About Us
How It All Started
International human rights law states that everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate housing; therefore Caroline van Heerde founded Constru Casa back in 2004. She envisioned a Guatemala without poverty, with everyone living in dignified housing.
Caroline worked with local organizations, partners, volunteers, and donors from all over the world to make Constru Casa what it is today.
Over the years, we have built over 1400 homes and 200 community buildings and have helped many families and communities. The construction process doesn’t stop there. The number of families we are helping keeps growing. We partner with many local organizations to work in very remote communities and reach out to the most needed Guatemalans. Thank you to our supporters for making Caroline’s dream of a better Guatemala become a reality!
Caroline: “I am immensely proud of the impact that we make; it is unique for a grassroot organization. It is extremely rewarding to work together with a great group of people and with a continuously growing group of supporters. I look forward to seeing how Constru Casa continues to grow.”
Mission
To improve the quality of life among Guatemalans living in extreme poverty through holistic community development with the provision of basic housing, support programs and community building for health and education programs.
Vision
A Guatemala without poverty, exclusion, and dependency, in which poor families no longer have to endure poor living conditions. Through community development in the areas of housing, education, and healthcare, these families become socially and economically stable.
Our Team
Caroline van Heerde
Director
Ulises began working for Constru Casa in April of 2013. He is in charge of the administration, finances, and accounting in the Association. He graduated with an accounting degree and is now finishing his thesis for Public and Auditory Accounting. He has worked for more than 8 years in NGO’s and is thankful to be a part of building new homes with Constru Casa.
Ulises Gudiel
Administrative and Financial Manager
Ulises began working for Constru Casa in April of 2013. He is in charge of the administration, finances, and accounting in the Association. He graduated with an accounting degree and is now finishing his thesis for Public and Auditory Accounting. He has worked for more than 8 years in NGO’s and is thankful to be a part of building new homes with Constru Casa.
Evelyn Sandoval
Operations Manager
Evelyn has been the head of the operations department in Constru Casa since 2016. She has studied Architecture and Psychology, and as the Operations Manager, the main part of her work is the planning of each project and the supervision of construction and social relations.
Fredy Maldonado
Communication Manager
Fredy joined Constru Casa in September of 2018. He is in charge of public relations and overseeing communications and promotions. He has more than 25 years of experience working in educational, social, environmental and economic development programs in different organizations in rural and urban areas of Guatemala. His main goal is to provide dignity to Guatemalans in poverty.
Martha Tobar
Financial Assistant/Human Resources
Ranferi Vásquez
Construction Manager
Ranferi has been with Constru Casa since 2006. He is the manager of construction projects and is responsible for the planning, control, and execution of the construction process alongside his own team of masons. He is highly qualified in many trades including but not limited to masonry, mechanics, and heavy equipment operation.
Geovani Zuñiga
Programs Officer
Geovani became a part of the Constru Casa team in 2009. He works alongside our allied partners in the construction programs. He visits the families to run studies before construction and to supervise the follow up programs after construction. He will also install stoves and water filters as well as lead the education on the use and health benefits of these products.
Brendon Burgett
Volunteer Coordinator / Communications Officer
Brendon became a part of the Constru Casa team in 2021. In addition to handling the logistics of incoming volunteer groups, he provides communication materials to be used for promotion and and social our media pages. Originally from North Carolina, USA he has a bachelor’s in Communication Studies from Campbell University, and has previous experience in Guatemala volunteering with the Peace Corps for over a year.
Board of Directors in Guatemala
Bárbara Manon Derks
President
Amy joined Constru Casa in 2018 and has been working in the area of promotions and public relations. She first came to Guatemala from Canada in early 2018 to study Spanish for 5 months and from there began working with Constru Casa. Her work focuses on event planning, being in contact with our donors, photography and media, and other methods of promoting Constru Casa.
Leonel Estuardo López
Vice President
Ingrid began to work for Constru Casa in July of 2018. She is in charge of overseeing human resources and works in administration and finances. She has a diploma in business administration and is currently studying to complete a bachelor of human resources. She finds satisfaction in working with Constru Casa not only because of a new home for families but by seeing the change in the lives of Guatemalans.
