News – Page 19 – Hábitat para la Humanidad Guatemala

A new solution to extreme poverty: the Hybrid House

17 March, 2020/in News, News EN /by profiles

During the last 42 years, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala (HFHG) has served more than 120,000 families with an adequate housing solution. In 2010, we started the Healthy Home Kit program as an effort to support families living in extreme poverty. This program consists of implementing a smokeless stove, sanitary latrine and water filter, among other solutions in households earning between $1 – $2 USD a day. Following the same goal of supporting families living in these conditions with more tangible solutions, in 2019, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala created the Hybrid Home, an affordable two-room house built using traditional materials including cement, wood and corrugated metal roofs.

Quick facts the Hybrid Home:

At just $4,000 to $5,000 USD, it costs less than half the price of a standard HFHG home.
The home is partially subsidized for families that cannot afford to pay a mortgage. They contribute by being involved in the construction process.
The structure can be built in two-weeks.
To date, Habitat Guatemala has built over 60 homes.

As previously explained, this solution is partially subsidized which means that beneficiary families are asked to contribute towards the cost of materials, provide unskilled labor such as preparing the adobe blocks, among other tasks.

Our goal is to continue supporting more families living in vulnerable conditions, such as Florencia Socom to ultimately improve their quality of life.

We invite you to be part of this project! Want to participate in building a Hybrid Home? Want to donate to support a family?

Steps to donate directly to Guatemala:

Click the following link:

https://secure.habitat.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30037b?df_id=4974&mfc_pref=T&4974.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=99D394CBC57372D50287791AAE336345
Fill out your information and choose your payment option. You can donate by credit/debit card.
In Optional details, click on Designate your donation. When you click on this option, a box opens in the donation form. Choose the fourth option and select Guatemala.

Please write donor@habitatguate.org for further details about this program, and how you can support HFHG.

#myhabitatexperience – Diego Secaira

17 March, 2020/in News, News EN /by profiles

Meet Diego Secaria, he has been working with Habitat Guatemala for more than a year. You may know him as an animal lover, cheese enthusiast or your cheerful Field Coordinator for Global Village. We sat down to ask him about his HFH experience.

Why Habitat Guatemala?

I have been working with people for several years, but I always wanted to do something to help Guatemala and the people that live here; through Habitat I was able to do this. With Habitat we don’t give away our products, we make sure that the families are fully involved in the process of the housing solution, making sure that we are truly starting to make a difference in Guatemala.

My Habitat Experience:

Working with Habitat has taught me that you can always give a little bit more, sometimes just giving that extra bit will make a big difference. I have also learned that one of the most beautiful things about Guatemala is the warmth of its people; no matter where you go, everyone will always greet you with a smile or with a “Buenos dias.” Knowing that simply by doing my job I will be able to help many of the families that I meet brings a smile to my face.

What do you most like about your position?

What I like most is always being in the field, having the opportunity to meet new people every day, having the ability to work along volunteers from different countries, and spending time with the families that Habitat helps. Every single day in the field can be so different compared to others. One week we can be helping a family build their house in the warm low lands of Guatemala, and the next, we can be building a smokeless stove for a family in the cold highlands of the country.

What I appreciate the most is being able to share time, experiences, and stories with every single person of the big family that Habitat is. Some examples are learning facts about the countries where the volunteers come from, learning a new skill from the masons, or hearing stories from the family during lunch.

Jairo Gómez – HFH Canada – Sue Sweet

28 January, 2020/in Meet our families, News /by profiles

Jairo, his girlfriend, Vilma are the proud owners of a brand new Habitat house, located in Chimaltenango. Jairo works as a sales man and Vilma in a gym.

When we visited the family, they could not be present because of work, so his mother Eusebia and sister Janeth, welcomed us to chat.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala, Karina mentions that Jairo used to live in the family house, with them and four more relatives. Karina explains that they learned about Habitat Guatemala’s programs through a friend. After doing some research, they decided it was time to invest in a space of their own, get married and start a family of their own in their home.

When asked how they feel with their new home, Karina answers, “Jairo feels very happy, happy to have his house, to start his family,” she continues, “in the future, he would like to add more details to it.”

She finishes by sharing a message to the volunteers: “Thank you all for your support, the house is very pretty. May God bless you.”

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.”