Rebuilding Haiti, Rebuilding Hope
By Don Browers
Two years ago this month Haiti was hit with a devastating 7.0 earthquake which killed more than 220,000 men, women and children and left another 1.5 million people homeless. To understand the enormity of this disaster you have to know that the population of Haiti is about 10 million. So, if you had the same casualty rate in the United States it would mean more than 6 million deaths. Can you imagine the impact in this country of 6 million lives lost? But the United States is a country of tremendous resources. Haiti, even before the earthquake, was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere where 70 percent of Haitians make less than two dollars a day. Think about that for a moment. If you are the average Haitian you can work for two days and still not be able to afford a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
As the plight of the Haitian people played out in newscasts on our televisions two years ago it caught the attention of millions of Americans who generously donated to help Haiti. One of those who saw the suffering and was moved to help was former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who said: "Like the rest of the world, Rosalynn and I were heartbroken to see the devastation and despair that the earthquake brought to a country already so impoverished."
The Carters know that one of the most pressing needs in post-earthquake Haiti is for clean, decent housing. Their response was to organize a Habitat for Humanity blitz-building project to construct 100 homes in one week. So last November 400 volunteers from across the U.S., Canada and a few other countries converged at Santo a small community near Léogâne, Haiti (the epicenter of the earthquake about 18 miles west of the capital of Port-Au-Prince) with hammers, screwdrivers and enthusiasm to do what they could to help Haiti recover.
Among the 400 were five volunteers from Omaha: Shannon Wallace, a self-employed mom; John Bunch, President of retail distribution for TD Ameritrade; Mary Lopez, a recently retired university counselor; Don Browers, a retired TV account executive; and Erin Grace, a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald who pulled double-duty in Haiti--helping build houses and reporting on the home building project. When a last-minute slot opened up, Matt Miller, a World-Herald photographer joined the team to document the project in photographs for the newspaper and its website.
From the very first day at the build site--34 acres that previously had been a sugar cane field--there was an incredible Habitat energy that swept up everybody in its path and the sound of hundreds of hammers pounding away at the same time soon filled the air.
The houses are far from luxurious. At 280 square feet they are smaller than a single car garage in Omaha. They have don't have electricity or indoor plumbing but the families who are now living in these homes feel like they have won the lottery. Throughout the week these new homeowners worked alongside the Habitat volunteers. Poured concrete floors get them off the dirt and above the mud and water when it rains. Metal roofs shed the rain and block the sun. With 4-foot high masonry walls and window openings to allow cross ventilation, the houses are remarkably cool even during the hottest part of the day.
The building materials were pre-fabbed so there was not a lot of cutting. But it took a lot of nails and screws to build the homes. There were no electric tools, no pneumatic nail guns nor any machinery to lift the walls and roof trusses. Electricity was not generally available in the area where the Habitat team was building. No electricity: No power tools. All the work was manually done by skilled and unskilled volunteers.
The work was hot, sweaty and hard. Temperatures reached the mid-nineties every day with the humidity equally high. Once in awhile a cloud would block the oppressive sun, but mostly it just beat down on the volunteers. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, despite the heat and humidity and despite their ages (87 years old and 84 years old respectively), worked on the job site every day except for the one day they met with the president of the Dominican Republic (Haiti's neighboring country on the island of Hispaniola) to request aid for the Haitian people.
It was the Santos residents, not Habitat, who selected the families who would get the new houses, choosing those most in need after conducting a tent-by-tent survey to gather household information. The goal of 100 houses in a week was mostly met. As the tired, sun burnt volunteers headed home at the end of the week there was some work to be done which was finished by Haitian crews.
Before the Habitat for Humanity volunteers came to Haiti, volunteers from Haven, an Irish not-for-profit organization, built 50 houses in Santo. Over the next year groups of Habitat volunteers will build another 400 houses. Then in November 2012 the Carters will return again to build 100 more houses for a total of 650 houses in Santo. Future plans for the community include a school, a medical clinic and a community center.
So there is still a lot of work to be done by Habitat in the Santo Community over the next year. And there is still a lot of work to be done by so many more people and organizations over the next-who knows how many years-to help Haiti get up off its knees and on its feet.
The Carter Work Project volunteers--almost to a person--struggled to come to grips with the overwhelming dimensions of need in Haiti and to measure what was accomplished in this one week. When you look at the puzzling equation that is Haiti,100 houses will not change the country, but it will dramatically change--for the better--the lives of 100 families.
Visit Erin Grace's blog haiti.omaha.com to meet the team members, read stories from the build and view Matt Miller's photos. (Back to homepage)
Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project: Haiti 2011
Click to view larger images (photos by Don Browers)
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The Construction Might be Finished but the Real Work has Just Begun
Thanks to everyone who helped with this year's Women Build house - whether it was with a hammer, a checkbook or by providing meals - Toni and her family are moving into their new home. The house was packed on dedication day; it was a great testament to the love and hard work that was poured into this home from the beginning.
While the work of our Women Build volunteers has come to a close for the year, Toni's work as a new homeowner has just begun. Soon she will sign mortgage papers and purchase her home through a no-interest Habitat Omaha loan.
Through her 350 hours of Sweat Equity Toni has learned many new skills and is well prepared for a successful future as a homeowner. We are excited to welcome Toni and her family into their new home.
Next year's Women Build will kick-off on May 11, 2012 with the Wall Raising.
