The pieces of the project are fitting together at last. Thursday we finished cutting all of the metal pieces for the tresses. While Ernesto, Kayla and Dustin worked on cutting and welding the metal, the rest of us painted the tresses and sifted sand for cement. Marla and I also finished resealing the windows with cement and brick.
After lunch, a group of us took some of the kids from the community we work with to another community in Quilla Collo that is also impoverished and often flooded. During the rainy season especially, the water runs down from the mountains and causes the nearby river to overflow into the area. Because of these conditions, many of the families in this community were living in tents when we arrived. Once there, we had the kids give this community some of the donations we brought with us (tshirts and stuffed animals). We want them to learn that this experience is not just about receiving donations from us every year but about giving donations as well. I think the kids were a little overwhelmed by the whole situation. It was crazy and chaotic, but fun to see the kids from the community we work with sharing toys and sizing up the other children for tshirts.
Yesterday (Friday), four of us went to check out a Bolivian non profit called Mano a Mano (www.manoamano.org) that we hope to partner with to build a clinic on our work site. Mano a Mano has built 118 clinics, 17 landing strips, 40 schools (equipped with homes for the teachers), and 37 infrastructure projects (roads and reservoirs). Their large, organized, and efficient organization was overwhelming and inspiring at the same time. I think we have a lot to learn from them and am looking forward to working with them more on our project.
At the site yesterday, a slow start gave way to a satisfying, productive finish. Let me regress. The day before (Thursday), the top of a supply truck caught the electric line to the building, unabashedly ripping it out of the transmitter down the street. So the first half of Friday was spent waiting pateintly for electricians to get the power flowing again. Our frustrations were converted into postive production after lunch, during which we successfully put up all tresses and crossbeams. The roof is the final step to be completed today!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Coming Right Along...
My apologies for not writing the past few days. Our work days have been long and tiring. Sometimes we don't get home until ten o'clock at night.
In general, we have many projects going on at the site. Our main project, the largest of them all, is to build the second story of the first building which will eventually become the orphans' home. Additionally, much of our time has been spent moving fertile soil from the outskirts of the work site to the front of the orphanage. We hope to use this as the grounds for a future garden. Another project has been sifting through a large pile of rocks and pebbles for sand. We use the sand to make concrete for various purposes. For example, on Monday we resealed the roof with a thin layer of cement mixed with a water proofing agent. This task was difficult because it rained on and off all day on Monday. Every time we cleared the roof of the puddles of water that collected there, it would rain again, and we would have to sweep the puddles of water off once more (a subtle form of torture).
The leaky roof has begun to destroy some of the ceiling inside the orphanage, allowing mold to grow. These areas will have to be knocked out and re-plastered. The area around the windows have been leaking as well, thus creating yet another side project - resealing the window panes with brick and cement. While the majority of us work on these side projects, the rest spend their time measuring and cutting metal bars (Dustin has been on a three day steel-hacking binge) that make up the columns and tresses for the second floor. Once the pieces are cut, they are welded together (by Kayla and Ernesto), painted (to prevent rusting), and raised to the roof. If the pace maintains, the second story roof will be up in no time!
All in all, though the work may get a bit tedious (especially with minimal tools at hand), watching the project develop through the means of our hands and the sweat of our brows is very rewarding.
In general, we have many projects going on at the site. Our main project, the largest of them all, is to build the second story of the first building which will eventually become the orphans' home. Additionally, much of our time has been spent moving fertile soil from the outskirts of the work site to the front of the orphanage. We hope to use this as the grounds for a future garden. Another project has been sifting through a large pile of rocks and pebbles for sand. We use the sand to make concrete for various purposes. For example, on Monday we resealed the roof with a thin layer of cement mixed with a water proofing agent. This task was difficult because it rained on and off all day on Monday. Every time we cleared the roof of the puddles of water that collected there, it would rain again, and we would have to sweep the puddles of water off once more (a subtle form of torture).
The leaky roof has begun to destroy some of the ceiling inside the orphanage, allowing mold to grow. These areas will have to be knocked out and re-plastered. The area around the windows have been leaking as well, thus creating yet another side project - resealing the window panes with brick and cement. While the majority of us work on these side projects, the rest spend their time measuring and cutting metal bars (Dustin has been on a three day steel-hacking binge) that make up the columns and tresses for the second floor. Once the pieces are cut, they are welded together (by Kayla and Ernesto), painted (to prevent rusting), and raised to the roof. If the pace maintains, the second story roof will be up in no time!
All in all, though the work may get a bit tedious (especially with minimal tools at hand), watching the project develop through the means of our hands and the sweat of our brows is very rewarding.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Day One - Moving Dirt
Yesterday was day one of our construction efforts. We spent most of the morning moving dirt and rocks from one area of the site to another to level the ground for a future staircase. We also did some work in the garden, pulling weeds and clearing the area to plant seeds. Marla brought lettuce, green pepper, hot pepper, sunflower and corn seeds. However we may have to leave them because planting season isn't until December, according to the kids.
The kids arrived around 2pm for the after school program. There are over 130 children enrolled in the program now. After doing homework for an hour or so, the children put on a welcoming production for us, full of traditional dancing, skits, and singing.
For the rest of they day we waited for our contractor, Wilson, to return with the metal poles we need to begin construction on the second floor, which we will start today. Luckily, one of our team members, Kayla, is the daughter of an esteemed welder (and a skilled welder herself!). She will be welding the metal poles together for us today.
We concluded our day with dinner at Felix and Flora's house, a huge and delicious meal after a long and tiring day. And now, after a night's rest and breakfast, we're heading out the door for day two.
The kids arrived around 2pm for the after school program. There are over 130 children enrolled in the program now. After doing homework for an hour or so, the children put on a welcoming production for us, full of traditional dancing, skits, and singing.
For the rest of they day we waited for our contractor, Wilson, to return with the metal poles we need to begin construction on the second floor, which we will start today. Luckily, one of our team members, Kayla, is the daughter of an esteemed welder (and a skilled welder herself!). She will be welding the metal poles together for us today.
We concluded our day with dinner at Felix and Flora's house, a huge and delicious meal after a long and tiring day. And now, after a night's rest and breakfast, we're heading out the door for day two.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
We Have Arrived!
Today has been a long, exhausting, and beautiful day. Victor, our young and knowledgeable driver, picked us up from the El Alto airport at five o'clock this morning. El Alto is the highest airport in the world. So, as you might imagine, we all experienced some pretty intense altitude sickness. Just walking across the room to gather our bags was difficult.
We stopped for eggs and toast around seven this morning and then continued on our way to Cochabamba, stopping only briefly for restroom breaks and to see La Cumbre, the highest peak along the road.
Our hosts here in Cochabamba are friendly and welcoming. Their guest house has all of the essentials and an absolutely amazing view of the city and surrounding mountains.
Bright and early tomorrow morning, we embark on our orphanage construction adventure. Hasta luego!
We stopped for eggs and toast around seven this morning and then continued on our way to Cochabamba, stopping only briefly for restroom breaks and to see La Cumbre, the highest peak along the road.
Our hosts here in Cochabamba are friendly and welcoming. Their guest house has all of the essentials and an absolutely amazing view of the city and surrounding mountains.
Bright and early tomorrow morning, we embark on our orphanage construction adventure. Hasta luego!
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