Our Story
After visiting Guatemala and experiencing the sub-standard living conditions first hand, we could not get the indelible picture of poverty out of our mind. In a country filled with breathtaking volcanoes, verdant hillsides, tight-knit families, traditions and pride, most of the indigenous people were living in squalor. The government programs to help the poor were, and continue to be, either ineffective, inadequate, or discriminatory.
After volunteering for several years we realized that we could be more effective in attracting donations to help the poor by becoming a Canadian Registered Charity. In May 2019, From Houses to Homes Canada Limited became a Registered Charity in Canada. The first Canadian donated home was built in 2019 by Howard and Jeannelle, along with the help of some regular builders from the Dream Team, a group of regular volunteers from the Ottawa valley.
Our Purpose
The Primary purpose of the corporation is to build small basic houses for impoverished indigenous Guatemalan families, houses that become the homes they never dreamed they could have. From Houses to Homes Canada also relieves poverty and advances education by providing school supplies and materials for their children.
Homes
The organization sends funding to Guatemala to buy the materials needed for a 3.96 metre X 5.79 metres (13’X19′) cinder block home that includes a concrete floor, window, locking metal door, fibreglass panel roof, cement cook stove, water purifier, bunk beds and a monthly food provision of basic food items for the first year. A thorough selection process is administered by our local Director in Guatemala.
Most selected families have two or more children under the age of ten. None of the families selected would ever have the means to build their own home. Our director in Guatemala supervises all construction. The house is erected within 5 days, Monday to Friday. The keys are given to the family on Friday afternoon.
Where We Work in Guatemala
All homes are built within approximately an hour drive from Antigua Guatemala.
Education
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
Inside the School – Kemna’oj
Housing and education go hand-in-hand to break the cycle of poverty. Houses to Homes Guatemala established “Escuela Kemna’oj”, a Pre K through grade 9 school, which has proudly operated since 2011. Many of the families whose children attend the school live in homes constructed by us.
To the extent that the organization has the funding, we will develop a process to identify needy children and provide the school supplies needed to attend school and to support the Kemna’oj school in Santa Maria de Jesus. The typical school supplies needed for a child to attend school costs only $50.00 CDN, but for most, this is an impossible amount. To place it in context, this amounts to 3-4 days of wages for a labourer in the fields in the farm industry, a common employer for indigenous families.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Howard Winters, Co-founder
Jeannelle Romain, Co-founder
Jack MacDonald, Owner Whitetail Golf Club, Ontario Region
Perri-Rae Boell, Cooperators Insurance, Ontario Region
Brenda Thomas, Director, BC Region
Deborah Bell, Director
Oscar Mejia, Director, De Casas a Hogares, Guatemala
We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. To join our board or for additional information, please contact us at:
613-295-8618
34 Watchorn Drive, Box 241, Beachburg, Ontario K0J 1C0