More Than A Build: What Happened When Studio 790 Traveled to El Salvador to Serve With TECHO

This Memorial Day weekend, we traded our usual plans for something far more meaningful.

Our team traveled to El Salvador alongside TECHO to help build a home for Isamar Flores Jiménez and her 7-year-old son, Dylan Adrián. And honestly? We're still processing everything we felt.

A Family That Deserved More

Isamar is 21 years old. She's a single mother who spends her days caring for Dylan and managing their household in the Corinto Hacienda community, a place her family has called home for generations.

Her grandparents were among the first families to settle there, and over time, her mother was given the land and eventually built a house with assistance received after the 2001 earthquake.

That house is where Isamar and Dylan have been living, until now. Over more than 20 years, the structure had deteriorated significantly: leaks, weakened wood, rusted and perforated metal sheets. No access to potable water. A shared electricity bill just to get by.

Isamar's dream was simple: a safe, dignified home for her son. A place filled with peace of mind and a real sense of security.

Dylan, for his part, is a curious and bright first grader who loves riding his bike, playing soccer, and collecting marbles. He deserved that safe place too.

What We Built and What Built Us

This was Studio 790's second trip with TECHO, following our build in Guatemala in 2024.

For four of our team members, this was their second time making the journey and if anything, returning made it even more meaningful. Knowing what to expect didn't make it less moving. It made them more present for every moment of it.

For two of our newest team members, this was their very first build. They both shared that it was one of the most special experiences they'd ever been a part of. That reaction, that feeling of showing up somewhere and realizing this is bigger than you is exactly why we keep coming back.

Side by Side

One of the most beautiful moments of the entire trip? Isamar and Dylan didn't just watch their home come together, they helped build it. Dylan even got to pick out the paint color for his new home, and then, brushstroke by brushstroke, helped paint those very walls himself. There's something about that image that just stays with you a 7-year-old leaving his mark on the place he'll call home.

We also got to share lunch together with Isamar, Dylan, and their family. Sitting around a table, sharing a meal, laughing, and getting to know them as people, not just as the family we came to serve, was a gift we didn't expect but will never forget. That time together made the whole experience feel full in a way that's hard to put into words.

A Family Affair

This trip held an extra layer of meaning for our Founder, Ann Lopez. El Salvador isn't just a destination on a map for Ann, it's personal. Her husband is Salvadoran, and this trip marked the first time he and her daughter joined the team on a build. To serve in his home country, side by side as a family, made every moment carry even more weight.

There's something profound about bringing your family into the work you believe in. About showing your daughter, firsthand, what it looks like to show up for others. That's a lesson no classroom can teach, and we are so grateful they got to experience it together.

Serving Others Joyfully

At Studio 790, one of our core values is to serve others joyfully. This trip was exactly that and then some.

Thank you to Pamela Mar for leading this project, to our incredible team, and to everyone who donated, shared, and cheered us on. This would not have been possible without you.

More than design. Real impact.

The best is yet to come. 🤍