This project will build 200 cement floors for Mayan families in the highlands of Guatemala who currently live on dirt that seasonally turns to mud. Cement floors quantitatively promote health and education, giving children a better chance to succeed. 80% of indigenous Guatemalans live in poverty, over 20% existing on less than $1/day.
In the impoverished indigenous communities in the highlands of Guatemala, the majority of homes have only dirt floors which turn into parasitic muck during the rainy season. Parasites create anemia and malnutrition, which in turn sap energy from individuals and leave students unable to apply themselves to their studies.
Guatemala Housing Alliance, GHA, will build cement floors to replace the dirt for 100 Maya Tz'utujil families, improving the welfare of 6-800 individuals . The family receiving the floor will level the existing dirt in preparation, work with our masons throughout the job, and pay 1/4 of the price of the floor. The work takes only two days and the health benefits will be immediate.
According to studies by UC Berkeley's Center of Evaluation for Global Action, a cement floor reduces parasites and resultant anemia by 20%. Children under age 6 have 13% fewer episodes of diarrhea. Toddlers score 30% higher in communication skills, and children 9% higher on vocabulary skills. Mothers claim to be less stressed, less depressed, and happier with a cement floor as they are better able to care for their children. And of course there is the owner's pride in having a clean home.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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