How Embera is making an impact beyond the Netherlands, together with Techo

Techo (Spanish for "roof") builds homes for people living in extreme poverty throughout Latin America, literally giving them a roof over their heads. "These are often areas where the government fails to fulfill its duties," explains Antonio Stanin Palencia De La Roca. "In some countries, we are active in slums; in others, we help communities in remote areas."

At the time of the interview, Antonio was responsible for Techo’s operations in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Peru, Uruguay, and Panama. Antonio is now a director at the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure, and Housing, where he is once again focusing on social housing for people in (extreme) poverty. At Embera, we see this as a fantastic step! The right person in the right place for maximum impact.

Structural work

Techo’s primary mission is to raise awareness through volunteer work and to reduce poverty. Techo has existed since 1997 and has grown rapidly, especially since 2000. Antonio: "Back then, we were building about a thousand houses a year. We were mainly active in areas hit by natural disasters, such as El Salvador, Peru, and Haiti. Since 2006, we have been working structurally in numerous countries."

Decent conditions for the Poqomchi’ people

One of the most recent projects in Guatemala was in the village of Panhux, in the jungles of the Alta Verapaz region. It is one of the poorest areas in the country. Many villages lack decent housing, clean drinking water, sewage systems, and electricity. There, at the end of 2023, Dennis Bakker from Embera and volunteers from Techo joined forces to build twelve wooden houses for the Poqomchi’ people. Dennis: "I’ve followed Techo since I was a child and always wanted to be a part of it. Now that we at Embera are working together with the HomePlan Foundation, they gave me the opportunity to take this trip and take action."

Assessing needs

The communities Techo supports have a few things in common. They are often impoverished and lack facilities that we consider normal here in the Netherlands, such as proper water supply, electricity, and roads. Marielos Martinez, who was General Director of Techo Guatemala at the time of the interview and is currently Antonio’s successor, says: "We visit the leaders of these communities and first conduct an assessment of what the residents need, beyond just decent housing. What other problems do they face? Based on that, we determine what resources we need to deploy to improve their living conditions. This could also include improving infrastructure like roads and squares." Techo does not build that infrastructure itself, but by conducting the assessment, it paves the way for other agencies.

Empowering communities

Techo’s help extends beyond just putting up houses. The organization empowers communities, Marielos explains. "We quickly involve key figures from a community in our work. Once a month, they meet with our people to determine what is needed. Our young volunteers then take the lead in building the houses. By involving the community from the very beginning, they develop certain skills needed to further improve their village once our work is finished. This includes leadership skills for women, whom we bring to the table alongside the men from the community where decisions are made."

Youth-led

Techo describes itself as a "youth-led organization." Antonio explains why the focus is there: "In our projects, we look for students from universities and colleges. They give our organization new energy. They are given and take the lead in building the houses, gaining skills they can later use as managers in government or the business world. In this way, we promote leadership."

60,000 volunteers

Most volunteers come from Latin America. In the sixteen years that Techo has been active in Guatemala, some 60,000 young people have helped out. They pay a contribution, which depends on what they can afford. "This gives every student the chance to help. We don't want to become a club for rich kids. Everyone is welcome here."

Techo doesn't often receive volunteers from outside Latin America. So, Embera’s participation is quite special. But not when you consider that Embera and Techo are actually quite similar. "We share the same values," says Dennis. "Like Techo, we are an organization of young people. We also encourage each other to take the lead and promote the preservation of our own identity (diversity). As a result, we not only grow as a company, but we also develop as individuals."

Building trips with the HomePlan Foundation

The first trip to Guatemala was such a positive experience for Embera that a second building trip followed at the end of 2024. Colleagues Mike and Rens went to South Africa—again in collaboration with the HomePlan Foundation. Another trip to Guatemala is already planned for November 2025. More details, including information about the participants, will follow later this year!