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How we work
CONSTRU CASA is a non-profit organization improving the quality of life among Guatemalans living in extreme poverty through the provision of basic housing, support programs, and community development projects. We work to lift entire communities out of poverty though our integral community development programs which include the construction of dignified concrete block housing in combination with the construction of community buildings such as schools, clinics, orphanages, and community centers.
Working in collaboration with local social work organizations, Constru Casa continues to help families and communities further develop themselves and help them on the path towards a better future.
Constru Casa has made a noticeable impact in the lives of the families and communities in which they have built. When a family receives a new house, it can mean a whole new beginning. It is a new space to grow their family with new opportunities. An impact report was collected in November of 2017 by Natalia A. Bermudez in regard to the effect that a new home and follow up program of Constru Casa has had on the receiving families and communities. She concluded that there has been a major change for many Guatemalan families through Constru Casa’s integrated approach to bettering the lives of those who are in need.
Impact of our work
Constru Casa focuses on the entire community with a holistic approach. Our integrated programs are designed to develop communities through a variety of construction projects, including housing and community buildings. We collaborate with local partner organizations to identify the community’s key needs and contribute to meaningful solutions.
Community Development
A Complete House from Constru Casa is built with concrete blocks, a corrugated iron roof, and a concrete floor. Families can choose from various designs, ranging from one to three rooms, with or without a bathroom, priced between $2,100 and $6,000 USD. These earthquake-resistant and climate-resistant homes are tailored to meet the needs of families in extreme poverty. The design and the 4-year follow-up program ensure long-term durability and support.
Building Houses
Constru Casa supports partner organizations in community development and construction. We build communal facilities such as schools, libraries, daycare centers, community centers, medical clinics, orphanages, and recreational areas. Our services include initial consulting, needs assessment, building design, construction supervision, and project management. These projects are typically proposed by partner organizations that have assessed the community’s needs and secured funding. The success of these projects relies on the commitment of both the local community and the partnering organization.
Community Construction
Constru Casa’s homes are built with an eco-friendly approach compared to traditional methods. Our construction uses a pin system, which replaces concrete columns with vertically installed rebar, reducing the amount of concrete needed and eliminating wooden forms. This method is quicker, safer, and provides anti-seismic benefits. The houses feature clay-based stucco siding, which uses less concrete. Additionally, families have the option to receive eco-friendly upgrades depending on available donations.
Ecological Housing
Asociación CONSTRU CASA
Stichting CONSTRU CASA
CONSTRU CASA USA
Constru Casa’s has made a noticeable impact in the lives of the families and communities in which they have built. When a family receives a new house, it can mean a whole new beginning. It is a new space to grow their family with new opportunities. An impact report was collected in November of 2017 by Natalia A. Bermudez in regard to the effect that a new home and follow up program of Constru Casa has had on the receiving families and communities. She concluded that there has been a major change for many Guatemalan families through Constru Casa’s integrated approach to bettering the lives of those who are in need.
Constru Casa is highly effective in improving the quality of life of Guatemalans families living in extreme poverty
Families had increased their income and standards of living. Families are more economic stable now.
Families have improved their physical and mental wellness. Additionally, they are more able to pursue their personal and family goals.
In communities where Constru Casa has developed integral initiatives, educative and human capital levels are higher than those areas where the organization offered only housing solutions.
Areas where integral solutions were offered, families create higher level of social interaction between partner organizations and neighbors.
Eighty-four percent of families are punctually paying the house. Better housing payment rate is seen on communities with strong community bond. Seventy-six percent of families are keeping their property neat and organized. Constant training by professional staff offering workshops on hygiene and health topics create high impact on household maintenance and hygiene habits
Constru Casa’s works with a large focus on the entire community. Our integral programs are designed to bring a holistic and integrated approach to the development of a community. These projects are made up of a variety of types of constructions, meaning that there will be multiple housing constructions as well as the construction of community buildings. Constru Casa works alongside the community partner organizations to find the main needs of the community and be a part of the solution.
