First day on the build site, Huite, Zacapa Guatemala

Monday, January 25, 2010 - Trista Matascastillo, Community Relations Sr Associate

Today was our first day on site of the Habitat colony in Huite, Zacapa Guatemala. We traveled into the small colony via a very rural road through a series of small villages. When we arrived we were greeted by our homeowners, both single mothers of 2 children each, and the masons and local volunteers, many of them children.
The site is on a piece of land that was generously donated by a Foundation. In the end the land will hold 72 Habitat homes. Many of which will be owned by single mothers. The average family size in Guatemala is 5-6 children. Many mothers are single due to fathers leaving to find work elsewhere.

We began working on our assigned tasks as everyone else had already been working for a couple hours upon our arrival. Jeff Smith, my fellow blogger, jumped onto the task of back filling the foundation. In Guatemala that means he was digging piles of a clay/rock mixture into a wheelbarrow and hauling it into the house and leveling it off with his shovel. I can honestly; say I am grateful at this moment to be pregnant and that out of my limits. It was 90 degrees and sunny with only the occasional cloud or breeze for relief from the heat. Jeff certainly earned his keep today.

I on the other hand, started by sifting the dirt removing larger stones so that we could make the cement that would be used to mortar the blocks together. It brought back memories of sifting sand with my father before we poured our foundation for his shed. Later the sifter became a favorite sandbox toy. Because of my experience I had sifted about 4 wheelbarrow loads in less than an hour so had to find myself another task.

I moved on to assisting the junior mason (Carlos Roberto) who is an amazing 11 year old boy volunteering on sight. Carlos Roberto informed me he would be a mason when he grew up. It is not uncommon for children to work in Guatemala. The mandatory school age in Guatemala is 7 to 14 years old or completing the 6th grade. However it is more common for children who are in poverty or extreme poverty to drop out in the 2nd grade after they have learned basic reading and writing skills, in order to help the family earn an income. In this case however Carlos Roberto will be attending school but, school doesn’t start for a couple more weeks. So he has been passing his time volunteering on the Habitat homes is Huite.

Though my Spanish is poor I was able to communicate enough with Carlos to learn that he lived on the mountain side just outside of Huite with his mother and 6 siblings. He was an incredible 11 year old who worked so hard and joyfully it filled my spirit. He asked me about the United States and was fascinated by the fact that children in the US don’t work. I did however inform him my sons do have many chores around the house and have to assist at home which made him feel better. I shared stories of my family and photos and everyone was so excited to see that I actually have 4 sons and to know that my 5th is on the way made them smile. You see no matter how different we seem, no matter how far away we may live, in reality we all have so much in common. We have the same hopes and dreams and desire to have a decent place to raise our children, and to call home.

View our pictures on Flickr at http://bit.ly/8qRili