Hope for Vicenta through a new home

Habitat for Humanity Guatemala and Familia Horizonte are working together so that more low-income families have a decent place to live, specifically in a project in Aldea La Fragua, municipality and department of Zacapa, Guatemala.

The first phase of this project is the technical planning for the construction of micro communities, to benefit low-income families, in order to recover the stability they need for children to live in a decent home and housing; and in the following phases, joint fundraising strategies will be worked on for this purpose.

Today, a personalized home was delivered to Doña Vicenta and her family, which will provide them with strength, stability and self-sufficiency.

The house has:

  • 3 bedrooms
  • 1 corridor
  • 1 living room/kitchen/dining room
  • 1 bathroom

The house is built with: concrete, 25 kg block, metal sidings, Aluzinc sheet, metal door, windows and smoothed cement floor.

“For 44 years we have impacted more than 155 thousand families through decent housing and construction improvements. Our Program of Attention to Extreme Poverty has contributed to the integral development of more than 72 thousand families. This has been achieved through the use of local resources and alliances such as the one we are strengthening today. We are happy that together we will be able to transform the lives of many families in Guatemala, because every person deserves a decent place to live”. Delorean Randich, national director of Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, said.

 

With this alliance, work will continue to improve the living conditions of families in eastern Guatemala.


Habitat for Humanity Guatemala has been facilitating access to decent housing for low-income families throughout the country for more than 44 years, contributing to the reduction of the quantitative and qualitative housing deficit. It empowers each person, promotes social participation and community development.

Familia Horizonte is a non-profit organization, innovatively leading a path of radical transformation that rescues, restores and empowers orphaned and vulnerable children and at-risk youth towards a life of self-sustainability, strengthening families, building community resilience and creating sustainable social enterprises.

Contact:

Diana Reyes, Communications Coordinator

Habitat for Humanity Guatemala

4740-642 DReyes@habitatguate.org

transforming lives with a water purification filter

In the heart of Huehuetenango, specifically in the community of Vega Seca, the project “Transforming Lives with a Water Purification Filter” led by Habitat for Humanity Guatemala has made a significant impact on the lives of 110 families. The main objective of this project is to improve living conditions, health and access to safe water services in this community.

Over a period of 2 months, the project planned and executed the purchase and delivery of 110 water purification filters. These filters not only seek to improve access to safe water for the families of Vega Seca, but also have specific objectives, such as promoting healthy and hygienic habits through training and awareness-raising on the installation, use and maintenance of the filters. In addition, the project seeks to reduce by 80% the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases transmitted by the consumption of contaminated water.

The implementation of the project was made possible by a generous donation from the Rotary Club of Kittanning, Pennsylvania. This donation facilitated the purchase and delivery of filters for many families in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala.

Close collaboration with Doña Lorena, a community leader, was essential to the success of the project. Lorena played a crucial role in identifying and selecting families through a socioeconomic study, ensuring that solutions were tailored to the specific needs of the community. Her active participation also facilitated training activities, addressing topics such as health education, hygiene, financial education and the proper use of filters.

Throughout the project, families demonstrated remarkable commitment by actively participating in the training sessions and learning the correct use of the filters. Thanks to this project and the generous donation from the Rotary Club of Kittanning, 110 families in Huehuetenango now have access to purified water, improving their living conditions and health.

In addition to the direct benefits to the families, the project also contributes to the environment by reducing the purchase of bottled water and the associated plastic waste. The local Habitat for Humanity Guatemala team will continue to work to identify new ways to improve the quality of life for the residents of Vega Seca and address emerging needs within the community.

 

Race Against Homelessness 2024

Help us transform the lives of other families one concrete floor at a time.

Habitat Guatemala joins Race Against Homelessness #RAH2024 to promote its region-wide campaign 100,000 Floors to Play On.

Through #RAH2024, we seek to encourage the global community of sports-minded, wellness-minded people to support the campaign and transform the lives of Guatemalan families with concrete floors.

What is 100,000 floors to play with?

100,000 Floors to Play On is a Habitat for Humanity and FICEM project that aims to transform the lives of 100,000 families throughout Latin America and the Caribbean by replacing 100,000 dirt floors with concrete floors by 2028.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, about 40% of the total population is affected by the housing deficit and of this percentage, 6% of households have a dirt floor as the predominant flooring material.

