Healthy Home Kit – Estilia de León – Willie Nemeth

Doña Estilia (60) lives with her husband, Maleno (68), and her uncle, Valerio, in the community of San Andrés Semetabaj, near Lake Atitlán, Sololá. While Maleno works in agriculture, Estilia weaves traditional clothes from home.

As part of Habitat Guatemala’s Healthy Home Kit, families receive a smokeless stove, a sanitary latrine and a water filter, to help them improve their health by giving them adequate access to proper sanitation, potable water and a smoke free environment.

“I used to cook over an old stove that was in poor conditions, before that I did not have any stove, I cooked over an open flame on the floor. With the new one I feel content, we have been able to save wood too. It is better because I can cook everything at once, my tortillas, coffee, beans!” Estilia has felt a difference in her health; no more eye irritation because the smoke no longer stays inside the kitchen.

Before receiving their new latrine, she explains that their old latrine was very old and in poor conditions “I can not remember for how long we had been using the old latrine, maybe 10 – 15 years, it was covered with wood sticks. Now, the new one is pretty good, comfortable and private.” The family has also felt a difference with their water filter. Before they drank water directly from the sink, causing them intestinal diseases. Now, it is easier and safer to drink potable water from the filter. “The water from the filter tastes better, and we can drink it whenever we want,” says Estilia.

Estilia refers to her time with the volunteers; “It was an excellent day! in the group everybody work the same as hard! We were very happy to receive them,” she continues, “Maltiox! (thank you) to all of the volunteers for their support. Receive our greetings and may God bless you.”