Mud. Sticks. Plastic. Scraps.
This is the typical home in rural Nicaragua.
Most homes in rural Nicaragua are made with old wooden boards, black plastic scraps, rusted metal and have dirt floors. When it rains the families get wet from three angles: the roof, the walls, and the water that streams across the dirt floor.
Most families do not own the house they live in nor have any chance of ever owning a house of their own. Some share their home with many members of their family; often, there are at least ten people living in one room. People sleep, cook, and in many cases even go the bathroom in this one room. The conditions are unstable, unsanitary, and nearly unbearable for many families.
During the summer months, frequent downpours and thunderstorms quickly turn the dirt floors into thick, damp mud that completely blankets the bottom of the house. Rain seeps through the roofs, and with these heavy rains also come disease-carrying insects and parasites, making the summer months especially difficult on the families.
Change is happening -
One house at a time
Rainbow Network partners with rural communities to build safe, secure homes. These new houses provide a clean and healthy space for families. They are kept dry and warm. You can partner with us today by making a gift to our housing program.
