Guatemala Update Livelihood, Habitat and Scholarships along with plans for 2004

April 1, 2004                          to LifeNets Latin America Home Page

Since 2000 LifeNets has been providing habitat, scholarships and livelihood development assistance for Guatemala. We are pleased to see this support make changes and improvements in people's lives. Pictured are just a few of the 2003 projects that included setting up three ladies with sewing businesses

In 2003 a total of $7235 was spent for three sewing machines, home construction and repair and 16 student scholarships.

For the year of of 2004 we have budgeted $7582 for similar projects and have paid out half this amount as of this report. The remaining half will be paid on July 1st.  This will provide for 18 student scholarships, livelihood development projects for chicken and egg production , a sewing machine, an outdoor bread oven and two more cement floors. In all LifeNets has assisted Guatemala $14,817 in 2003 and 2004. 

An interesting new project for 2004 will be a biodigester that will be a container made from cement and sand about three or four meters underground. It will be  fed excrement from humans or animals such as cows. The decomposition (the decomposition is accomplished with bacteria that live in human excrement) of these waste products produces a fermentation which is transformed into methane gas.  This gas is a fuel for stoves (or kitchens) or for refrigerators that run on gas.  Methane gas is similar to propane gas ( it is similar but methane gas has a great molecular weight whereas propane gas has three molecular weights but of a very small size).  To feed the biodigester so that it generates an adequate amount of gas for a family's consumption, it is necessary that at least 4 people live in the house.  Stay tuned to interesting reports on this project.

Thanks to everyone on the donor end who is helping us meet our budget!

Click here for other 2003 projects completed. 

Mrs. Zoila Argueta,a Guatemalan widow who received a LifeNets Overlock sewing machine   The photos of the homes are two separate homes joined together in Quetzaltenango that provide habitat for two families. Cement floors were poured along with roofs being repaired.

Mrs. Alba Morales, who received the third LifeNets sewing machine Pablo Ramirez, who has received a Scholarship from LifeNets in Guatemala. He lives in Huehuetenango

RELATED LINKS about working in Central America

• July 25, 2003 update on Livelihood and Scholarship programs
• LifeNets gives cash $7235 cash grant for setting up home businesses, habitat and scholarships in Guatemala. (posted May 26, 2003)
• Livelihood and Education Projects for 2002 (posted April 25, 2003)
• Progress Report on Guatemala Concrete Floor Project July 2002
• Students in El Salvador thank LifeNets for school supply aid.  More thanks from Guatemala and other info. (posted April 20, 2002)
• Beloit, Wisconsin Silver Ambassadors Make a Difference for Central America! (posted November 20, 2001)
• Luis Mundo named LifeNets director for Guatemala on November 13, 2001
• Donated Dental Office in operation in El Salvador (posted September 3, 2001)