In the past year, Henkel volunteers and “HELPS International” helped to improve many homes in Santa Clara La Laguna, the small mountain village in Guatemala.

We wanted to…

…provide families with access to clean water

…improve the education and health standard of the children both at home and at school

…provide participating families with basics in hygiene and healthcare

…reduce timber fuel consumption

…improve agricultural productivity

What have we achieved until today? 

Home Transformation

90 out of 120 families were provided with cement floors, white-washed walls, water filters and closed cooking stoves with chimneys. The remaining 30 families will receive this equipment before the end of 2010. The fire wood reduction of up to 70% will save 1500 trees per year, a sustainable success for the environment!

Corn Program

In 2010, 48 families will participate in the corn program, including technical accessory, fertilizer and training for the small farmers. The program will last three years, and will be supported by “HELPS International” staff. The fields we worked on this year already show big differences to the surrounding fields not participating in the program.

Health Care Program

A small medical center opened in Santa Clara. A doctor from “HELPS International” is working at minimum one week a month. During the rest of the month, HELPS employees visit the families and teach them in hygiene and health care. This program will run for several months to guarantee a sustainable result.

Stoves and filters for public schools

Many public schools have already received proper cooking stoves for the small meal served during the day to all kids, and water filters to guarantee clean water. More schools will be incorporated soon.

Workshop “Washing”

In April 2010, Henkel organized a workshop at the public market place where approximately 350 people learned how to save water, protect our environment and handle laundry detergents in a healthy, hygienic and economical way. The workshop was hold by the Henkel employees from Marketing and R&D department. Since this day, the whole village is talking about the “Fiesta Henkel”.

All volunteers are proud of the progress in our MIT project. And in order to continue the joint effort, in August we will go once again to the little mountain village Santa Clara La Laguna to install stoves and water filters.

Join us again here on the BLOG – Changing Lifes in St Clara La Laguna!