The Great Chiloé Island is located in the central-south part of Chile. On December 25, 2016 the Island was hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake. This disaster impacted many people as well as the island’s infrastructure. Houses have been severely damaged, many people have to live without access to electricity, and roads have been destructed. Additionally, the island also suffered from a red tide, producing toxic and harmful effects on people and animals. As a result, 5,000 people’s main source of income was put in danger. The island was declared in a state of catastrophe by the Chilean government. A total of 19,106 people were transferred to security zones on the mainland and had to leave all their belongings behind.
Habitat for Humanity Chile is an organization that promotes the rights of families and communities in vulnerable situations, by providing housing to improve their quality of life. With their program called “Our Children Return Home”, they aim to improve housing and construct appropriate living spaces for children and youth with special needs and illnesses, so they can continue their medical treatment under the care of their own family. In order to expand the number of families they can support, there is urgent need for technological innovations and clean energy sources.