Habita Para La Humanidad, El Salvador – Our Sister Build

Our affiliate has tithed to the El Salvador builds for the last 2 years in support of their efforts.  El Salvador is the tiniest of the Central American countries, but the problems it faces are amongst the largest.  A civil war from 1980 to 1992 claimed over 75,000 civilian lives, and Hurricane Mitch in 1998 along with powerful earthquakes in 2001 combined to destroy or damage nearly 25% of all the housing in the country, especially in the rural areas.  Rebuilding efforts will take years, and Habitat is doing its part.  Habitat El Salvador, while building throughout the year, has three annual "blitz build" events where as many as 50 houses are completed in one week's time by volunteers and professional masons.  Habitat El Salvador has built over 2000 houses to date.

Houses in El Salvador are simple by U.S. standards, consisting of three or four rooms, concrete block walls, fiber cement sheet roofs, glass windows and metal doors.  Electrical is provided, but a latrine instead of an inside bathroom is usually used.  Houses are built in partnership with homeowners, just like here in Wilmington.  Habitat El Salvador provides a zero interest mortgage, just like here in Wilmington, but since the houses cost about $3500 US, payments are about $17 US per month.  This doesn't sound like much, but with an average daily wage of about $6 US, it becomes a manageable payment.

The three Blitz Build events are Semana Santa (Holy Week), called "Levantemos y Edifiquemos" (Rise Up and Build) with house dedications on Easter Sunday, "Construyendo Sobre La Fe" (Building on Faith), usually the first week of August, corresponding to the national vacation time, and "Navidad en Accion" (Christmas in Action), usually the first week of December.  During these times international volunteers, some from as far away as Northern Ireland and Canada, team up with local masons to build up to 50 houses in each event. 

The work is hard, the weather hot, the people warm, and the results rewarding.  If you feel the need to leave the comforts of hot showers, TV, and your own car for a basic hotel room, a truck ride to work (ox-cart optional), and the chance to make a difference in the lives of some very hard-working people, contact Dennis Mialki at DMialki@aol.com or 350-3550.  Dennis makes several building trips to El Salvador each year.  Knowledge of Spanish is not mandatory the only requirements are the willingness to work hard in partnership with God's people and the ability to smile.

Note:  When Dennis is not in El Salvador building you can find him out on our Habitat work sites on Saturday mornings.