Healthy Home Kit: María Sánchez

María lives with her husband, Pedro, and their five children, twins Juan Carlos and Rolando (17) Jorge Luis (11), Fernando (9) and Rosa Maribel (3) in a small community in Sololá. While  María’s  husband works in agriculture, she takes care of the home and of the older children when they are home from school.

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

María shares how implementing a smokeless stove has improved aspects of her family’s daily life: “I used to cook over an open flame for more than 19 years! And the smoke caused me to have headaches and respiratory diseases,” she continues; “with the new one I feel a huge change now, no more headaches and my kitchen is free of smoke. I feel very happy!”

Before, María and her family were able to build a new latrine as part of the kit, they rented one from their relatives that was far away and very uncomfortable. “Our new latrines is better,” María exclaims. “It is more comfortable and more private too!”

When asked about their water filter, María explains that they used to drink water directly from the sink, which caused them to suffer from different illnesses, now, they do not get sick anymore and the water tastes better.

She finishes by sharing a message to the donors: “May God bless you all! Thank you for your support.”