The Yaxon Bocel Family

Ingrid Celestina and her husband, José Manuel, live with their two young sons Jose Angel and Francisco in a community in the region of Sololá. While José works in a shop in the nearby town of Sololá, Ingrid teaches elementary school in the morning and makes jewelry in the afternoon. Her speciality is creating beaded earrings, necklaces, and bracelets which she sells in a store in Antigua.

Ingrid and José learned about the low-interest loans that Habitat for Humanity Guatemala offers qualifying families at a promotional booth at a local fair. This is what immediately attracted them; they knew they wanted their own home as a family and this was a way to make it happen. Previously, they lived with Ingrid’s parents and, with two growing boys, it was becoming cramped. So Ingrid and José submitted an application to Habitat Guatemala and began the process of building their home.“Now that we have our own home I have my own space to cook, I save time in my daily tasks,” Ingrid says happily. “And, quite truly, now that I have a dedicated area for making my jewelry, this has become easier for me too. It’s much better to live in your own home. This is something I’ve always wanted.”

Ingrid continues: “It was wonderful to have the volunteers here. We loved learning about their culture. Everyone worked together, no matter the age, and it was beautiful to see the teamwork. It’s more efficient to work together. They are in our hearts and we love them!”