Hábitat y Desarrollo Rural en Valle Azul

Un Techo para mi Hermano is a civil society group helping rural families in Patagonia, Argentina, improve their living conditions through a self-help and mutual aid housing program. Valle Azul, a remote area once without roads, water, or electricity, was home to rural workers living in overcrowded, unsafe houses on land owned by wealthy estate owners. Families faced long working hours, poor housing, and social exclusion.
The project helps families build safe, ventilated homes with water, sanitation, and electricity. Construction is done collectively, and homes are only allocated once all are completed, promoting cooperation. Environmental efforts include reforestation, creating green areas, and replacing open latrines with proper bathrooms and kitchens. Women play a key role in construction, decision-making, and community development.
To date, 528 families have benefited, including 106 in the Valle Azul initiative. Communities such as “Ruca Peñi,” “Effort and Freedom,” and “Solidarity and Hope” have formed stable rural villages. Training in construction and self-management has increased confidence, reduced dependency, and strengthened social networks.
The project is funded by the national government, local authorities, and international donors, while families contribute labour and part of the material costs to a shared fund. Homes cost less than half of state-built houses, and the unemployment rate in Valle Azul has dropped to around 1%, compared to 15% nationally.
This initiative is innovative because it empowers socially excluded rural workers, strengthens community ties, improves housing and the environment, and reverses rural-to-urban migration trends. It has influenced national housing policy and inspired similar projects in other communities.