In Guatemala alone, there are more than 843,958 homes with predominantly dirt floors, seriously affecting the health, nutrition and well-being of families, especially children, who are the most vulnerable population as they are in direct contact with the soil while crawling, walking, playing or eating on the surface.

What is the impact of a concrete floor? ·

  • 70% reduction in parasitic infections ·
  • 49% reduction in diarrheas
  • 81% reduction in anemia cases
  • Increased cognitive development from 36% to 96%.

Who is the initiative aimed at?

The 100,000 Floors to Play On campaign is aimed primarily at supporting households headed by mothers, with children under 6 years of age, older adults and/or people with disabilities.

What will Habitat for Humanity Guatemala (HPHG) contribute?

From 2023 to 2025, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala will designate its own funds to support the construction of concrete floors nationwide; in 2023, approximately USD$ 385,000 was designated to help 2,500 families. During the three years of the initiative, around USD$ 1.2 million will be provided.

Join #RHA2024 in this exciting virtual event and seek to make a difference in communities in Guatemala that need our help to have a decent house to call home! Your generosity can transform the lives of many children by providing them with a hygienic, safe and durable concrete floor.

Every donation counts and with each one we are one step closer to creating a more hopeful and dignified future for the families we support.

Donate now and be part of the change

Constructive Brigade C&W Guatemala

Volunteer groups are a tool for citizen participation, individuals, company collaborators, students and organized groups, we are all agents of change in our country.

On this occasion we joined forces with C&W Guatemala, last November 17 we carried out a constructive brigade in which we built 2 concrete floors and delivered 2 water purifying filters to two families in San Miguel Petapa, Guatemala.

We thank the C&W Guatemala volunteers for joining our volunteer program, with their help they contribute to help more Guatemalan families improve their quality of life.

Volunteering is an opportunity for more people, companies, educational centers and organized groups to get involved and directly impact the quality of life of many Guatemalan families, we just need hearts and hands willing to serve.

Habitat for Humanity mourns the death of former first lady Rosalynn Carter

ATLANTA (Nov. 19, 2023) – Habitat for Humanity is deeply saddened by the passing of former U.S. first lady Rosalynn Carter, who was a champion and strong voice for affordable, decent housing for all. For more than three decades, she and President Jimmy Carter donated their time and leadership to Habitat each year to build and improve homes around the world. She died peacefully on Sunday at her home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 96, with family by her side.

“We grieve the loss of Mrs. Carter and our prayers are with President Carter and their family. Mrs. Carter has helped change the lives of thousands of homeowners, empowered countless women and inspired millions of people. Over the years, she has blessed us with her compassion for serving others and commitment to improving housing conditions,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. “The Carters lent a hand to Habitat for Humanity as a young, fledging organization and created global awareness of our work and of our mission. We are grateful for the incredible impact she and President Carter have had on Habitat and on the families who have benefited from their shining example.”

After leaving the White House, the Carters planned for meaningful ways to continue their commitment to social justice and basic human rights. Their first volunteer experience with Habitat for Humanity was in March 1984 near their home in Americus, Georgia, where Habitat for Humanity was founded. Later that same year, the Carters joined Habitat volunteers in New York City’s Lower East Side to renovate an abandoned building in partnership with families in need of affordable housing.

That marked Habitat for Humanity’s first Jimmy Carter Work Project, which was later renamed to the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Since then, President and Mrs. Carter have worked with more than 104,000 volunteers across the U.S. and in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,390 Habitat homes. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has served more than 46 million people around the world.

In 2016, Habitat named President and Mrs. Carter as the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians for their extraordinary dedication to service in alignment with Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

For photos and videos of President and Mrs. Carter volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, visit habitat.ngo/CarterPhotoVideo.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia. Since its founding in 1976, the Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more

than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.


For press:

Contact:

Sofía Trejos Lépiz

Hábitat para la Humanidad Internacional strejos@habitat.org

Health modules – Brenda Yoselin

Brenda (7 years old) lives with her mother Roselia (33 years old), a housewife, her father Benjamín (45 years old), a farmer, her sister Leidy (15 years old), her brother Marlon (10 years old), her brother Yonny (5 years old) and her little sister Elida (3 years old). The family lives in Aldea Simajhuleu, San Juan Comalapa, Chimaltenango.

