Women construction workers of Villa 21-24

When we launched this project on GlobalGiving, we set out to complete 50 new home improvements in Villa 21-24-Zavaleta. Since then, the Women Builders have continued entering homes, identifying problems, and building solutions together with families.

Today, we want to share something we have learned along the way: a significant share of the needs we encounter inside homes is related to access to water and sanitation.

Of the 115 home improvements completed by Women Builders since the program began, 56% included work related to water and sanitation.

Behind that percentage are very concrete situations: families who need to repair deteriorated water installations, fix persistent leaks, improve their bathrooms, install or repair water tanks, and ensure that water can properly reach the different areas of their homes.

Having a water network nearby does not always mean having safe and sufficient water inside the home. The condition of household water and sanitation installations is a fundamental part of healthy housing.

The Women Builders address these problems from within the community itself. They are women from Villa 21-24-Zavaleta who have trained in construction and plumbing and who now use those skills to improve the living conditions of other families.

Each project transforms something tangible — a pipe, a bathroom, a water tank, or a household installation — but it also strengthens skills and capacities that remain within the community.

Our goal remains the same: for more families to live in safe and healthy homes, and for women from the community to play a leading role in making that transformation possible.