The families now live in a secure place where they have the opportunity to develop through education. The community now has public services and recreation centers for adults and children. The families don’t suffer from sickness as often now that they are living in adequate housing conditions to have a better quality of life.
The new community of displaced people was given the name Chutinamit and among many of their necessities was the need for dignified housing, schools, and public services. Constru Casa began working with the families in 2013, getting to know the story of the community and the families. Constru Casa’s plan was to build a home with 3 rooms and a washroom for each family. In 2014 they build 22 homes with one room and a washroom with a shower. By 2015 they had built a second room on each of the homes and in 2016 were able to build the third room on the homes to complete the project for the 22 families.
Constru Casa supported the community as well with the community constructions. In 2014 they built two classrooms, a kitchen, and three washrooms in the school. In 2015 they built the community center, patio with washing area, sports field and a park in the community.
The families now live in a secure place where they have the opportunity to develop through education. The community now has public services and recreation centers for adults and children. The families don’t suffer from sickness as often now that they are living in adequate housing conditions to have a better quality of life.
A Complete House
A new constructed (complete) house is built with concrete block, a corrugated iron roof and a concrete floor. Families can choose between different types of houses, varying from one to three rooms, with or without a bathroom ranging in prices from $2,100 USD to $6,000 USD, designed to best suit their needs. The houses are resistant to earth quakes, and climate resistant, and for this reason are considered one of the best homes for families in extreme poverty to live in; this all due to the design and the 4 year follow up program that continues after construction.
Given prices may vary depending on the current exchange rate.
The Story of Don Elias: A Man Dedicated to his Family
Don Elías is a man of deep dedication, not only to his work, but also to his family. Every morning, his day begins at 5:30 a.m. in Ciudad Vieja, where he delivers milk and newspapers. Despite the hardship of his work, his spirit is unwavering.
For many years, Don Elías lived in a precarious shack, where the rains infiltrated the roof and the nights were a constant challenge. He had never experienced the comfort of a block house, but everything changed when Constru Casa transformed his life. Now, upon returning to his new home, Don Elías tells us that he can’t feel the nights, because his house provides them with security and warmth.
His wife is also happy, as are his children and granddaughter. Now, they all sleep peacefully in a bed donated by Wim and Hannie, who left their mark on their hearts by providing them with a comfortable piece of furniture. This gesture not only improved their quality of life, but also gave them a sense of dignity.
Despite the challenges, Don Elias continues to work hard to be the head of his family and ensure that they never lack food. His gratitude is immense, and his smile is a reflection of a renewed life. Don Elias’ story is a testament to resilience and family love, proof that, with support and effort, better dreams and realities can be built.
Constru Casa also supports partner organizations through community development and construction. Community constructions are buildings with a social or communal function, often in the areas of health or education that benefit the community as a whole. This includes school buildings, libraries, day care centers, community centers, medical clinics, orphanages and recreational areas. In conjunction with community constructions we offer services ranging from initial consulting and needs assessment to the building design, construction supervision, and project management. These community centers are generally presented to Constru Casa by a partnering organization who has evaluated the need and raised the money to fund the centers. The local community and organisation’s commitment to the project is key to a successful operation.
Our four year follow-up program is one aspect that firmly set us apart from other non-profits. We don’t believe that it is merely enough to just build a house and leave. We want to ensure that we are really creating lasting change for families and empowering Guatemalan communities. For every home we build for four years afterwards Constru Casa follows up with families in partnership with our social partner organizations.
For development to be sustainable we believe that families need to receive adequate training in using and caring for their new home. Through these workshops, the families are motivated to maintain their homes and utilize them to improve their lives. For this reason, Constru Casa has these follow-up methods:
Twice a year, Constru Casa organizes workshops at the locations of its social partner organizations, where all beneficiary families of those organizations come together, discussing Important topics such as the families’ changed living conditions, hygiene and health issues, difficulties in adjustment, and special circumstances and general improvements, but also financial planning and responsibility.
