Susan Goyen fundraising for Guatemala - '19 Milkovits Team
Susan Goyen
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From Susan Goyen
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Update #1
I will be on what is called a Healthy Homes Project. We will be working with families to provide smokeless stoves, latrines, and water filters to homes in Panajachel on Lake Atitlàn. I am amazed at how little (in US dollars) each of these cost.
Smokeless Stoves ($100) -- Over 90% of rural Guatemalan families use
wood as their primary cooking fuel, and most cook using an open fire inside the home or an inefficient stove that consumes vast amounts of firewood. 52% of Guatemalans suffer from respiratory disease. The Habitat Guatemala Smokeless Stoves are built from adobe blocks, a metal stove top and a metal pipe to ventilate. Smokeless stoves help families provide a healthy home and save families over $700 a year.
Latrines ($150) -- Especially in the countryside of Guatemala, there is a need for improved sanitation. Habitat Guatemala has introduced a sanitary latrine model that safely treats waste and provides ventilation.
Water Filters ($35) -- Guatemala has the highest child mortality rate of the Central American countries, in large part due to the contamination of 95% of Guatemala’s water sources. Habitat Guatemala’s water filter
projects use an activated carbon system to purify 5 gallons of water in a 24 hour period.
About Me
What does Susan think she is doing now?
I am very excited to be a team member on a Habitat for Humanity Global Village trip to Guatemala. From January 5 to the 13th, I will come together with a team of individuals to build in Panajachel on Lake Atitlàn. I am looking forward to exploring a new culture and serving Habitat’s mission of eliminating poverty housing from the face of the earth.
As a part of this trip I am raising money to help with the Healthy Homes Project. Donations will not be used to cover my expenses but will go to Habitat Guatemala and Habitat International.
For me, this trip is an opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone, experience a new culture, and be on a team that partners with families to make a difference in their lives and the community. As much as this trip is about working with partner families, I realize that I will likely return having received as much or more than the families we meet.
More Info
The Issue:
One of the most significant challenges to housing in Guatemala is access to land. Many low-income families have no legal proof that they own the land they inhabit. These properties rarely have basic utilities and are often located in vulnerable areas, such as ravines and riverbanks. Even when a family has moderate income or has managed to save a small amount of money, obtaining a loan to purchase land or buy a home is often a challenge.
Habitat's Response
Established in 1979 to improve the lives of low-income families in Guatemala through the construction of adequate, affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala was the first Habitat organization in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Since the construction of its first home more than 30 years ago, Habitat Guatemala has served more than 32,000 families and has extended its work to each of the country’s 22 states. Habitat for Humanity does much more than just build houses, including raising awareness about the need for adequate housing, advocating for improved housing policy, and much more.
Global Village is Habitat for Humanity’s international volunteer program. Teams travel to over 40 countries to work alongside communities, build housing solutions, and experience local culture. Our goal is to change the lives of the people we serve, as well as the lives of the volunteers.
To join a team or learn more, visit www.habitat.org/gv.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.
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Susan Goyen posted a new update:
over 5 years agoUpdate #1
I will be on what is called a Healthy Homes Project. We will be working with families to provide smokeless stoves, latrines, and water filters to homes in Panajachel on Lake Atitlàn. I am amazed at how little (in US dollars) each of these cost.
Smokeless Stoves ($100) -- Over 90% of rural Guatemalan families use
wood as their primary cooking fuel, and most cook using an open fire inside the home or an inefficient stove that consumes vast amounts of firewood. 52% of Guatemalans suffer from respiratory disease. The Habitat Guatemala Smokeless Stoves are built from adobe blocks, a metal stove top and a metal pipe to ventilate. Smokeless stoves help families provide a healthy home and save families over $700 a year.
Latrines ($150) -- Especially in the countryside of Guatemala, there is a need for improved sanitation. Habitat Guatemala has introduced a sanitary latrine model that safely treats waste and provides ventilation.
Water Filters ($35) -- Guatemala has the highest child mortality rate of the Central American countries, in large part due to the contamination of 95% of Guatemala’s water sources. Habitat Guatemala’s water filter
projects use an activated carbon system to purify 5 gallons of water in a 24 hour period.
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All Updates
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Oct 30