The rich natural landscape of Guatemala, with its volcanic peaks, jungles and coast, belies a housing deficit of about 1.5 million units. And though its efforts may seem small against the need, Habitat has made significant inroads in 23 years; the 10,000th house in Guatemala was dedicated last November, with 15,000 more scheduled to be completed by 2005.

Evelin Jyohana Coy Ramos, 13, has lived in a Habitat house with her family in San Cristóbal Verapaz for nearly three years. Their former housing—like the living conditions of thousands of other Guatemalans—left much to be desired.

“It was a very small one-bedroom shack,” Ramos says. “I slept with my parents and my three brothers. The roof was made of shingles, the walls were decomposed wood planks nailed together; [there was a] dirt floor, and every time it rained, water dripped all over the house. It was very far from school, and we did not have running water.”

When the family moved into their Habitat house, the changes in their lives went beyond physical comfort, she says.

“It has changed my life. Mom does not get sick anymore due to humidity problems. If we go somewhere, we can leave the house by itself peacefully knowing that thieves cannot break in. We have separate bedrooms. My brother and I now live closer to school. Everything is wonderful.

“We now lead a tranquil life. We have privacy, enough space and security. For me, it is a huge castle, and I am the princess.”

—with Alfredo Kiehnle in Guatemala.