December 2019 – Hábitat para la Humanidad Guatemala

World Habitat Awards Bronze Winners 2019

18 December, 2019/in News EN /by admin

We are happy to announce that Habitat Guatemala has been named a Bronze Winner of the #WorldHabitatAwards 2019!

This award is a UN-Habitat initiative that recognizes and highlights innovative, outstanding and revolutionary housing ideas, projects and programmes from across the world.

Habitat for Humanity Guatemala participated with its Healthy Homes for Humanity program. This project provides families living in poverty with three basic services to improve their health and quality of life: a smokeless stove, water filter and sanitary latrine. It began in 2019 and is now active across all of Guatemala’s 22 administrative departments. Over the past few years, the number of Healthy Homes solutions implemented has increased by an average of 16% each year, benefitting around 300,000 marginalised and vulnerable people through improved health, dignity and self-empowerment.

Families are involved in the entire process and learn how to assemble, use and maintain each product. Each family makes a 5% contribution to the cost, the remainder of which is funded through the programme’s $675,000 USD annual budget.

**Alian Sicay, a 27-year-old indigenous Kaqchikel Maya, lives with her husband and two children.**

“One day when I was having a conversation with my sister in-law about all of the problems that my family faces, she told me about Habitat for Humanity Guatemala. She put me in contact with them and I was happy to participate in different trainings so that I could learn how to use and better care for my products – a stove, a latrine, and a water filter. The best part was that my neighbours and other members of the community were going through the process at the same time – we were able to work as a team to make this project a reality.” – Alain Sicay.

David Ireland, Chief Executive of World Habitat, said: “These simple, low-cost interventions have made a huge difference to hundreds of thousands of people in one of the poorest countries in Latin America.”

The World Habitat Awards judging panel said: “This is a really practical and affordable solution to improve the quality of people’s homes, embedded in the local context and culture. They are achieving basic improvements at the individual house level, and significant scale at a national level. Whilst focusing on the absolute poorest families in one of the poorest countries in South America, they are making a huge difference to the health of thousands of Guatemalans.”

Each year the World Habitat Awards are presented to the most outstanding and innovative housing projects from across the world. In 2019 almost 200 projects and programmes entered the Awards.

You can learn more about this award at the following links:

https://www.world-habitat.org/news/press-releases/healthy-home-kits-tackling-major-health-issues-in-guatemala-world-habitat-awards-bronze-winner-2019/?fbclid=IwAR3_TL7ZxgGK2Knnu8dZtEY60XkLRjq-hUWjAtdTSSovQWQG7dh5R6Ub77Q

https://www.world-habitat.org/world-habitat-awards/winners-and-finalists/healthy-homes-for-humanity/

The María Agustína Cux Family

13 December, 2019/in Meet our families /by admin

María (22), her husband, Enohías (25), and their two children, Enohías (4), and Alisson (29) are now living in their new Habitat home in San Andrés, Semetabaj, Sololá. Enohías works for the cable company, while María works in a pharmacy.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala, the family used to live with their parents. “We were living with my parents-in-law for almost three years. Then we moved to the house that is below us, but it was a small space for us; we needed a bigger place,” Enohías explains. They learned about Habitat Guatemala’s programs through a relative. After doing some research, they decided it was time to invest in a space of their own. “It was time for us as a family to have our own space,” he mentions.

When asked how they feel with their new home, María answers, “I feel very happy. I believe that every women has the desire of having their own space; a place to have their belongings, their own home. Anhoías and Alisson explain that they feel very happy that they like our home.” Enhonias adds, “to have our own home makes me feel happy, because we know it belongs to us.”

Both María and Enohías enjoy playing with the kids. We like to listen to music, watch tv and rest as a family. “Our life has changed a lot now that we have more space and we can decide what to do in our own home,” says María. While we visited the family, they were adding tiles to the floor. In the future they would like to paint the house and add another room.

When asked about the time shared with the volunteers the family recalls, “It was a great week! We were happy to start the construction with the volunteers. All of the volunteers came with the desire to work hard. They came from abroad to help us, we appreciate that a lot,” says Enohías. “They were very kind with our children, they played with them. We were very happy,” adds María.

“Thank you all for your support! You came to teach us how to work with joy and will. May God bless you and light your path. We will always remember you as an important part of our family,” says Enhoías. “We send our greetings to you. We will always remember you. The doors to our home are always open, come and visit us!” adds María.

Smokeless Stove – María Catalina Chávez

13 December, 2019/in Meet our families, News /by admin

María Catalina lives in Sololá with her husband, Mario, their three children, Brenda (24), Juan (22), and Genaro (8). Thanks to the support of HFH Pensacola, her family received a Habitat smokeless stove so that she can cook in a healthier environment.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala to receive her smokeless stove, María used to cook on an old stove that was in poor conditions for almost twenty years. “The old one consumed a lot of wood. Now, the new stove consumes half of the wood that we used previously. It lights up fast and heats up completely so that I can cook quicker.”

When asked how she feels with her new smokeless stove, María responds, “I feel happy, I got used to it fast. Even my husband says that it is great, because it saves wood. I enjoy cooking all of our meals. The tortillas cook perfectly.” The family supports their livelihood by working in the fields. María and Brenda weave traditional clothes for and additional income.

