wants to say;  “I am very thankful to all who have helped us. I feel really happy with my kit! I invite you to continue with your support to all the people in need.”

Silvia (23)  lives with her husband Jeremías (25) and their two daughters, Keily (3) and baby Wilson who is three months old. Jeremías works in agriculture and Silvia takes care of the home and the girls.

Since they got married, Silvia used to cook on an open fire stove on the floor called “pollo”. The smoke caused her pain in her eyes and she burned herself many times, the stove caused  her toddler, Keily, respiratory diseases too.

“I feel happy and much better with my stove, it has helped me improved a lot!, she continues, “now I like to cook more because I have more space and save a lot of wood, I do not have to buy it very often.”

Silvia treasures the great memories shared with the volunteers on the day they built the stove, “Thank you for coming to build our stove, it was a big change in our family,” she says.

Doña Ana lives with her husband Eduardo (27), their three children Eduardo (8) Mynor (6), Wimer (1 year), and three more relatives in a small community called El Durazno, Chimaltenango. While she takes care of her home and family, Eduardo works in the fields.

Ana used to cook on an open fire stove called, “pollo”, which made her and her children sick because of the smoke, especially baby Wilmer who was suffering from severe respiratory diseases.

“I feel much content with my stove, it is the first stove I have in my life,” she continues, “we also save a lot of wood with it, I have enough space to prepare my tortillas and the rest of our food at the same time!”

When asked about the volunteers, Ana recalls: “It was a great day, we all worked really hard, they were very fun! We still remember them, they left a coin on it, but one of the neighbors kid took it to play with it.”

“Thank you for building my stove, thanks to the volunteers and Habitat staff, it has improved our life a lot. May God bless you all, I may not be able to pay you back, but God will.”