Mizque – Cochabamba

Bye Bye Chagas Program

From adobe to brick: A life-changing shift for the community.

In the impoverished communities of Mizque, Cochabamba, life was a daily struggle against poverty, filth, and disease. The fragile homes made of adobe, stone, and sticks were the only shelter for many families, where straw roofs barely protected them from wind and rain. These conditions not only lowered the quality of life but also encouraged the spread of diseases, especially Chagas disease, transmitted by the vinchuca bug, which thrived in the damp, dirt-filled corners of these homes.

Aware of this critical situation, the Goodbye Chagas Program was launched in September 2015, spearheaded by The Fuller Center for Housing Bolivia in partnership with New Story Charity. This ambitious project had a clear goal: to replace unhealthy adobe homes with brick houses, providing families with a safe and healthy living environment.

The effort was monumental. Over the course of three years, 66 homes were built, directly benefiting 350 people. These new houses, made of brick with cement floors, feature tiled roofs, doors, windows, and all the necessary elements to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents. Rain is no longer a threat, and the vinchuca bug, responsible for spreading Chagas, has been eradicated from these homes.

This project not only improved the living conditions of the families but also marked the beginning of a new story for the Mizque community. Thanks to this initiative, children now grow up in a disease-free environment, where they can look to the future with hope. In June 2018, the project was successfully completed, demonstrating that with joint effort and collaboration, deep and lasting change can be achieved in Bolivia’s most vulnerable communities.

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With 16 USD we can buy 100 bricks and build decent homes for many families

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