Karla Margoth Ardón Coronado – South Co

Karla  (24) lives with her daughter Deyanara (1.5) and her mother Blanca in Guastatoya, El Progreso. She greets us joyfully and shows us her new house. 

Karla’s brother, Christian, worked as a mason on a Habitat Guatemala construction site and introduced her the possibility of building a home.   

Before, we rented for years, our dream was to have our own house. And now we are very happy here, we have peace, and privacy. Now we can live with dignity. Thank you!” – Karla 

The family can now can save money that was used on rent and focus on more productive activities in the home.  

When the volunteers were here it was very interesting for us. Especially that the women also worked normally on the construction site. We are very grateful! Now we have our own house. Thank you!” – Karla and her mother tell us smiling. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leslie Alexandra González Fajardo – HFH Omaha

Leslie (35) lives in her new house on the outskirts of Sanarate, El Progreso with her mother Dolores (61) and her son Hessle (14). 

Leslie works at the Social Security Office in Guatemala City. For many years, Leslie and her motherlived with relatives or renting.  

In 2019, they heard about the possibility of building a house with Habitat Guatemala.  

“The local Habitat staff helped us to apply, then everything happened quickly. After only 6 months we moved in!” – she tells us joyfully. “We do feel very secure here.” 

When asked about the experience of working with volunteers, Leslie’s mom said: “We are very grateful for the help of the volunteers.  They were all very nice. We worked, ate and laughed together. We feel a great gratitude”. Leslie.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aura Alicia Trigueros Estrada – CISCO

“Pase adelante!” – Aura (40) says with her children Mariangel (8) and Hostin (10) as they invite us in to their home high up in the hills of Guastatoya, El Progreso.  

Aura is a single mother of 4 children.For many years, they moved regularily from one rental apartment to the next. Through friends she heard about Habitat Guatemala and with hard work, Aura managed to buy a land where she could build a home. The Habitat Guatemala staff helped her with the paperwork and the build. 

“Our last housing was made of wood and plastic, it was not good for us, the children were sick all the time. Now, we have a beautiful house. I can’t tell you how happy we are! Thanks to God and to all of you!” – Aura 

She proudly tells us about her chicken in the garden and that they always have fresh eggs. Next, she would like to buy a new gate and improve the entrance area of the plot. 

Regarding her experience working with the volunteers, Aura said: “When the volunteers came, we became friends. They really helped us a lot, thank you so much for that, I hope everyone is doing well wherever they are right now. I hope that one day we can meet again“. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dalila Coronaro Romero – CISCO

On the small terrace of her house overlooking Guastatoya, El Progreso, Dalila (46) welcomes us with a shy smile. She lives here as a single mother with her youngest daughter Gracieli (16). In the past, Dalila was rejected multiple times for a mortage. After inheritering a land from her father, a donor was found to help her build her home.  

“The Habitat staff here in Guastatoya was very helpful. Over the past 25 years, I have moved many times. I wanted very much to have my own house to live with dignity.” – Dalila 

Dalila and her daughter now have a safe place to call home and also plan to improve the terrace of her house in the future. She wanted to thank the volunteers for their support in building her new home: “It was a pleasure to work with the volunteers. I  invite them to come to visit me soon. I bless each and every one of you. Thank you! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Top Family

Marina and her husband, Cruz, live with their five grandchildren, Kevin (15), Jessica (12), Jayro (11) and three-year old twins Keylor (3) and Lady (3), in the community of Cerro Alto, in San Juan Sacatepéquez.   

On a daily basis, Doña Marina and Don Cruz work very hard to generate income in order to feed their family. They adopted their five grandchildren when their mother passed away. Keylor, who was born with a visual disability, requires additional care and attention.    

 The Top family home, similar to those in the area, was built in a high-risk area, with small rooms made from corrugated metal sheets and dirt floor, causing several health issues and hazards for the children. 

