Construction in Haiti is Difficult!

Hello! The construction story continues, and this short bit from Sarah shows just how difficult construction in Haiti can be! During this short time I slept in a wheelbarrow one night, and then on a sheet of plywood with a rock for a pillow the next night! Thankfully I had already done both before while living in Fiji, so I was prepared! Read this short excerpt below to see just what construction in Haiti can really be like!

The Inflated Airform!

SEPTEMBER 8TH - SEPTEMBER 11TH

The equipment broke again (and again and again) so instead of it taking 2-3 hours to inflate the balloon it took four days, a return trip to Port Au Prince, two trips to Les Cayes and about 30 hours under the balloon (sleeping at 3am, getting up at 6am) to get it to fully pressurized! There are many more details to this part of the journey, but suffice it to say, it was not a smooth or comfortable few days. Dan had the guys building window frames while he was away and the crew finished the scaffolding. When they returned, Steve slept outside so that no one would steal anything - he slept in a very small wheel barrow!  Dan said it’s amazing how the balloon fills up really slowly and then all of a sudden there it is like a huge drum!

The Entrance to the Airform!

SEPTEMBER 12TH

The balloon held the pressure overnight, so after a couple of false starts they got the machines working and put mud (concrete) on the wall. However, when they were about 1/2 way round the rains came and washed it all off! And then the remainder of the concrete, sitting in the wheelbarrows for the next section of the dome, got stolen. 

Waiting to hear more from Dan.

The Beautiful Beaches of Haiti!

The Construction Story Continued!

.... The Construction Story Continued!

SEPTEMBER 5TH
Dan is slowly being able to enjoy the process rather than just being in survival mode, although says that seeing all of the poverty is incredibly exhausting. He said he went for a walk in to town yesterday evening and that the brightness of the stars was incredible, he said he really felt that he could reach up and touch them, that they really felt part of the landscape in a way that he’d not experienced before. Also he nearly stepped on the largest tarantula that he had ever seen - he said it looked like it was about to reach up and touch him!

SEPTEMBER 6TH
I’m going to copy here the email I just from Dan.... (From Sarah)

“We got the airform attached tonight - it was quite a circus with the whole community getting involved. It's hard work moving the airform around. Anyway we'll hopefully get it sealed and inflated tomorrow morning. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of the finished slab before we placed the airform on it. We went into town to continue the search for the illusive compressor. We found one but the guy wants $1,400 for it and it’s not a new machine and hasn't been new for 20 or 30 years. I'm not even sure it will do the job, but we're going to take the sprayer into town and test it there. Bear in mind going into town involves a kidney scrunching, neck dislocating, rib Rolfing one hour journey there and back reminiscent of the Dakar rally. The welder was doing his thing - there was enough power in the line he has strung up in the trees to finish the hold down levers, most of the time the power starts and stops. 

When all 15 of us first moved the airform there was even more shouting than usual.  It took me a while to realize that they were trying to get my attention to look under the pallet. Yes it's a pallet, I thought, until I realized that they were pointing to the biggest spider I have seen. The one the other night was nothing compared to this gargantuan monster tarantula. It's one thing to see one in the zoo but quite another to see one next to where I sleep! It was bigger than an outstretched hand - it was absolutely humongous. Hopefully we can get the airform inflated, the compressor back here and working and I can start on the carpentry - always an interesting proposition in a place where you can't buy wood screws! Steve has a few odds and sods and I brought spade bits so hopefully I can make it work. It’s hard to explain but absolutely nothing here can be planned or scheduled it all sort of happens in its own time and way. 

All twenty people who helped attach the airform were absolutely soaking wet with sweat when we were done (imagine doing incredibly hard and deeply claustrophobic work in a sauna with 600 lbs of plastic on your head) attaching the airform. Everyone walked down to the river and swam - it was really fantastic, the water was lovely and warm and all the kids were mucking about. I even managed to forget that whole communities wash, bathe and let their animals poop in it, upstream!!!! Right now I'm trying to get some sleep but it is probably in the high nineties and incredibly humid as always! But as always there is much to be thankful for- I can never have a bad hair day! 

In town the relentless grind of standing around while people shout at each other for ages before you drive to another shop and stand around shouting at each other before being directed to drive thru a huge open air market to find a man who stands shouting in the back of the pick up directing you to his 'bodyshop' where you stand around shouting about the blatantly expensive fifty year old piece of crap that we sort of have to buy does get a bit wearing. Although I'm learning to relax and laugh at it in the way that Steve does."

EcoShell Construction Begins in Haiti!

Hello H.E.R.O. Supporters!

This is the first of several posts that will detail the 3 week construction process during the month of September in Maniche!  Dan Hildebrand of Hildebrand Construction came down to begin the process of building an EcoShell for the H.E.R.O. Youth Development Center.  The EcoShell will be 40ft in diameter and 16ft tall.  Dan's wife, Sarah, was kind enough to post updates on the status of the construction during the entire time, so most of what you will read is written by her.  It was an absolutely amazing experience!  Construction in rural Haiti is like nothing else, and is definitely not for the faint of heart!  E-mail me if you have any questions!  steven@haitihero.org

29TH AUGUST
Work started on the field.  

30TH AUGUST
Dan spent the day in Les Cayes sorting out some equipment issues (the roll bender wasn’t working, etc).
The rocks were delivered today. Work continued on the field. Apparently everything gets put away at the end of every day (even the string) because otherwise someone will take it; this adds lots of extra work to the day. The craziness is starting to seem normal.

