wei yau
12-07-2004, 09:28 PM
It's taken me a while to find the time to write about this experience. But, here goes...
Recently, my wife and I participated in the "Jimmy Carter Work Project 2004 (http://www.habitat.org/jcwp/2004/default.html)" in Mexico with Habitat for Humanity.
Before I delve into the day-to-day experience of the build, I want to take some time to describe the Project. The Project is largely a public relations event. The blitz build attracts media attention and, more importantly, many sponsors. However, it is the regular work done by Habitat that is more important. There was some talk at this project that once Jimmy Carter is no longer involved, there may be no more blitz builds. The effort to get one of these going is monumental. I'm sure that it pays off well with sponsorships and public relations, but Habitat is pretty much self-sustaining at this point...or so I've heard.
This year's blitz build involved the construction of 150 homes in a week. This would take place in two cities in Mexico, Puebla and Veracruz.
We came to be involved with the Project through my company. It is this foundation that sponsored the build of two homes as part of the Project and sent a team of people to participate as unskilled volunteers.
As unskilled volunteers, we were expected to be simply laborers. Therefore, before the start of the blitz build, skilled workers perform the pre-build. During this process, the foundation of the homes are laid. Wiring and plumbing is completed. Door frames are installed. Basically, everything that you would want skilled people to do in your home.
In addition to the pre-build, a ton of logistics needed to be performed. Over 2300 volunteers were expected. They would be housed in locations scattered throughout the city. Transportation would have to be arranged, not only from the airport in Mexico city, but for the daily pickup and return of volunteers from their housing to the worksite. Breakfast and lunch would be served at the worksite. A huge tent was erected with enough seating to feed the volunteers in shifts. Dinner was provided through tickets that could be redeemed for meals at participating businesses.
My admiration for the Habitat organization's logistic abilities is great. The work we did as unskilled volunteers pales in comparison to the organizational effort. We simply showed up at the site and followed instructions. We were fed, we were cared for, we were kept healthy...all for lifting blocks and spreading mortar.
Our assigned city was Puebla, which is located in the mountains. The other city, Veracruz, is located by the beaches. The milder climate of the mountains made Puebla the better site. On the return trip home, we would hear stories of severe sunstroke at the Veracruz site.
Each day began at about 5am. The first buses would arrive at our hotel beginning at 545am through 7am. Most of us on the Apex team strove to get to the worksite by 7am everyday. This would require getting the 6am or 630am bus.
Lunch would happen at mid-day, with a rotating schedule for groups of homes. I don't think we ever got to go first. Usually, we ate at the tail end of the lunch hour.
End of day would be around 5pm, although many people do stay late to reach the daily target. Each day at a target of completion, for example, walls would have to be completed by the end of Day One. On Day Two, the gables needed to be up. And so on.
(Alright, that's all I have time for right now. I'll start with Day One in another post on this thread.)
Recently, my wife and I participated in the "Jimmy Carter Work Project 2004 (http://www.habitat.org/jcwp/2004/default.html)" in Mexico with Habitat for Humanity.
Before I delve into the day-to-day experience of the build, I want to take some time to describe the Project. The Project is largely a public relations event. The blitz build attracts media attention and, more importantly, many sponsors. However, it is the regular work done by Habitat that is more important. There was some talk at this project that once Jimmy Carter is no longer involved, there may be no more blitz builds. The effort to get one of these going is monumental. I'm sure that it pays off well with sponsorships and public relations, but Habitat is pretty much self-sustaining at this point...or so I've heard.
This year's blitz build involved the construction of 150 homes in a week. This would take place in two cities in Mexico, Puebla and Veracruz.
We came to be involved with the Project through my company. It is this foundation that sponsored the build of two homes as part of the Project and sent a team of people to participate as unskilled volunteers.
As unskilled volunteers, we were expected to be simply laborers. Therefore, before the start of the blitz build, skilled workers perform the pre-build. During this process, the foundation of the homes are laid. Wiring and plumbing is completed. Door frames are installed. Basically, everything that you would want skilled people to do in your home.
In addition to the pre-build, a ton of logistics needed to be performed. Over 2300 volunteers were expected. They would be housed in locations scattered throughout the city. Transportation would have to be arranged, not only from the airport in Mexico city, but for the daily pickup and return of volunteers from their housing to the worksite. Breakfast and lunch would be served at the worksite. A huge tent was erected with enough seating to feed the volunteers in shifts. Dinner was provided through tickets that could be redeemed for meals at participating businesses.
My admiration for the Habitat organization's logistic abilities is great. The work we did as unskilled volunteers pales in comparison to the organizational effort. We simply showed up at the site and followed instructions. We were fed, we were cared for, we were kept healthy...all for lifting blocks and spreading mortar.
Our assigned city was Puebla, which is located in the mountains. The other city, Veracruz, is located by the beaches. The milder climate of the mountains made Puebla the better site. On the return trip home, we would hear stories of severe sunstroke at the Veracruz site.
Each day began at about 5am. The first buses would arrive at our hotel beginning at 545am through 7am. Most of us on the Apex team strove to get to the worksite by 7am everyday. This would require getting the 6am or 630am bus.
Lunch would happen at mid-day, with a rotating schedule for groups of homes. I don't think we ever got to go first. Usually, we ate at the tail end of the lunch hour.
End of day would be around 5pm, although many people do stay late to reach the daily target. Each day at a target of completion, for example, walls would have to be completed by the end of Day One. On Day Two, the gables needed to be up. And so on.
(Alright, that's all I have time for right now. I'll start with Day One in another post on this thread.)