Constru Casa works with a number of social organizations in Guatemala. These organizations work in the areas of education, health-care and community development, and some are also daycare centers, schools, clinics or community committees. Constru Casa always selects beneficiary families in co-operation with these local partner organizations. For these organizations, housing and construction work is not their main objective. Constru Casa complements their mission by offering simple houses to affiliated people who live in extreme poverty.

This collaboration is what makes Constru Casa unique and is the most important part of our initiative. The idea is that the impact of a new house is significantly enhanced if a family is already part of another social organization helping to improve their lives. Constru Casa’s goal is that the new house and the health-care, educational or social work provided, reinforce one another and are the impetus to lift a family out of poverty.

In addition to working with partner organizations, we strongly believe that beneficiary families need to contribute to their house. They should not receive the house as a gift, but contribute to the cost and build of the house. Constru Casa achieves this first through the participation of at least one family member in the construction. Secondly, the families pay a contribution of 25% of the total cost of the construction of their house. The families pay their contribution monthly over a period of four years. Most families pay about $20USD per month for the basic 3-room house. After the construction, they also participate in special programs organized in cooperation with the social partner organizations (follow-up meetings, accompaniment).

Board of Directors Carolina van Heerde - President Leonel López - Vice President Manon Derks - Secretary Christopher Morales - Treasurer Edvin Duarte - General Member 1 Harald Westrik - General Member 2

Staff Carolina van Heerde – Director Kristina Hedderly – Operations Manager Ranferi Vásquez – Project manager Sofia García – Management assistant Geovani Zuñiga – General assistant The masons

For more detailed information about our organization, download our Constru Casa Description.