Marta (40) lives with her husband Juan (42) and their five children Rafael (16), Apolinario (12), Maricela (11), Juan (9) and Teresa (6), in the community of Sacchim, San Sebastian, Departament of Huehuetenango. Juan works in agriculture while Marta takes care of the children and weaves traditional clothes.

With the support of Home for a Home and Habitat Guatemala, the Aguilar family received a smokeless stove, a sanitary latrine and a concrete floor. These solution help improve the family’s health by providing them with proper sanitation and a smokeless free environment. The family wanted to get involoved in this project as they knew it was a great opportunity to help improve their quality of life.

Before receiving their housing solutions, the family used to live and cook in the same room. “I used to cook over an old stove that was in poor condition. It consumed much more wood which cost more money. The new one is different as it only uses half the amount of wood as the old one. We are able to cook all our meals at the same time. The tortillas taste good and we feel content with it!” says Doña Marta. In regards to the new latrine Doña Marta says, “Now that we have a new latrine we feel happy and safe.” The Gómez family reports an improvement with the concrete floors, especially during rainy season where the dirt floor is no longer a source of pollution inside their house.

Marta finishes by sharing a message to the donors: “Greetings to you and your family. Thank you for provinding us with these housing solutions. May God bless you.”

 

 

Cecilia (38) lives with her husband José (38), their four children, Edgar (16), Glenda (15), Lidia (12), Danilo (8) and their grandmother Isabela (64) in the community of Sacchim, San Sebastian, Departament of Huehuetenango. José works in agriculture while Cecilia takes care of the children and household chores.

With the support of Home for a Home and Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, Cecilia’s family was provided with a concrete floor. The family was happy to participate in the project as they knew it was a great opportunity to improve their health.

Before applying the concrete floor in their house, Cecilia and her children explained that their old floor was made of dirt, “Our old dirt floor was uncomfortable and created a lot of dust. It made us cold too!”  When asked how she feels now with their new floor, she answers: “We feel happy because now there is no more dust and we can clean it easily. We also do not feel so cold anymore.”

The concrete floor has improvemented the lives of the Gomez family as the dirt floor is no longer a source of pollution inside their house.

Cecilia shares a message to the donors: “Greetings to you all and may God bless you! Thank you for your support.”

 

 

Elba (41) lives with her husband, Jorge (46) , and their four children, Alvaro (23), Fredy (22), Cristian  (21), and Rodman (18) in San Andrés Semetabaj, Sololá. While Jorge and the children work in agriculture, Elba stays home and also waves traditional clothes for extra income.

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

“I used to cook on an older stove with open flame that was broken for more than 10 years, causing me and my family to suffer from respiratory diseases.” She continues, “The new one is very pretty and working great!  Now, there is no smoke inside our kitchen, it has plenty of space to cook all my meals at once, and we save wood at the same time! Elba has felt a difference in their health; no more eye irritation and respiratory diseases because the smoke no longer stays inside the kitchen.

Before receiving their new latrine, she explains that their old latrine was in poor conditions, “Now, it is more comfortable and pretty. ” The family has also felt a difference with their water filter. Before they had to boil it, and sometimes drank it directly form the sink, causing them pain from intestinal diseases. Now, it is easier and safer to drink potable water from the filter. “With the filter the water stays fresh and tastes good, when the boys come back from work, the first thing they do is come and drink a big glass of water” says Elba.

Elba refers to her time with the volunteers; “We felt happy the day they all came, we worked together and ate together too. They were hard workers.  Here at the backyard was our goodbye ceremony, ” she continues, “Thanks to God and all of you for your support, thank you for coming to build with us. May God bless you and keep you safe.”