Juana Andrés (38), and his six children, Juana (19), Hilda (13), Juliana (10), Marta (7), Angélica (5), Oscar (3) and baby Elsy are the owners of a new Hybrid House in the community of Chelam, San Sebastián, Huehuetenango. Juana is a single mother, who works in the lands nearby harvesting coffee and potato.

Our new Hybrid House solution is a two-room home built with a mix of traditional materials: adobe blocks, cement blocks, and wood. This solution is partially subsi-dized 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, the family used to live in a small room that was used to sleep and to cook on an open fire. The small room was built with adobe walls, ground floor and acai in the roof.

When asked how they feel about their new home, Juana answers, “I feel content with our new house, it is an opportunity to improve and have a safe space for my children, to no longer suffer from cold.”

Juana explains that their lives have improved greatly with this new home because they no longer have to sleep in one room, with the rain water leaking and suffering cold.

As part of the Hybrid House Programs, families also receive a latrine and a smokeless stove. This helps them improve their health by giving them adequate access to proper sanitation and a smoke-free environment.

Juana finishes by sharing a message with the donors, “Thank you for your support, by providing us with this house. We feel happy.”

Santa (38), her husband, Alfredo (37) and their seven children, Julissa (15), Abner (13), Vicky (10), Ilse (8), Elma (4) Abdias (2.5) and baby Juan (6 months), are the owners of a new Hybrid House in the community of  Aldea Panyebar, San Juan la Laguna, Sololá. Alfredo works in the fields, while Santa stays home taking care of the children.  

Our new Hybrid House solution 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, Santa’s family used to live in a small house built out of corrugated metal sheets and wood with ground floor. “Since we got married, we have been living like that for over 15 years, my children grow up like that. I was always hoping for a proper house for my children. Now, it is a reality.” – mentions Santa. 

When asked how she feels about their new home, Santa answers, “We are very content! Now, all of my children are safe, they feel happy to. We are grateful to God for this gift. Now, we no longer feel cold during the night, we feel warmer.” 

As part of the Hybrid House Programs, families also receive a latrine and a smokeless stove. This helps them improve their health by giving them adequate access to proper sanitation and a smoke-free environment. Santa used to cook on an open flame on the floor, causing the smoke to stay inside their house. “Our products have helped us improved in many ways, no more smoke inside our kitchen, the water tastes good and the latrine is in better conditions.” says Santa. 

Santa finishes by sharing a message with the donors, “Thanks to God, for giving us this opportunity to send our greetings to all of you. Thank you all for your support, every day I asked God to keep on blessing you and your family.” 

Sulma (21), her husband and their two children, Jeffrey (5) and Jessica (1), are the owners of a new Hybrid House in the community of  Aldea Panyebar, San Juan la Laguna, Sololá. Sulma’s husband works in the fields, while she stays home taking care of the children.  

Our new Hybrid House solution 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, Sulma’s family used to live in a small house built out of corrugated metal sheets and wood with ground floor. “When it rained the water licked leaked in and I was afraid of my children getting sick.” – mentions Sulma 

When asked how she feels about their new home, Sulma answers, “I feel happy and grateful for this house! My family and I are very content. Thanks to God, we received this gift and it was a surprise!” 

As part of the Hybrid House Programs, families also receive a water filter, latrine and a smokeless stove. This helps them improve their health by giving them adequate access to proper sanitation and a smoke-free environment. Sulma used to cook on an open flame on the floor, causing the smoke to stay inside their house. “I used to cook on the floor, my new stove is working great, we are saving wood! And our water filter is providing us with safe drinking water, especially for my children.” says Sulma. 

Sulma finishes by sharing a message with the donors, “May all of you receive our sincere gratitude. May God bless you, for giving us this gift.” 

Lucas, his wife, Mercedes and their 8 children, Gladys (21), Claraluz (19), Giovanni (6), Mynor (14), Lucrecia (12) and Lucas (8), Rosibel (5) and Marvin (2) are the owners of a new Hybrid House in the community of Chipó, San Lucas Antonio Palopó, Sololá. While Lucas works in agriculture, Mercedes sells different herbs in the market during market days.  

Our new Hybrid House solution 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. 

As part of the Hybrid House Programs, families also receive a latrine, water filter and a smokeless stove. This helps them improve their health by giving them adequate access to proper sanitation and a smoke free environment. Mercedes used to cook over an open fire on the floor, “I used to cook on the floor, the smoke gave me headaches and red eyes. Now, it is completely different with my new stove. I no longer have to be on my knees to cook. We cook with less wood and the smoke goes outside,” says Mercedes. Previously, the family did not own a latrine and would to go to the woods. Now, that they have a safe and hygienic place for their basic needs. 

Both Lucas and Mercedes finish by sharing a message with the donors, “Receive our greetings! Many thanks! We are very happy with our house, our children have enough space to sleep and we all sleep in peace. Thank you!”  

Before partnering with Home for a Home and Habitat Guatemala, Mercedes family used to live in an old one-room house built out of adobe blocks, wood and dirt flooring. “The roof was in poor condition too. When it rained the water leaked and we had to look for things to cover the children with because they would get sick,” says Mercedes. 

When asked how they feel about their new home, both Lucas and Mercedes answer, “We feel very happy and grateful. Now, the water is no longer leaking when it rains,” and Mercedes adds, “We feel content with the house, we are no longer scared of the rain and cold. I do not worry for my children anymore.”