An initiative between Habitat for Humanity and the Inter-American Cement Federation (FICEM) seeks to replace 100,000 dirt floors with concrete floors in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2028
Having a concrete floor is synonymous with health, especially for girls and boys. Those who live in houses with dirt floors are exposed to parasites, bacteria and insects that cause diarrhea, respiratory diseases, anemia, immunodeficiency, malnutrition, Chagas disease, and others.
Adam, 7 years old, was one of them, he was diagnosed with asthma and until two years ago, visits to the hospital were recurrent. But that changed when his family allied with Habitat for Humanity Nicaragua and managed to put a concrete floor, and the little boy’s health improved remarkably.
Habitat for Humanity and the Inter-American Cement Federation (FICEM) know that there are thousands of families like Adam’s in Latin America, which is why they decided to make an alliance that seeks to replace 100,000 dirt floors with concrete floors in Latin America and the Caribbean. In turn, according to the needs of each home, solutions will be provided for access to water and/or improved stoves, in order to generate a decent and healthy environment for the sustainable and inclusive development of families.
In search of suitable and healthy environments
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the housing deficit affects almost 40% of the total population and approximately 6% of homes have a floor with predominantly earth material, causing serious damage to the health of the people who live in them, especially children and older adults.
“At Habitat for Humanity, we have extensive experience in this type of intervention in the region, since we regularly work on it in the countries where we have a presence. We are witnesses of how these types of improvements bring an enormous change in the quality of life and health of families since they are provided with an adequate and healthy environment from which to build a better future. With “100,000 floors to play” we have a great opportunity to generate a social benefit that will positively impact thousands of lives,” explains Ernesto Castro, Vice President of the Area of Habitat for Humanity for Latin America and the Caribbean.
María José García, executive director of FICEM, assures that “the PISOS S3 program for the replacement of dirt floors with concrete floors for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, was proposed in 2020 by the regional cement industry seeking to improve health and the well-being of the most vulnerable families living in poverty, creating healthier, safer and more sustainable homes (S3). Today, together with Habitat for Humanity, we seek to join forces through the “100,000 floors to play” initiative with the aim of transforming the lives of 100,000 families by 2028 throughout the region. We understand that it is a great challenge that will have to be approached with prudence and responsibility, but it is also true that it is necessary to mobilize the interest, the regional committee, and the necessary alliances to achieve it”.
If your company or institution wants to join the “100,000 floors to play” initiative, you can request information by sending an email to lac@habitat.org or lrojas@ficem.org