31ST AUGUST
Steve found a compressor that will work and a small mixer (Which by the way, both of these broke and had to be repaired continuously the entire 3 weeks! SK). The ground was prepped (getting it level and above any flood line) ready for the form on Saturday. The combination of teaching the local workforce and the language issues are making everything a little slower.

1ST SEPTEMBER
The form was done. Ready to pour the concrete slab tomorrow. 

2ND SEPTEMBER
Some of the steel is in place, once finished the concrete slab can be poured. Still struggling to find a compressor and a decent generator but that shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise as it is impossible to even find wood screws or washers in this part of Haiti. The roll bender was fixed and it works on the pipe Dan took with him. 

3RD SEPTEMBER
Steve went to Port Au Prince to find a generator and a mixer. A good day today, things went smoothly. (I towed a generator on the back of a Ford Ranger for 7 hours over some of the craziest roads ever!  And mind you the generator was attached to the bumper of the vehicle with one chain, we didn’t have a tow bar or anything! SK)

4TH SEPTEMBER
The slab is almost poured so they’re just waiting for Steve to return from Port au Prince with the generator and mixer. Now they need to find some air hose and a compressor! It is slightly challenging to deal with the fact that any and every piece of equipment that you buy breaks the first day that you use it, but this is almost matched that the welder in town can seemingly fix everything with a piece of rebar and a hammer. Nothing really goes as planned but seems to happen anyway- just in a different time frame.
The build is a little behind schedule but the quality of the work is great. 

Back to School!

Hello Everyone!

It has been an absolutely incredible month in Haiti!  I spent 3 weeks at the H.E.R.O. property in Maniche, constructing the new H.E.R.O. Youth Development Center!  It was a truly exhilarating experience with many ups and downs, but overall it went very well!  We are not yet finished with the EcoShell, but we will continue working towards our goal of finishing it before the end of the year!  In the meantime here is a post wrapping up the past month, and I will be posting some updates from the construction process.  I will share with you our incredible experiences, from sleeping in wheel barrows, to driving backwards in Les Cayes!  For now, here is a brief update on all things H.E.R.O.!

H.E.R.O. now has 9 orphans in our care!  They are Franky, Gary, Billy, Robenson, Jude, Dayanna, Luckneau, Woldison, and Woldjimy!  Today is the first day of school in Haiti!  Michele spent her weekend helping all of the children prepare for this big day!  She helped organize their backpacks, wrap more than 100 books in protective plastic, and made sure each child had the necessary supplies!  The school day operates from 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM, and then after lunch and some daily tennis lessons, we have hired 2 teachers to provide tutoring from 2:00 PM-6:00 PM every weekday!

Our summer finally over, we have much to be thankful for at H.E.R.O.  Our children successfully participated in tailoring and culinary arts classes, excelled at their tennis lessons, and have grown by leaps and bounds academically!  Furthermore, the H.E.R.O. Annual Fund in July was able to raise over $27,000.00 for the continued operation of our programs!  We are thankful for all of our supporters who continue to help us provide for the neediest children in Haiti.  Thank you!  And now enjoy some photos from the building of the H.E.R.O. EcoShell in Haiti!       

Luckneau in Maniche!

Steven and Dan Getting Ready to Build!

The Airform!

Putting on the Concrete!

Some of the Neighborhood Kids

Track and Field in Haiti: Major Progress!

As the Vice-President of ADAH (Association pour le Development de L'Athletisme Haitienne) it is my pleasure to share with you photos from our first track meet in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti!  Over 150 athletes aged 12-23 years old participated in a variety of events including the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, shot put, and long jump!  Our next track meet is in two weeks!  Be there!

Meet The Twin: Woldison John!

Today I have the privilege of introducing the second member of our newly arrived twins, Woldison John!  Wolidson and his brother arrived at the H.E.R.O. House about a month ago.  Both are in need of sponsors!  For only $35.00 per month you can help us meet the needs of a child at H.E.R.O. including school fees, doctor visits, 3 nutritious meals a day, and much more!  Sponsor either child by visiting www.haitihero.org.  Thank you!

Woldison John and his twin brother were just babies when their mother died from malaria.  Devastated and unable to support his family alone, their father attempted to illegally immigrate to the Bahamas.  He had hoped to find stable employment, but instead he met with misfortune.  The overcrowded boat sank in the middle of the voyage, and Woldison’s father drowned.  Orphaned by the time they were a year old, Woldison and his brother were taken in by their extended family.  They joined the nine other family members already living in a tiny, two-room shack made of mud bricks and topped with a tin roof.  Rain and rodents entered the small structure at will, while the adults took turns sleeping outside on the porch because there was simply not enough room inside for all of the bodies.  It was difficult enough finding money for food and clean drinking water, there was certainly not enough to afford school tuition, books, and uniforms.  Everyone had to do their part for the family to survive.  Woldison helped out by gathering firewood, collecting water, and washing dishes. 

At the age of 7, Woldison came to live at the H.E.R.O. Residence for Orphans.  Now, he sleeps well in a comfortable bed with a full belly.  He no longer has to worry about the rain or rats disturbing his sleep.  Woldison is excited to start first grade in the fall and looks forward to learning how to read.  During his free time, Woldison can often be found playing catch with his brother or constructing houses and cars with Legos.  Someday Woldison would like to become an engineer and build strong houses for the people of Haiti.