42 Healthy Home Kits to coffee-growing families in Chiquimula

Thanks to the support of EFICO Foundation, King Baudouin Foundation and Hesselink Koffie, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala delivered 42 “Healthy Home Kits” to families living in extreme poverty in Caserío El Bendito and Caserío Los Vásquez, Chiquimula.

This project consists of delivering to 33 of the families: a sink (outdoor washing station), a cement floor, a water purifying filter; and to the remaining 9: a smokeless stove, a cement floor and a water purifying filter.

The current living conditions of these families are not conducive to good family health: cooking with an open flame causes excessive indoor smoke exposure and respiratory problems for everyone living there; dirty floors cause the spread of bacteria from outside the home to inside, and harbor insects that transmit infectious diseases. Inadequate washing stations cause the spread of infectious diseases, and the consumption of unpurified water causes gastrointestinal diseases.

The use of these kits seeks to improve the health and well-being of families through access to basic necessities: clean and purified water, a healthy cooking environment and adequate flooring.

In addition, we are contributing to the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda through Sustainable Development Goal 7 “Affordable and Non-Polluting Energy”, as smokeless cookstoves help reduce firewood consumption by 50%. This allows communities to experience less deforestation. Also, the stove technology safely removes smoke and carbon monoxide from inside the home, making firewood a cleaner source of energy.

We thank all the organizations that join us in building a better Guatemala!

 

 

 

 

 

Juan González Family – Hybrid House Program – Home for a Home

As of for many Guatemalan families, Juan, Rosa María and their son Andy (4) the dream of having a safe space for them to call home was far from being accomplish.  

This young couple started their family 3 years ago. Their house was built with metal corrugated sheets and dirt floor, causing several inconvenients for them, especially during rainy season, because water leaked and wetted everything, “The water went through here like a river, sometimes Andy folded paper boats and played with them, because he felt it was like a river or lake inside our house”, mentions Rosa Maria. 

Thanks to the support of Home for a Home in coordination with Habitat Guatemala, they have been living in their new hybrid home for 1 month. They share the differences that they have already noticed: “It is much more comfortable. We now have light and no more water leaks. Most importantly, we feel more joy since we moved in. Before we felt sad because our house was dark and cold.  We felt that a new home was never going to be a reality. Now, Andy can grow and develop in a much safer space, in his own room”, Rosa María mentions.  

Juan and Rosa Maria are excited to finally have a place that they can decorate and make comfortable for their family. “As a family, we want to continue improving our quality of life. This is just the beginning. – Juan González. 

They share a message for the donors: “We are grateful to you all. May God continue to provide you with the resources so you can continue supporting families like ours. Thank you!” – Rosa María.  

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Ana Pic- Hybrid House Program – Home for a Home

Ana, her husband Antonio and their two children Jose Antonio and Ana Cecilia, have been living in her brother-in-law’s house for the last 16 years. The house was in poor condition with a leaking roof and not enough space and privacy for everyone.  

With the support of Home for a Home, Ana and her family are now the proud owners of a hybrid house. When asked how they feel about their new home, Ana answers: “It has been a great improvement for my family, especially for my children. Now, we do not have to worry about waking up in the middle of the night to make a path for the rain to go through. We can sleep at peace knowing we are safe”. In the future, the family is planning to paint the house in a bright peach color. 

The hybrid house has a cement floor, which helps reduce parasitic and infectious diseases such as influenza and other intestinal infections. Complemented with the water filter, the Pic family now has access to clean drinking water. In addition, they have also received a sanitary latrine as their former latrine was already in poor condition after 16 years of use.  

“I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the construction of our house. Without you, this dream would not have been possible to achieve”. -Ana Víctoria Pic  

 

 

 

Isabel Tuc Family – Hybrid House Program – Home for a Home

Isabel, her husband Domingo, and their five children, Juana (18), Bryan (15), Rudy (14) Elmer (13) and Madeline (11) are the owners of a new Hybrid Home in the community of Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá.  

Our Hybrid Home is a two-room home built with a mix of traditional materials: adobe blocks, cement blocks, and wood. This solution is partially subsidized which means that beneficiary families are asked to contribute towards the cost of materials and provide labor such as preparing adobe blocks, among other tasks. Before partnering with Home for a Home and Habitat Guatemala, Isabel and her family used to live in a one room house built out of adobe blocks and wood with a ground floor. When asked how they feel about their new home, Isabel answers, “This has been a big change for us. Now, we feel calm. The rain and wind can come, because we are safe here”. 

As part of the Hybrid House Programs, families also receive a latrine, smokeless stove, water filter and a pila. This helps them improve their health by giving them access to proper sanitation, a smoke-free environment and safe drinking water.  When asked what is her favorite part of the house, she smiles and answers; “The entire house is my favorite part! I have always asked God for a house like this one!”  

Isabel finishes by sharing a message with the donors, “May God bless you. Thank you for sharing this blessing with us. We are grateful and wish you well in your paths”.