Springfield Eugene Habitat for Humanity

Nicaragua: The Country

Location: in Central America with Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south; bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean Sea on the east.

Size: 50,193 square miles, about the size of Iowa.

Population: : Over 5 million people.

Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (Indian and Spanish), Caucasian, African, Native American.

Principal Languages: Spanish, English, native languages.

Religions: Predominantly Roman Catholic, 20 percent Protestant.

The Typical Habitat house in Nicaragua

In Nicaragua, a typical Habitat house for five family members costs around $7,870 to build. This is in comparison to the $60,000 we need to build a Habitat house in Springfield and Eugene.

To the left are two of the houses we've built in Nicaragua.

Habitat for Humanity International reports that Habitat houses measure 36m2 and are made of confined masonry with concrete blocks, zinc sheet roofs over a metallic panel structure and floors of domestic tile. They consist of a living-dining room, two dormitories, a bathroom and a kitchen. They are designed to resist constant telluric movements on the Pacific side, as well as the impact of hurricanes on the Atlantic side.

Notice how simple they are from our American perspective. To a family in Nicaragua, this home may feel like a luxury.

Springfield/Eugene Habitat's work in Nicaragua

Here you can see one of the construction sites. To date, Springfield/Eugene Habitat for Humanity has built 35 houses in Nicaragua, thanks to the help of our volunteers and donors.

Ten percent of undesignated gifts given to Springfield/Eugene Habitat for Humanity are shared with our brothers and sisters at Habitat for Humanity Nicaragua.

Many Habitat homes in Nicaragua are built through the Global Village program. Through Global Village many international work teams are sent there to help build homes. Contact Habitat for Humanity International at www.habitat.org if you would like more information about a Global Village build simple, decent, affordable housing in Nicaragua