Gregorio Cardona Family – Hybrid House Program – Home for a Home
Rogelio (40), and his seven children Lucinda (18), Danilo (16), Daniel (14), Mateo (12), Byron (7), Carolina (5) and baby Paola (2), are the owners of a new Hybrid House in the community of Chelam, San Sabastian, Huehuetenango. Rogelio’s wife died a few months ago, and now, Rogelio is taking care of his six children, while working at the fields or different day jobs that he finds in the communities nearby.
Our new Hybrid House solution is a two-room home built with a mix of traditional materials: adobe blocks, cement blocks, and wood. This solution is partially subsi-dized which means that beneficiary families are asked to contribute towards the cost of materials and provide labor such as preparing adobe blocks, among other tasks. Before partnering with Home for a Home and Habitat Guatemala, Rogelio and his family used to live in a small house built out of adobe blocks and wood with ground floor, which now serves as the kitchen,” says Rogelio.
When asked how they feel about their new home, Rogelio answers, “I feel very grateful for our home, it will remain in time for my children and next generations as a reminder in honor of their mother. For me, this house is like a mother for them and for me. A mother that takes care of us, I know that we are safe, as soon as we go inside it protect us from the rain, from the wind.”
As part of the Hybrid House Programs, families also receive a latrine and a smokeless stove. This helps them improve their health by giving them adequate access to proper sanitation and a smoke-free environment. Rogelio’s wife used to cook on an open flame on the floor, causing the smoke to stay inside their house. “Our new stove is perfect! I feel proud of my products, now the smoke goes directly outside,” says Rogelio.
When asked which is his favorite part of the house, he smiles and answers; “We love everything about our house, we enjoy to spend time together and listen to music”. Rogelio finishes by sharing a message with the donors, “May all of you receive our greetings. I am grateful to God and to you for providing us with our house. May God bless you! I encourage you to continue supporting families like ours.”