Brenda likes to play with dolls, coloring books and notebooks, her favorite color is pink and she loves flowers.

Brenda was diagnosed on June 29, 2023 with kidney disease, she is currently receiving her hemodialysis treatment in Guatemala City, for this the family usually leaves early in the morning to be able to arrive on time for her appointment.

With the construction of the health module, Brenda now has a space with the conditions and equipment necessary to perform peritoneal dialysis at home. This project has a direct impact on the savings in time and resources that were required for her to travel to the city to receive her treatment.

Drinking Water System for Nueva Jerusalén

In the heart of the municipality of Poptún, in the department of Petén, lies the community of Nueva Jerusalén. A community that, until recently, faced significant challenges related to access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. However, thanks to the implementation of a comprehensive project by Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, the lives of 32 families have undergone a transformational change.

Nueva Jerusalén Community at a Glance

Prior to the project, the 32 families of Nueva Jerusalén lived in conditions of poverty and extreme poverty. Their homes were constructed primarily of materials such as wood and sheet metal, and many lacked full or partial access to basic water, hygiene and sanitation services.

Selection of Beneficiary Families

The selection of beneficiary families was carried out with the support of the HPHG technical team and the Community Urban and Rural Development Councils (COCODEs). The families most in need of support were identified, ensuring that they met the foundation’s selection criteria. This ensured that resources were directed to those who really needed them.

Project Implementation

The implementation of the project involved the beneficiary families themselves at various stages. Adults participated in construction tasks, such as transporting materials and supporting the masons. In addition, capacity building activities were promoted to encourage positive changes in health, hygiene, savings and risk management.

Impactful Results

The project succeeded in providing housing solutions that promoted access to water, hygiene and sanitation for these families. As a result:

  • All 32 families now have rainwater harvesting systems, water purifying filters, batteries, and filter system candela replacements.
  • Five community rainwater harvesting systems were built to increase the community’s access to water resources.
  • Families acquired knowledge and self-management tools on health, hygiene, savings and risk management.

Key Strategies

During project implementation, several strategies were employed, including:

Development of an action plan and timeline with established dates.
Identification and selection of families with the participation of community leaders.
Meetings with community leaders and beneficiary families to establish commitments.
Supervision visits of the construction process by technical staff.
Implementation of capacity building activities.
Active participation of community members in various tasks.

Lessons Learned

The project revealed valuable lessons, including:

  • The importance of community engagement in the success of the project.
  • The need to properly manage materials with suppliers.
  • Consider weather factors in planning activities.

Community Impact

The implementation of the project has had a significant impact on the community:

  • Fewer gastrointestinal illnesses due to access to safe water.
  • Less time spent collecting water, allowing families to focus on other activities.
  • Increased knowledge of hygiene and risk management practices.
  • Increased quantity and quality of water available to households.

Sustainability

The project promotes sustainability through community training and empowerment. Families are able to self-manage new projects and address their identified needs. In addition, financial education is promoted to improve family economic management.

Support from Authorities and the Private Sector

The project received support from local authorities, the COCODEs, and the private sector, in particular Aliaxis by Durman, which donated essential materials for project implementation.

The Drinking Water System in Nueva Jerusalén is an inspiring example of how a committed foundation can change lives and entire communities. Thanks to this initiative, 32 families now enjoy improved access to water, hygiene and sanitation, which has had a positive impact on their daily lives and future. This project has not only provided concrete solutions, but has also sown the seeds of self-management and sustainable development in the community of Nueva Jerusalén.

Health modules – Melvin

Melvin (12 years old) lives with his mother Flor (36 years old), a housewife, and his father Horacio (47 years old), a farmer. The family lives in the San Roque Agrarian Community, Caballo Blanco Village, Retalhuleu.

Melvin is currently in 5th grade, his favorite colors are red and white. He enjoys playing with cars, playing soccer and coloring books. Melvin and his family also have a pet dog named Miquisi.

The cause of Melvin’s diagnosis has not been determined. He is currently receiving peritoneal dialysis at home, where he has a peritoneal dialysis room with the necessary equipment to perform this process under the best possible conditions.

Melvin’s family will save time and resources since they will not have to travel to Guatemala City to receive his treatment.