Homes for Homeless Families in Guatemala

This year through our housebuilding programme we have built 26 new houses for families in need, giving them somewhere that they can call a home.

One such family that received a house from us this year was the Pérez* family. This young family of five were living in a single room made of canes with a dirt floor in Aldea Chitaburuy, Parramos. The house was separated by a wardrobe to create two small living spaces. The house is isolated, and the family have to cross a river just to get to the nearest shop to buy food.

The children’s mother cooked on the patio outside, next to the toilet and shower. The family lacked a formal kitchen and did not always have water or electricity in the house. The children’s father works in agriculture on a small farm, but he earns too little to buy the materials needed to build a house for his growing family. Other, better-paid work is too difficult to come by. The parents wanted to give their children better opportunities in life, starting with improved living conditions, especially as the rainy season had arrived and their previous house was getting very cold at night.

Thankfully, Asociación Nuestros Ahijados was able to provide just that for the family. Our staff members and volunteers, including our own Founder and Executive Director Patrick Atkinson and our National Director, Miguel Angel Alvarez, worked for two long days to build a secure and dignified home for the family. After two days of extremely hard work, the family was delighted to receive a new home and kitchen.

Not only that, but the family also received a new stove and water filter from us. Our Padrinos department helped carry the stove across the river and up to the family. Now the family has an economical and more environmentally-friendly way to cook their food.

The family is now no longer thinking of ways to escape their current life or putting themselves or their children at risk. They are overjoyed at their new house and extremely grateful to the Project for the support.

The GOD’S CHILD Project has been working for 30 years to break the chains of poverty through education, housing and healthcare. Please click the link below to donate to support us in our ongoing mission.