Casita Amarilla

View at the EL TREBOL Dump.

THE GUATEMALA CITY DUMP (El Trebol)

There are hundreds of children living in a dump in Guatemala City. Most live with single mothers in huts that have been cobbled together from garbage. There is no water, medical care, education or food.

This "sanitary landfill" - the largest in Central America - has a population of almost 900 families. About 430 tons of solid waste are dumped daily at "El Trebol" which is located in central Guatemala City. This dump is close to the financial centres, and only 1 mile from the surrounding residential areas.
Members of this community make their living by picking through garbage, looking for materials than can be reused or sold as scrap.

Obviously, the health problems associated with this existence are numerous. For example: parasites, injuries from dangerous materials, poisons, ear and eye infections spread by flies, and malnutrition. Add to this are serious respiratory problems from burning of garbage.

The Casita Amarilla, a Day Care-Centre for the children of the dump and their mothers.

CASITA AMARILLA, a day-care-centre was founded 1994. It is associated with the Guatemaltacan association CAFNIMA.
The Juergen-Wahn-Foundation raised the necessary money for the initial operating costs. Though the foundation still provides most of the funding, additional outside funds will enable us to expand the program, and facilities.

Due to severe earthquake damages, the old Day Care Centre was razed. A new and better facility was finally opened in April, 2003. Again, the Juergen-Wahn-Foundation came to the rescue with the necessary funding. After the renovation, 150 children can now get an education and a daily meal.

They are happy to join
the Casita Amarilla

Damengruppe0102

Women from the Microcredit Program at Casita Amarilla.

Microcredits that help

The Juergen-Wahn-Foundation is providing Microcredits to women in need in amounts of 150 US$. Though that may not seem like a huge sum to us, for the women of "El Trebol", it is an opportunity of a lifetime. This little amount allows them to start their own businesses and leave the dump for good. Little by little they re-pay the loan in fixed installments. For this program the loan payments are disconnected from the national inflation that can reach 20 %! Their payments are again used to finance more Microcredits.

In case of financial problems, the women help each other. In addition, the Casita Amarilla provides day care and schooling for their children. This enables the women to concentrate on their business, and frees the children from their work duty at El Trebol. Please help these families to have a dignified life.

We hardly can imagine, what this credit means for the women who used to work on the dump. Giving them credit and trusting them:
- They are becoming business partners, making their own money.
- They don't need to fight each other for the "best" garbage anymore, but rather supporting themselves.
- It is the Way-Out of the dump for them and their children.

All this has to do with hope and human dignity!