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Libano, Colombia
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Ten years ago Frs. Brian Cooper, CSV and Pedro
Herrera, CSV went to Libano, Colombia, a town of
approximately 20,000. Although the town is located in
the lush coffee growing mountains, poverty is rampant.
Coffee prices have fallen, and the insecurity from the
political and social unrest has caused many farmers to
abandon their farms. The campesinos move into Libano
searching for a better life for themselves and their
families. However, the only available houses are
improvised shacks they build on the mountainside. Being
build from scrap materials, the homes are extremely
primitive and lack the basics amenities we take for
granted such as indoor plumbing. Furthermore, they
become extremely dangerous during rain storms because
mudslides have washed away many homes in the past.
<<
Typical
housing of the Santa Rosa barrio. |
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Shortly
after Fr. Cooper assumed the pastorate at a local
parish, he formed a corporation to raise funds to build
thirty-two new homes for people now living in these
shantytowns. The perspective families are actively
involved in the construction of their new homes. They
have moved the dirt, rock, and sand to build the
retaining walls. They have also sold raffle tickets,
picked coffee and donated money to help defray the cost
of installing the house foundations. While the
infrastructure has been completed, the next task is to
construct the actual homes.
Future residents constructing the foundations of the
32 homes. >>
 To
date, one house has been completed. Each
house will be 648 square feet (18’ x 36’) and will have
three bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom, and
patio. Each home costs approximately
$5,000. Recently, over $60,000 was raised and
construction has begun on twelve houses, with nineteen
remaining. |
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 You can join in this work
of providing homes for those who are but one step away
from homelessness. Please send your contribution to the
development office of the Clerics of St. Viator. Please
mark on your check “housing project.”
<< Father Brian Cooper, CSV with some of the future
residents celebrating the completed work. |
More Libano Projects and Locations
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