María del Carmen Holm
Secretary
Geovani became a part of the Constru Casa team in 2009. He works alongside our allied partners in the construction programs. He visits the families to run studies before construction and to supervise the follow up programs after construction. He will also install stoves and water filters as well as lead the education on the use and health benefits of these products.
Caroline van Heerde
Treasurer
Amy joined Constru Casa in 2018 and has been working in the area of promotions and public relations. She first came to Guatemala from Canada in early 2018 to study Spanish for 5 months and from there began working with Constru Casa. Her work focuses on event planning, being in contact with our donors, photography and media, and other methods of promoting Constru Casa.
Roberto Bianchi
General Member
Ingrid began to work for Constru Casa in July of 2018. She is in charge of overseeing human resources and works in administration and finances. She has a diploma in business administration and is currently studying to complete a bachelor of human resources. She finds satisfaction in working with Constru Casa not only because of a new home for families but by seeing the change in the lives of Guatemalans.
Mariela Bautista
General Member
Geovani became a part of the Constru Casa team in 2009. He works alongside our allied partners in the construction programs. He visits the families to run studies before construction and to supervise the follow up programs after construction. He will also install stoves and water filters as well as lead the education on the use and health benefits of these products.
Board of Directors in United States
Jim Hille
President
Ingrid began to work for Constru Casa in July of 2018. She is in charge of overseeing human resources and works in administration and finances. She has a diploma in business administration and is currently studying to complete a bachelor of human resources. She finds satisfaction in working with Constru Casa not only because of a new home for families but by seeing the change in the lives of Guatemalans.
Ron Sack
Vice President
Ingrid began to work for Constru Casa in July of 2018. She is in charge of overseeing human resources and works in administration and finances. She has a diploma in business administration and is currently studying to complete a bachelor of human resources. She finds satisfaction in working with Constru Casa not only because of a new home for families but by seeing the change in the lives of Guatemalans.
Luke Bretscher
Treasurer
Geovani became a part of the Constru Casa team in 2009. He works alongside our allied partners in the construction programs. He visits the families to run studies before construction and to supervise the follow up programs after construction. He will also install stoves and water filters as well as lead the education on the use and health benefits of these products.
Jim Johnson
Secretary
Amy joined Constru Casa in 2018 and has been working in the area of promotions and public relations. She first came to Guatemala from Canada in early 2018 to study Spanish for 5 months and from there began working with Constru Casa. Her work focuses on event planning, being in contact with our donors, photography and media, and other methods of promoting Constru Casa.
John Lothrop
General Member
Ingrid began to work for Constru Casa in July of 2018. She is in charge of overseeing human resources and works in administration and finances. She has a diploma in business administration and is currently studying to complete a bachelor of human resources. She finds satisfaction in working with Constru Casa not only because of a new home for families but by seeing the change in the lives of Guatemalans.
Kent Eaton
General Member
Ingrid began to work for Constru Casa in July of 2018. She is in charge of overseeing human resources and works in administration and finances. She has a diploma in business administration and is currently studying to complete a bachelor of human resources. She finds satisfaction in working with Constru Casa not only because of a new home for families but by seeing the change in the lives of Guatemalans.
Board of Directors in The Netherlands
Caroline van Heerde
President
Amy joined Constru Casa in 2018 and has been working in the area of promotions and public relations. She first came to Guatemala from Canada in early 2018 to study Spanish for 5 months and from there began working with Constru Casa. Her work focuses on event planning, being in contact with our donors, photography and media, and other methods of promoting Constru Casa.
Maaike Dijkmans
Secretary
Ingrid began to work for Constru Casa in July of 2018. She is in charge of overseeing human resources and works in administration and finances. She has a diploma in business administration and is currently studying to complete a bachelor of human resources. She finds satisfaction in working with Constru Casa not only because of a new home for families but by seeing the change in the lives of Guatemalans.
Andries Bijmold
Treasurer
Geovani became a part of the Constru Casa team in 2009. He works alongside our allied partners in the construction programs. He visits the families to run studies before construction and to supervise the follow up programs after construction. He will also install stoves and water filters as well as lead the education on the use and health benefits of these products.
Team of Masons
Constru Casa Europa
Constru Casa Europa connects companies with a strong sense of social responsibility to a Guatemalan family in need, to provide them a simple yet decent house towards a better future.
Transparency Statement
In our transparency statement, we dive deeper into our funding, and how we spend budget on our different programs.