Diana (29) and her husband, Selvin (31), have been living in the Colony for the past five months. Both lead busy work lives; Diana is a University Coordinator and organizes free courses for aspiring students of all ages in Usumatlan. Selvin spends his day traveling as a businessman. Both had always dreamed of having a place of their own.

“Before, we were living with a friend, who had left us her house to care for it,” says Diana. “We were there for about a year. We didn’t want to live with our parents, and we still hadn’t married because we had no home. Until March 2016, we lived there, and then my friend returned.”

For monetary reasons, the couple quickly became apprehensive about moving and were unsure about the future. However, they found that Habitat could offer a solution.

“We knew about the Amway Colony, and my husband decided to talk to people who had lived there for the past few years. We decided to give it a try and applied. Last November, we were approved, right before the building began.

Diana is elated that their decision has paid off. “We’re so content here. And grateful, because it was an incredible opportunity. Here in Guatemala, it’s incredibly difficult to finance your own house. Plus, we were happy to be part of the construction here. My husband would come every Saturday to help.”

She smiles. “This has been something incredibly new and exciting, while also familiar. It feels like we were destined for this.”

The thing she’s most looking forward to? “We want kids! I already have a room ready!”

Hardworking and studious, Hortencia Mijangos Jacinto (23) and her husband, Mario (33) were made for one another. Mario Works as a Systems Engineer, and Hortencia is currently studying towards a college degree in the same subject. The couple recently married and were eager to find a housing solution that worked for both of them. Between long hours at Mario’s engineering job and Hortencia’s need for a suitable study space, a house that was both quiet and conveniently located became a priority.

Hortencia recalls that there were ups and downs about their previous living situation. “We rented in Teculután for seven months. The house was also a Habitat house, but was more isolated rather than located in a community, like the Colony. We were paying and paying, but we weren’t getting any closer to saving money for our own house. That was really frustrating.”

However, living in a Habitat house before pursuing it own had its benefits. Ultimately, Hortencia and Mario decided to apply for their own, and they have never looked back. Hortencia is happy to note that the biggest changes have helped her manage her studying schedule. “The town is closer, and you can drive between places pretty easily. Although I still have to go towards Zacapa for class, I don’t need to worry about public transportation, because the neighborhood has a bunch of motorcycles that pass by.”

Thanks to quiet space that Habitat volunteers afforded her, Hortencia will be able to achieve her degree within the next year.

Ana Jasmin Rano Peña (20) and her husband, Ereck (26) are expecting their first child together. This morning, between cleaning up her kitchen from breakfast and chatting with us, she is preparing for the latest doctor’s checkup. As she speaks, she rubs her tummy nonchalantly. She smiles when we ask her about the baby. “We’re really looking forward to building a family.”

Before looking into Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, Ana and her husband were cramped for space and were looking to move. “We lived my mom and nephew, in a tiny room. It’s only ten minutes away from the new house, which is great, because we have family close by. But not that close!” laughs Ana. “I wanted the experience of my own house; I had never had one to myself before.”

 

 

 

 

 

Ana’s family was the group that introduced her to Habitat for Humanity Guatemala. All of her siblings previously applied for and received sustainable housing solutions in the Zacapa district. When they heard about the positive experiences, Ana and Ereck decided to give it a try.

The experiment has paid off. After living in the Amway Colony for the past nine months, Ana loves living in a close community. “It’s a beautiful experience.” She also loves the changes to her daily routine. “I have more time and can enjoy it, too. I look forward to planting flowers, to arranging the house any way I would like.”

Ana also has kind words for the Amway volunteers who worked on her house:

“The volunteers helped us so much; and they were so much fun! May Habitat continue building dreams, because a dream is a home.”