The number ten is also meaningful to Marcelo. A former soccer prodigy himself, “Maca” has the utmost respect for these digits, worn by Pelé and Maradona—a pair of the game’s legends. The exuberant 22-year-old actually dons the diez while playing for Pollería Dagmar; one of the local soccer squads that battle on weekday afternoons. But despite Marcelo’s love of the sport, ten means much more to him outside of soccer. In fact, Habitat for Humanity in Oaxaca has shown him the true power of ten.
The Habitat program at the Oaxaca affiliate creates a built-in community. The program requires a group of ten families to work together to construct ten homes. This design is unique because homebuyers continue their sweat equity until the ten dwellings are completed, and all ten families can only occupy their new homes after the tenth home is built. Because the families look out for each other and work together while their houses are going up, their relationships will last long after the final brick is laid.
Marcelo almost came to the U.S. two years ago. Like countless countrymen before him, he contemplated the move to better provide for his family. Maca wished to stay with his family in Puerto Ángel, and soon after was accepted into Habitat’s program. His family was now a part of a much bigger one.
And after our team’s time with Marcelo and his community, we feel like his family is a part of ours too.
For more information on how to join a Global Village trip visit: http://www.habitat.org/gv/ or for more information on trips originating from the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity affiliate contact globalvillage@tchabitat.org.
Contributed by Tyrel Nelson
