Vilma Chávez – Hybrid House Program – Home for a Home
Vilma, her husband, José Luis and their three children, Alfredo, Yordy and baby Stephany are the owners of a new Hybrid House in the community of Chuatzam, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá. José Luis works in the fields, while Vilma stays home taking care of the children.
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 subsidized 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, Vilma’s family used to live in a small house built out of corrugated metal sheets and wood with ground floor. “That room belonged to my sister, we did not have a house. It was a dream of ours to build or have our proper home., My children got sick during rainy season, because the water leaked in and it was very cold.” – mentions Vilma.
When asked how she feels about their new home, Vilma answers, “Happy, we are happy and grateful. Now, we are living better, no more water or cold inside our house. My children are safe and have an adequate place to stay play.”
In the future, the family will would like to paint the house with bright colors!
As part of the Hybrid House Programs, families also receive a water filter, latrine and a smokeless stove. This helps them improve their health by giving them adequate access to proper sanitation and a smoke-free environment. Santa used to cook on an open flame on the floor, causing the smoke to stay inside their house. “The water filter has been of great help; we no longer have to buy or boil water! The stove saves wood and heats up fast. And the latrine is very comfortable, ” says Vilma.
Vilma finishes by sharing a message with the donors, “Receive our greetings and gratitude. Thank you for your support and providing us with this house. May God provide and give it back to you! Now, my children have a safe space to grow up.”
