Life journeys of women all around the world start at home. Some are more challenging than others. But all the women share an unbreakable will to live in decent conditions. Read Estella's story below.
As a young woman Estella played guitar in her father’s Latin pop band. Now 83, she can look back on many good times during her long life. But she has also had her share of serious difficulties.
Only a few years ago, she and her 23-year-old grandson, Manuel, were living near the Caribbean coast, in a shack made of scrap materials. The home had electricity, but it worked only intermittently, and no bathroom.
During the heavy rains common to the area, Estella and Manuel would hurry around as the structure flooded, hoisting food and beds onto cinder blocks to keep them from getting soaked. Sometimes, the wind would pick up and flip the flimsy roof inside out, ruining their possessions.
However, finding a new house in Honduras is very difficult. Land for construction is very scarce.
With Habitat for Humanity’s help, Estella’s story is a happy one. She and her grandson now live inland, in a new Habitat house. Today, in her kitchen in Puerto Cortes, Estella dances and sings songs from her youth. And she is not afraid of the storms anymore.