Questions? Please contact Michele Shearer at mshearer@habitatomaha.org or 402-457-5657 x125.
YP Band Build Rocks Benson, Event Raised $5,000
More than 275 music lovers and Habitat for Humanity of Omaha supporters alike flocked to the Waiting Room Lounge on Saturday, January 28 to celebrate good tunes and a good cause. The event was put on by the Habitat Omaha Young Professionals and sponsored by Prudential Realty. The night featured performances by five local bands, culminating with an explosive performance by headliner Rock Paper Dynamite.
You can find pictures from Band Build at the Habitat Omaha YP Facebook page, facebook.com/HabitatOmahaYP.
Thanks to Rock Paper Dynamite,Gus & Call,Great American Desert, Pancho & the Contraband and O'Connell's Bridge for putting on great performances. Special thanks to the Habitat Omaha Young Professionals for hosting this event.
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| Pancho & the Contraband performing at Band Build. | Members of Habitat for Humanity of Omaha Young Professionals who helped put on the second Band Build benefit concert. | Band Build 2012 was held at the Waiting Room in Benson. |
The Magical Build: ELFs Will Renovate Their 10th Home
At first glance it's hard to imagine this house will turn into a beautiful Habitat Omaha home. But it will not be without the help of the ELFs-that is Habitat Omaha's ELF Coalition. ELF stands for Ecumenical Labor Force and they have labored on more than 10 Habitat homes over the years. This year they will magically renovate a two-story on N 28th Ave.
"I love the rehabs. They are my favorite projects" say Michael Gordon, construction crew leader for the ELFs. "I feel like I am saving an old house and preserving just a little piece of history every time we renovate a home for Habitat Omaha."
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Today the house has been torn down to the studs. All new walls, flooring and even the relocation of the kitchen and bathroom will take place before the project is completed. The house dedication will take place sometime in mid-August.
See construction updates on the 'Homes in Progress' page.
View a list of members of the ELF Coalition.
A Neighborhood Can't Wait to Welcome New Families
For more than 10 years Edna Watson has looked out of her front window at the site of them; two dilapidated houses that had been on the city's condemned list for years.
"This block used to be full of kids and families." Edna gazes up and down the block as she recalls some of them by name. "I can remember a time when families use to look out for one another on this street. Now there aren't really many families to look out for."
Today when Edna looks across the street those two houses are gone and seven new Habitat for Humanity of Omaha homes are currently being built up and down the block. The homes are part of Habitat Omaha's 2011 Builders Blitz, seven homes in seven days.
"It's really amazing to see so many new homes. Our neighborhood association can't wait to welcome the new families."
This year marks the fourth year for the Habitat Omaha build.
These days, when Edna looks down her street, she see more than new houses, Edna can see a new future.
"My grandkids will finally have other children to play with on this block. Now that's something I can't wait to see."
Habitat for Humanity of Omaha's 2011 Builders Blitz
Click to view larger images
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Special Thanks to Our 2011 Builders Blitz Partner Builders:
Meeting of the Mayors
It may have been one of the oddest sights ever witnessed on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan met in the middle to place a friendly wager on next week's football game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Thanksgiving challenge started with the Mayors of both cities facing off with representatives of their respective Habitat for Humanity organizations midway over the Missouri River on November 18, 2011.
And what exactly did they wager: a day of community service. If Nebraska wins, Mayor Hanafan, his staff and Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs will build a house on the Omaha side of the river. If Iowa wins, Mayor Suttle, his staff and Habitat for Humanity of Omaha will go to the Council Bluffs side of the river to build a house.
While both mayors are confident in their teams, it was ultimately decided that no one would lose. Because anytime a Habitat for Humanity home is completed, the whole community wins.
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| Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle waiting as Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan walks to meet him on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. The two mayors met in the middle to make a friendly wager over the Husker/Hawkeye football game--either way Habitat wins. | Habitat supporters from Omaha and Council Bluffs joined the mayors of both cities as they announced a new tradition brought on by the Huskers move to The Big 10 Conference: a friendly wager and community service. | Habitat Council Bluffs Executive Director Gina Primmer and Habitat Omaha Executive Director Amanda Brewer on the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge for The Meeting of the Mayors. |
Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan Volunteers with Habitat Omaha
They were good on their word, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan. The friendly wager on the football game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Iowa Hawkeyes, netted Habitat Omaha several new volunteers for a day including Mayor Hanafan. The mayor joined Mayor Suttle to work on a Habitat Omaha house for a day. But he didn't come alone, Mayor Hanafan brought several staff members from his office as well as some staffers from the Habitat affiliate in Council Bluffs. The Mayors made a great team and got lots of work done on the new Habitat Omaha home.
Speakers Bureau is Entertaining, Informative
It's a story you won't hear anywhere else-"Rebuilding Haiti, Rebuilding Hope." It's a captivating account of the recent Jimmy Carter Work Project in Léogâne, Haiti. Three of the volunteers - Don Browers, Mary Lopez and Shannon Wallace - have developed a 30 minute presentation to share their firsthand experiences and photos from Haiti. "Rebuilding Haiti, Rebuilding Hope" is a story of tragedy and shattered lives, but it is also a story of resilience and triumph over adversity. Ultimately, though, it is a story about how we are all connected as citizens of the world.
If you would like to arrange this or other Habitat Omaha presentations for your group or event please contact Mark Brannen at publicrelations@habitatomaha.org or (402) 457-5657 x114.
