This initiative will reduce health risks and improve the quality of life for thousands of Guatemalan families. Esta iniciativa disminuirá los riesgos en salud y mejorará la calidad de vida de miles de familias guatemaltecas.
This continues the legacy of the PISOS S3 project, led by the Inter-American Concrete Federation in partnership with Cementos Progreso, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, the Global Network of Indigenous Entrepreneurs, as well as the Cement and Concrete Institute in Guatemala. This project benefited and transformed the lives of 150 people in indigenous communities in the municipality of San Juan Sacatepéquez in the department of Guatemala.
The “100,000 Floors to Play On” initiative will allow Habitat for Humanity to build concrete floors for a period of 3 years. The organization will allocate Q3 million of its own funds in this first year to help approximately 2,500 families nationwide. Between 2023 and 2025 it is estimated that they will invest Q10 million to reach thousands of homes.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in Guatemala, more than 840,000 homes in rural areas have dirt floors. They are built with low-quality materials, and many of them lack access to water. In some cases, these homes do not have property or land registration. In addition to being indicators of poverty, dirt floors are known to cause stomach and respiratory illnesses. They harbor parasites, bacteria, and insects that lead to anemia, diarrhea, immunodeficiency, Chagas disease, among others.
The concrete floors significantly reduce risks that affect families’ health, improve quality of life, and promote equality, balance, and social inclusion.
In addition to being durable, safe and resistant, they protect against flooding and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to ending poverty.
Find out how the concrete floor changed Doña Máxima’s life and learn more about the Pisos S3 project.
“For the cement and concrete industry, supporting countries’ development, contributing to ending poverty, and contributing to a more just and equitable society is a priority, which is why we are committed to building a sustainable and resilient future,” said Maria José Garcia, executive director of FICEM.
