At 7am, 16 Haitian workers came for a full busy day starting the rebar construction and cement work, and rock fill, etc to start the dozen columns of the new tower to hold the four 1000 gallons of water. These large tanks hold enough water for use in the buildings in the Compound, and a water supply to the School nearby on the outside. When the tanks are transferred to the new tower, repairs from the earthquake damage can start on the main building. When the day was over, the dozen columns were all in place, rock-filled and cemented in. There was no work being done by ‘heavy equipment’, so all the material were transported by wheelbarrow to the site from further down in the Compound, except for the rebar forms. One small paragraph here, but a big start to the Tower. The men were all fed at dinner break on the Compound of a meal of rice and beans cooked at the School.
Visitors were busy with various errands and projects. In fact, some visitors also tried their hands and backs at running back and forth with sand and gravel in wheelbarrows for the construction on the Tower. Otherwise, some plumbing needed fixing and relocating. The septic tank at the Children’s House needed to be cleaned, the showers , toilets and sinks aren’t working. A hole is being dug in preparation to clean out the tank, they don’t have septic pumping trucks here it will all have to be done by hand. The man hired to dig the hole to bury the crud from the tank was a very good worker. He dug a 4X6X6 hole in very hard ground . The last 2 feet he was standing in water not fit to be in.
It was actually a great day for working outside, it was cooler than most days, only 33 – 34 Deg. C and a little overcast with a little breeze. Most days are little or no wind temp near 40 degrees, but you get used to it quickly even wheel barrowing sand and gravel in that temp.
Here’s a shot of the new laundry room set up by the team in January in operation.
Hi Rana. We haven’t forgotten your help. We’ve been busy, as you would know, from your summers in the DR and Haiti. But, thanks again for your concern and your information re the Santo Domingo way into Haiti and Port au Prince. Best wishes with your studies and all.
~Dickie
