Change the lives of 200 Mayan Families

    This month we at Guatemala Housing Alliance will have completed our 100th floor.  Of all the work we do, my belief is that this project impacts the most lives.   Not only are parasite problems greatly reduced benefiting the health of the family, but even the test scores of the children improve when they are not competing with pests in their bellies.   And I wish you could experience the pride of the families with their lovely floors.

    Though our first hundred will be done, the need is seemingly inexhaustable and GHA will continue laying floors.   It is a great way for volunteers with little time to lend a hand, too.   Please consider coming to build with us.   A floor takes only 1-2 days to day and you'll have the honor of working alongside the family who will be receiving it.   

    Some of these first 100 were financed by GG donations, and to all of you donors we send many thanks.   The fundraiser will continue.   

    I hope you'll be on the lookout for a soon-to-be fundraiser for our next home build.   The first 20 homes we have built have been of the ubiquitous cement blocks.   This time well go retro to be more environmentally sustainable.  We'll be building with Bajareque, an old traditional method using bamboo, rocks and mud.   Stucco'd inside and out, it will be beautiful as well as weather and earthquake resistant.   And it will be better insulated than the cement.   I have inserted a teaser photo so you can see the beauty of bajareque.

   THANK YOU, DONORS.  YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE CHANGED LIVES.

Hello friends,  

   After 95 floors, more than half funded though this Global Giving fundraiser, GHA got sidetracked by urgent need for roof repairs and replacements in San Pablo La Laguna.  Our 16th roof was recently completed, even as the rainy season was in full force.   The floor project will continue.  Its important.   We would greatly appreciate more donations towards the project.

    In other progress, GHA, with the eager help of teens from Walking Tree Travel, just finished a home for an amazed and grateful recently widowed elderly woman whose adobe home was melting around her, its floor dirt, its roof riddled with holes.  It was a great alliance, with the teens orchestrating a meal at the end of the project, and many tearful goodbyes.    

    Next week we begin building 2 side by side homes to house a family of 8 who had been renting the home pictured below for 14 years.  It had 2 small rooms and half the family slept on the dirt/mud floor.  One generous donor bought a parcel of land, and many others have pulled together to make this a reality. 

     Consider coming yourselves to build with us.   It will be a memorable experience.