Thanks to the support of Byran/College Station HFH, Habitat Guatemala was able to build a new house, in order to provide Keylor and his siblings with a healthier environment. When asked how they feel about their new home, Marina responded: “We are grateful and happy my grandchildren can grow in a safe environment.” 

She sends a message for the donors: “Thank you all for caring about my family. There are not much people in this world that will help you to build a house like this one. May God bless you!” 

 

 

 

 

Juan José Crúz – Hybrid House

Don Juanito (50), was cleaning the windows of his new home in San Augustín Acasaguastlán, El Progreso when we visited him. He was happy to see us and offered us a seat on his new sun-protected porch. 

“This house has improved my quality of life a lot” he says with calm voice. The walls of my old house were made of clay and whenever it started raining, the water would leak into the house. I often got sick and couldn’t go to work. Now, I have a safe, clean and dry space! – he rejoices. 

Don Juanito works as a mason at a Habitat for Humanity Guatemala. That is how he learned about the possibility of getting his own home. Since it was not possible to improve his old house, as the walls were in danger of collapsing, we were able to build his new Hybrid Home thanks to the support of international partners.  

“I work on a construction site as a mason’s helper. With the money I earn I want to buy furniture and build a small kitchen,” don Juanito proudly tells us. “Unfortunately, my mother passed away last year and I can’t share this happiness with her.” 

Don Juanito has strength and a big heart to help others as a volunteer. “On Sundays I visit old people who have lost their relatives and talk to them.” 

“I thank you all and God very much! Now, this house allows me to live in dignity and gives me strength to help others. I am very happy to be able to live here. Now, I will go back to the construction site and continue working!” he expresses while saying goodbye with a smile. 

Zuleyka Velásquez – Thrivent – Jennifer Sperry

Zuleyca (32) and her children José Luis (6), Alexis Enrique (3) and Manuel Enrique (1) receive us smiling in their garden on the outskirts of Aldea El Xab, El Asintal, Rethaluleu. His husband, Luis Enrique,is a police officer and is currently at work.  With the support of local Habitat staff, they filled out the paperwork, applied for a bank loan and started building. . 

“We didn’t know about the installment option before.” – Zuleyca tells us – “But this was the only way we could build the house on our own. Now we have a nice house and we can pay off the installments without pressure. We also plan to enlarge the fence and build a new room. A new gate is also planned.” 

The children play serenely in the garden during our visit and bring us fruit they picked themselves. 

 

“We lived next door before with my mother and brother. It was very cramped. Now we have a stable house and our privacy, yet we live as a family. The children can play safely in the garden. I can take care of the chickens, cook and we also grow corn.” – Zuleyca showing  pride . 

“I almost can’t find the words, to thank all the volunteers! That someone helps us without payment is very unusual for us. We became friends and went on trips together.” – Zuleyca’s eyes light up as she tells us about her memories. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claudia Alvarado – Mattituck School

Claudia (43) welcomes us with a smile in her well-kept house on the outskirts of Retalhuleu . She is single and has no children of her own. As a primary school teacher, she guides many children who are on their way to adulthood. 

“In the morning I work in the elementary school, and in the afternoon I work in an office as an accountant. I am very satisfied and also proud that I have my own house. Before, I lived with my parents. Now I have my own home” – she says contentedly, while alternately petting Lassi and Chispa, her two adopted dogs.” 

She heard from friends a few years ago about Habitat for Humanity Guatemala and the possibility of paying to build a home in installments . She then contacted our offices in Retalhuleu.  

 

Within 7 months, she was the proud owner of a Habitat home! “It was a wonderful experience weeks with the volunteers. We had a lot of shared experiences, learning about each other’s cultures. They helped us a lot, gave a lot of strength and effort. Thank you for this experience and help! Now I have my own house!” – Claudia Alvarado.

Since she works a lot, she is happy to be able to relax in a pleasant environment in her sparse free time. 

“The material used is of the highest quality! And with the support of the volunteers, we were then able to build the house very quickly. I hope to be able to get in touch with them again. You are always welcome!” – Claudia tells us.