Retalhuleu is a city where many residents know of the benefits of Habitat’s services, however few have the resources to purchase land. For the handful that do, they often need additional help completing their homes.

Edwin and his wife Clara lived in a loaned house along with their three children, Edwin II, Angel Daniel and Jose Alejandro before pursing the idea of building a house through Habitat. Edwin, is a bus conductor and Clara is a teacher.  Edwin’s job offers flexibility so he can be with the children during the afternoons. About his job, Edwin says; “I like it, I can come home at what hour I would  like, like now, meeting you all.”

The house they lived in before belonged to Edwin’s brother and he only had to pay the energy. This allowed Edwin and Clara to save money to purchase a plot of land and build their Habitat house. It was the volunteers who really made a difference toward the completion of their house. “Thank you for coming to lend a hand. We lacked a lot and you helped us to finish. If you did not raise the funds to help us, we would not have this home.” When asked how it feels to finally have a house of his own? He shares, “it feels good,” –and how do the kids feel about having a house? “ they don’t have a choice” he quips and a smile spreads across his face, “they seem to really enjoy it.”

María Rosa, María Verolia and María Ameliana (las tres Marías) are three sisters living in a small community in Chimaltenango. While María Verolia works in a nearby town, María Rosa and María Ameliana take care of the house and weave traditional clothing.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala to receive their smokeless stove, they used to cook on an open flame, causing them to have irritation in their eyes and respiratory diseases due to the smoke. “Before, we had to bend on our knees near the “pollo” to prepare our tortillas,” she continues; “Now, we do not have to do it any more.”

María Rosa explains how they feel with the new stove: “We feel happy now! we no longer have to use a lot of wood, just a few pieces,” she continues; “we can cook our beans, prepare some salsas to eat really fast.”

They finish by sharing a message to the volunteers: “It was a fun day! We were really happy to receive them in our house,” she continues; “May God bless you, thank you all for your support in building our stove!

Buenaventura lives with her husband Ernesto,  and their 12 children, Glendy (27), Dalila (26), Gerbert (25), Eizer (21), Nancy (20), Sulmy (18), Lesbia (16), Osman (13), Juli (11), Dorcas (9), Lester (7) and Suleika (3) in a small community in the outskirts of Chimaltenango. While Ernersto works in agriculture and is a Pastor, Buenaventura is a homemaker and weaves traditional clothes with the oldest of their girls.

Dalila (one of the oldest girls), explains how partnering with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala to implement a smokeless stove has improved aspects of their family’s daily life: “we used to cook over an open flame, it was small, so we had to be cooking everything one by one, first our tortillas, then the beans” she continues; “thanks to the new one, it is easier! We are happy, because we can prepare food for everyone at the same time.”

Dalila shares that all the family feels content with the stove and have saved wood too because it is designed to consume less wood and heat evenly.

She finishes by sharing a message to the volunteers: “Thank you for your support and for building our stove, we are happy using it now!”

Juan lives with his wife Mayda, and their son Axel (11) in their new Habitat home in a small town in Chimaltenango.  Juan works as a janitor in a nearby school and Mayda is a home maker.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala the family used to live in the school where Juan is currently working. After learning about our programs through a construction fair, they decided it was time to build a house of their own.

When asked how the feels with his new home, Juan smiles, and responds, ”We feel happy, it is all worth it! this is for my son.”  The family is planning to fence around the house and paint the walls in the future.  “I have taken some garden trainings, so I am also planning to add a beautiful garden too,” says Juan.

He finishes by sharing a message to the volunteers: “Thank you for your support! Receive our greetings, we are very happy with the house.”