Any required maintenance work for family homes and community buildings is carried out by Constru Casa as a part of the 4 year follow-up. This work does not include maintenance made necessary by carelessness or misusage of the house. Constru Casa tries to limit maintenance work to a minimum in order to strengthen the family’s sense of responsibility and ownership of their house.
In cooperation with other social projects, Constru Casa offers healthcare, education and social services to the families we build houses for. Channeled channelled.
Constru Casa offers fuel efficient stoves in co-operation with Soluciones Apropiadas. These stoves use 70% less wood and directly send smoke outside through a pipe, eliminating the negative health effects caused by open fires and smoke inhalation including respiratory illnesses, eye problems and burns (especially amongst young children). In addition to the health implication of a smoke-filled living environment, gathering firewood is a laborious and time consuming task associated with back-injuries and hernias. Yet, when firewood is purchased this places a further strain on limited budgets. A fuel efficient stove costs approximately $265 USD.
Water filters are offered in collaboration with Sawyer Filters. Extensive research has been carried out regarding the quality of drinking water in Guatemala, and this filter has proven to be very efficient and economical in producing high-quality drinking water and reducing water-borne diseases. They have an estimated time of high quality use of 10 years.A water filter costs approximately $80 USD.Constru Casa is also working in collaboration with Ecofiltro, another type of filter, that is more economic, but it has a less estimated time of high quality use (2 years).
Compared to most construction methods, Constru Casa’s homes are built in a more ecologically friendly manner. The construction method that is used by Constru Casa is quicker, safer, and material-saving. Instead of pouring concrete columns, which is commonly seen in concrete constructions, Constru Casa uses a pin system. A pin system creates the columns out of vertically installed rebar every 80 cm. This uses less concrete as well as eliminates the need for wooden forms, while shortening the project duration and providing an anti-seismic design to each construction. The siding of the houses is made of a clay based stucco using significantly less concrete than most constructions. On top of the building design, there are options for the families to receive eco-friendly improvements to their home depending on the individual donations.
as well as the construction of community buildings. Constru Casa works alongside the community partner organizations to find the main needs of the community and be a part of the solution.
Solar panels are one of the eco-friendly options that you can donate to a family when they receive a new block home. A solar pannel not only lowers their impact on the environment, it also lowers their electricity cost which is the most expensive utility in Guatemala
Many families receive gutters on the roof of their new home to collect rain water but not all have a large recipient to store the water. The Rain barrel provides the families with a clean place to store their water and can hold up to 264 Gallons of water. These rain barrels also have an interior coating that kills bacteria therefore it is not necessary to clean the barrel as often and provides the family with cleaner water. As with the solar panel, the rain barrel decreases their expenses for water, and for some families without water, they don’t have to carry water from their local water source.
There are options for doors made of treated recycled industrial pallets. One main goal in providing a more eco-friendly influence, is the encouragement of reusing and recycling. The wooden doors still provide safety and stability, they are just made with a treated pallet. You could provide a family with a more esthetic, eco-friendly door.
Donors have an option to buy a new stove for the families. They are efficient wood burning stoves. With these stoves, the family consumes less fire wood and therefore dedicates either less time collecting firewood, or less money if they buy the wood. Since many families cook over an open fire, the stove also has a chimney so that they are no longer inhaling smoke and risking their health. A stove costs $160
Many families receive water filters, as the lack of clean water is a huge problem in Guatemala. These filters are comprised of 2 buckets and a cylindrical filter that passes the dirty water from the top bucket and releasing crystal clear water into the bottom bucket. These filters unlike many, can last for 10 years with regular cleaning. A water filter costs $75.
To top off the ecological style of Constru Casa homes, the families can receive a fruit bearing plant. The most common plant is a lime tree. One of the main condiments for food in Guatemala is Lime and having their own lime tree is very convenient. The green tree also gives a vibrant color outside their new home to start their new life and to often be the first component to their garden.
