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HABITAT PROJECT FOCUCED ON GIVING AID TO TEACHERS

Habitat for Humanity Paraguay has recently created a project which will give support to the teachers of Paraguay. The objective is to bring technical and financial assistance to the teachers; enabling these families to either build a new home or to improve the living conditions of their current home.

The project is entitled “Adequate housing for the educator”. This campaign was first initiated in June of 2009 through the support of Habitat for Humanity Colorado. Their generous donation has created a rotating fund which has already been put to use. To date, Habitat Paraguay has already handed over 60 houses. The goal is to complete 400 houses by the year 2011.
The origin of this campaign of helping teachers came about through an alliance with Abeco (Association for the Well-being of the Teachers in Coronel Oviedo). Abeco was established in 2005 and it recently has had a tremendous amount of success. In the past year, they were able to hand over 55 houses in the region of Caaguazú.
When Habitat for Humanity Paraguay heard about Abeco, they wanted to help launch this project. Then, the affiliates from Colorado received the budget and decided to support us immediately. This project gives aid to the following departments: San Pedro, Caaguazú, Concepción, Gran Asunción y Bajo Chaco.
Requirements for the teachers:
Whichever teacher that resides in one of the previously mentioned departments is able to present his or her application for construction. Habitat for Humanities houses are of social character and are designed for families that do not have an appropriate place to live or live in very precarious conditions.
The houses that Habitat builds can be 24 square meters, 37 square meters, or 50 square meters. They are built with hollow bricks, Spanish tiles and cement floors. Construction of the house also includes instalment of the bathroom and electricity.
The system that Habitat for Humanity Paraguay proposes involves the concept of sweat equity hours. The recipient family is required to help out in the construction of their home. In addition to this, each family is required to go through a course which teaches them how to save their money or how to spend their money only on the things that they really need. Each family must pay back the money that they borrow through monthly payments to the rotating fund.
Family Testimony: Professor Celia
Celia Diaz works as a teacher in the city of Concepción. She was living with her grandmother, Dona Eugenia Falcon (84 years old). They were living in a one-bedroom house made of wood. “I studied with a lot of sacrifice. I was working with my mom as a domestic worker. Through both of our salaries, I was able to afford the cost of my studies. For a good period of time, I worked during the day and then studied at night. Thus, this is how I afforded my education”.
When she graduated, Celia worked as a volunteer in the Municipality of Conception. Eventually, she was accepted as a public sector worker. By that time, it was hard to get a loan because of the low incomes we both my mother and myself had.
Finally, Celia obtained a position as a teacher in the Ministry of Education Department. She later called Habitat for Humanity Paraguay in order to find out about the possibilities of improving the house where they were living. Recently, she received her brand new two-bedroom house, a house in which she shares with her grandmother Eugenia.