Guatemala something really different

Gautemala 

An incredible place to be

and 

here we want to do something

 really different

Something Different

like

TRANSICIONES

(transitions)

 
La construccion de la esperanza

Building Hope.

To construct a safely built home in Guatemala is about the cost of buying a used car in Canada or the US. Add in a small parcel of land and we are looking at purchasing a fairly decent new car. Being cost effective, maybe it is better to build more than one home. Maybe for the price of a small used car lot, we can build a small village.

A small village can be put together complete with a school, water collection system, sewage and waste collection and recycling, solar power for very little funding.

grande sueño
Dream Big.

Join me in a dream to build a village.

We are in the process of putting together a non government organization (NGO) that will provide homes for those in dire need of a place to call home. A home that provides basis shelter and safety. 

There are many well known organizations that do this yes, but a candidate for a home often needs to own their own land first. It is that collateral for the bank loan.

What happens to those people that have no land? 
Who will help them? 
Who will care and love them enough to give them a home. 

We want to

Please join in this first step by sharing this dream. 
Please help to make it a reality.
Tell a friend, tell ten people, tell the world.

Guatemala sits on eight fault lines. Guatemala suffers its fair share of seismic activity or earthquakes. Guatemala is constantly moving, shifting. Most earthquakes are minor but some do take their toll on property and the loss of human life. 

The earthquake that hit Haiti was felt in Guatemala as they both share that same fault line. Aftershocks were many and intense. 

To construct a home in such conditions means a shift in present day building methods. To do this effectively without incurring too much added cost means thinking smarter. 

It is very possible to build housing using the same building materials that are presently used today in Guatemala. Homes that are built in a way that makes them safe for most seismic activity.

Using present day construction materials keeps costs down. We just have to use them a little differently. There are many different ways of construction that are affordable, strong and safe. Some experimental housing has been done using large shipping containers, rubber tires, rammed earth, earth bags, etc.

What we also have to look at aside from affordability and structural integrity is that people want to live in a house that looks just like their neighbours, not something from outer space. 

Purchasing land for a single home is expensive. That is why our plan calls for a village. To keep costs down we will build on raw land. Each house will have its own small tract of land for micro-farming. If in an area not near a power grid, we can use photvoltiac energy. Solar power is already in use in remote villages.

Water will be collected from ground source and treated using UV sterilaization. Waste water from washing can be recycled for irrigation use. Black water treated in a septic system in conjunction with either ozone or ultra violet light.  

We are always looking for people who know a better way. We are looking for people that want to assist in any way what-so-ever. Join us.

 It is all possible... so... 

Get involved.
Lets build a village together. 
Lets build hope

Únete a mí

Construir un pueblo en conjunto
la esperanza.

Please help 

To preserve and to create dignity, this project will not involve charity. Using a system of low non-interest payments each family will pay back the cost of their home over a fixed period. When the loan is paid in full the house and land will be freehold. Monies collected will be for the ongoing maintenance, further building expansion, local management, etc.

A common building structure will also be constructed that will provide for schooling for children as well as for adults. It will also be used for group gatherings and meetings. Education for adults will include micro-farming, sustainable business ventures, computers, first aid, carpentry, welding, hairdressing, beautician, etc.

The dream is no longer just a dream it is real. There are many people involved now and that number is growing. It is such an exciting time.

An NGO needs at least seven people to begin its journey. There are several Guatemalan people already involved. Volunteers will be needed. Fund raising will come from both private business ventures and private sources. I personally have many ideas on how to accomplish this. But I am no longer alone in this project.

We want your ideas. 

We want your help.

Join us, help us to build a village.

Help us to help the people. 

You can Contact me personally for any additional information... 
Gavin (Gavino) Jones

Quetzaltenango (Xela)
Guatemala.

gavjonessm@gmail.com