Habitat

Building secure, safe and healthy environments for children

In addition to the damage to the country’s schools, El Salvador also faced a serious housing shortage due to the earthquakes. Official statistics published at the end of 2001 showed that 25 per cent of the population was either displaced or homeless. Plan helped by supporting families in building or repairing 1,155 homes in one community.

At the end of the project, a large celebration was held and eight year-old Candelaria gave a short speech on behalf of the children in the community:

“Today, many children like myself have a safe roof, and a safe place to live. We will not be afraid of the winter or the tremors, because our house is safe and strong, much better than what we had before.”