Regarding their time spent with the volunteers, María shares, “It was very fun to receive them here! We ate lunch together at our table,” she continues, “Thank you very much for your support! Because of people like you, we are able to cook on a healthier environment. Even though you are from abroad, you come and help families like ours. We hope to see you again someday!”

Smokeless Stove – Ofelia López Sirin

13 December, 2019/in Meet our families, News /by admin

Ofelia lives with her husband, Jesús, and their children, Stefany (15), Brian (11), and Jonathan (8) in a small community near Lake Atitlán, Sololá. While Jesús works as a debt collector, Ofelia takes care of the children and the household chores.

As part of Habitat Guatemala’s smokeless stove program, families receive a stove, to help them improve their health by giving them a smoke free environment.

Ofelia explains; “I used to cook over an open-flame stove for ten years. That is why you can see the entire ceiling and walls are tainted black. Because the smoke stayed inside,” she continues, “When I found out about this project, I applied to receive a better stove. Now, you can see that there is no more smoke inside! My new stove is working great, it is easier to cook here.”

She feels satisfied with her new stove; “No more red eyes! It lights up fast, and it gives me enough space to cook all of my dishes. And it consumes less wood, I do not have to buy wood so often.” When asked what she enjoys cooking the most on her new stove, she smiles and answers: “I cook everything! Beans, rice and eggs, tortillas every day.”

Ofelia refers to her time with the volunteers; “They worked hard and really fast, we shared lunch together. We felt very happy to spend time with them,” she continues, “Thank you all for your support in building my stove. We are happy with our stove. May God bless you.”

Smokeless Stove – Martina Chalí

13 December, 2019/in Meet our families, News /by admin

Martina lives in Sololá with her husband, José, their son, Gamaliel (8) and their parents-in-law. Thanks to the support of the HFH Pensacola, her family recently received a Habitat smokeless stove to cook in a healthier environment.

Martina says, “I feel happy, we had to share a stove with my mother-in-law, and it was deteriorating and let out a lot of smoke; now, we are doing very well with this new stove, each one has its own.” The family supports their livelihood by working in the home and in the fields.

When asked how she feels with her new stove, Martina responds, “Happy and satisfied to finally have a stove that works well! Now, our eyes feel better, no more irritation. And it consumes less wood too, we can save that money,” she continues, “I love to cook corn in all its forms, to make tortillas, grilled, atol, etc.”

To the volunteers, Martina would like to express, “Thank you for coming to build our stove! We are happy with it and keep using it.”

Sanitary Latrine – Roxana Pilo

13 December, 2019/in Meet our families, News /by admin

Roxana lives with her husband, Edgar, and their four children, Greily (15), Linda (14), Astrid (12) and Edgar (7), in San Lucas Tolimán, Sololá. While Edgar works in the fields, Roxana takes care of the children.

Roxana found out about Habitat Guatemala’s sanitary latrines project through a local committee member, that explained the process to them. Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala to receive the family’s sanitary latrine, the family had been using a toilet given to them by the government. The problem is that the community where they live does not have constant running water; they receive water every four days. Therefore, the family cannot use the latrine on a regular basis. Roxana explains, “We could not use the old toilet often because of the water problems we have here. With the new latrine is completely different, I feel calm and happy with it.”

Regarding the time spent with the volunteers, she shares, “All of the volunteers were really fun and kind, we had a great time together. All of my family sends greetings to you. Thank you all for your support. May God bless you.”

Sanitary Latrine – Virginia Xulcut

13 December, 2019/in Meet our families, News /by admin

Virginia, her husband, Soltero, and their seven children, Milton (22), Gerson (20), Kevin (17), Adelson (13), Paula (11), Salomón (10), and Lilian (4) in San Lucas Tolimán, Sololá. . While Soltero works in the fields, Virginia is a homemaker.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala to receive the family’s sanitary latrine, the family had been using a toilet given to them by the government. The problem is that the community where they live does not have constant running water; they receive water every four days. Causing the family to suffer from various health issues. Virgina explains, “When I found out about this project, I explained to my husband that it was a good opportunity to participate, because the latrine does not need much water and it would help us a lot.” She continues, “I feel happy with it! It has helped us improve as a family, we feel more comfortable.”

Virginia finishes by sharing a message to the volunteers; “Thank you for your support! We send our greetings and love to all of you. I feel happy because you came to visit us.”

Sanitary Latrine – Marcela García

13 December, 2019/in Meet our families, News /by admin

Marcela lives with her husband Valerio, and their three children, Gladys (30), Imelda (14) and her granddaughter, Angelica 89) in San Lucas Tolimán, Sololá. While Valerio works in the fields, Marcela takes care of the household chores.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala to receive the family’s sanitary latrine, the family had been using one that was in poor conditions for almost ten years, “When it rained, the latrine flooded,” she continues, “When my husband found out about this project, we decided to apply.” Marcela is happy with new her sanitary latrine, “The new one is better, it is more private and in better conditions.”

She finishes by sharing a message to the volunteers, “Tiox! Thank you all for your support in building our latrine. May God bless you and your families.” – Marcela.