88 Healthy Home Kits from Habitat for Humanity Netherlands

This past week, 88 Healthy Home Kits were completed in the community of San Vicente de Paul, in the department of Escuintla, Guatemala. The funds for this project were provided by Habitat for Humanity Netherlands, and make a lasting impact in the lives of the beneficiary families. The mood of the day was happy and festive, with several community members sharing their gratitude for the project and expressing their hope that Habitat for Humanity Netherlands would continue to support the people of Guatemala. 

Elena Juan Miguel, a beneficiary of the project, spoke with happiness for the generosity of Habitat for Humanity Netherlands: “I really want to thank the donor,” she shared. “This has been such a big help. They didn’t come just to give stuff away; they really involved the families in the process. We had to work hard to build our latrine. My husband dug out the earth for the new latrine himself.”

For families like Elena’s, a Healthy Home Kit, which consists of a latrine, a smokeless stove, and a water filter, makes a substantial difference in their quality of life. 95% of drinking water in Guatemala is contaminated, so without access to a water filter, people contract parasites and other water-borne diseases, including cholera, salmonella, and E.Coli. And Guatemala’s most impoverished families often have no choice but to cook over an open flame. This often leads to health problems and burns; 52% of Guatemalans suffer from a respiratory disease caused by indoor smoke inhalation.

It is for these reasons that the Healthy Home Kit program is a primary focus. Habitat for Humanity Guatemala is grateful for this partnership with Habitat for Humanity Netherlands that will make a lasting difference in the lives of 88 families!