Ruthilia Carias Family

Ruthilia is living in her new Habitat home in Valle de las Flores Habitat Housing Community in Escuintla

She is one of the 41 families who received a fully subsidized Habitat home through the Fuego Volcano Disaster Response project.  The families who have benefited from the project are from the communities of San Miguel los Lotes, Los Barrios and El Rodeo. The Fuego Volcano eruption affected over 1.7 million Guatemalans, leaving many dead and missing, and thousands seeking refuge in temporary shelters.

Nine months have passed since she moved into their home in Valle de las Flores. When asked about how she feels about her new home, Ruthilia says; ”I feel happy to have a home now.” In the future she is planning to add a fence around the house.

Ruthilia enjoys to spend time in her house and she explains; “It feels really different to have my own space.”

She has many memories about the construction of her home, and all of the volunteers and donors that helped them, “A lot of people came to build with us, me and my family came to build too.”

She finishes with a message to all of the donors and volunteers; “Thank you. Thanks for your support. If it was not for you, I still would not have my own house.”