Habitat for Humanity has demonstrated for years that people who help construct their own homes feel a sense of ownership and pride that causes them to take better care of their houses. So imagine if the people built every inch of their house!
The families at Chacocente have learned how to dig the foundation, cement blocks, square the corners and plumb the walls. They have learned vital construction steps such as how to make a building earthquake resistant.
And they have learned how to add the finer finishing touches such as repello, or the thin coat of cement applied over the cinder blocks to give the wall a nicer appearance.
The men and women of Chacocente are sufficiently adept at construction and masonry that they should be able to find jobs in the building trades, one of the only economic segments that is still growing.