Lucia del Carmen Garcia has spent her life working tirelessly—first to support her family, then to raise her son, and always to uplift her community. At 39 years old, she is known for her quiet strength and unwavering dedication. In Los Robles, where she was born and raised, everyone recognizes her as one of “Las Aurelias,” a nickname given to her family in honor of her mother, Aura, who has lived in the community for decades and raised many children.
From a young age, Lucia learned the value of hard work. She grew up alongside her siblings, mastering the skills of field labor—wielding a machete, harvesting crops, and tending to household responsibilities like making tortillas from scratch and cooking rice and beans over a wood fire. Life in Los Robles has never been easy, but Lucia faced every challenge with resilience.
At 20, she became a mother. With a baby to care for, she worked even harder, traveling to nearby communities to pick coffee and tomatoes, often carrying her son, Hociel, on her back as she worked. As the years passed, her sacrifices paid off—her son grew into a strong, supportive young man. Now 18, he has become Lucia’s greatest source of motivation. “He is my light,” she says, “the reason I keep going.”
Despite her struggles, Lucia has always found ways to give back. As a dedicated volunteer, she has worked on numerous community projects, including the construction of the local health post. Through Homes for Good, she has helped build homes for others, all while holding onto the hope that one day, she too might have a safe place to call her own.
In early 2024, that hope edged closer to reality when her mother, Doña Aura, received a home through the housing project. Though grateful, Lucia still dreamed of a space she can call her own—somewhere to build a future with her son. She owns a small piece of land, but her income barely covers daily needs, let alone construction materials.
Lucia’s story is one of perseverance. She and her sisters are known in Los Robles for their unmatched dedication. Their days begin before the sun rises—by 4 AM, they are cooking, preparing for the long journey ahead. They walk one to two hours to the fields, working tirelessly to fill crates with harvested vegetables. Some days, if they finish early, they lend a hand to others, assisting with community projects. On days they choose to volunteer, they make up for lost work by extending their shifts from 4 AM to 4 PM.
In 2025, Lucia’s lifelong dream finally became a reality—she received a home of her own. After years of hard work, sacrifice, and unwavering hope, she now has a safe and stable place to call home, a space where she and her son can build their future together. For Lucia, this home is more than just four walls; it is the reward of perseverance, a symbol of the strength she has shown throughout her life, and a place where she can finally find peace.