16th April: Soccer Tournament & some general pics

Soccer Tournament

All Hands organised a soccer tournament
between the NGOs and local Haitian FCs
a great day was had by all......... 

right, just get rid of the livestock, lay some new turf and we're away........

Can someone get me a chair?.....not sure how long i'm staying here!

[Sara, Alison, Mags and me]

Crocs have sponsored the event donating thousands of shoes to Haiti,
and millions around the world

 Posers.....me and Diago sporting our bandanas

Bram (Holland) is our team mascot.....that really is blue glitter in his beard

 The 'All Hands' branding on my leg

 you may take away our land........but you'll never take OUR FREEDOM!

GENERAL PHOTOS.......... 

Irish Zac (potato) is that a bat in your cave Dave?

[Laura, Dave, Zac & Chris]

 Hustle & bustle of the market stalls in the streets

 'Maritez' bar (just left of centre).......popular amongst the volunteers

not quite Montpelier Wine Bar!!!

School 9 completed - 

nice to see, as I will be home before we finish building school 10

Bram & I get the best seats in the house.........
a must for a quick powernap during lunch

More next week peeps.......see you soon x

12th - 17th April: Pouring concrete, orphanage & weekend

Had a team of 20 people - 
pouring concrete for the school 10 foundations this week

......exhausting stuff!

First, the water is collected from a nearby well

 then we unload the cement (all 70 bags each weighing 42Kg) from the truck
.......phew they're heavy!

Once everyone's in position - we start the process:
sand & gravel to the mixer by bucket, followed by cement and water

Chris loads the mix, whilst I man the wheel
works like a well-oiled machine!
Fastest loading time.....just 17 seconds.....awsome!

Chris throws in the ingredients,

Paul (site supervisor) checks the consistency

Mix ready.....get it in the barrow (3 barrows per load!)

A mixer this size needs some controlling!

I join the wheelbarrow team,
whilst Dave, Paul, Bram & Michelle float the concrete until its level
....Done!

Friday 15th....

Visited the orphanage today (rather emotional)

 helped make up veggie planter boxes

so they can grow their own veg!

a picture of baby orphan Marvinx -

He cuddled me like a koala, then fell asleep in my arms for 40 mins

....priceless!

[No Pics I'm afraid, not permitted due to sensitivity]

for more info about the orphaned children
go to
http://www.enfantsdemunis.wordpress.com/

or
click 'Orphans of Haiti' link at bottom of blog page

.........fascinating stuff



Saturday 16th....
All Hands soccer tournament
Hot Hot Hot!
(see next post for details)

Sunday 17th....
Time for some well deserved R&R
Hope to make it to Paradise Beach today
(caribbean sea & fresh lobster!)

(unless we get 'lock down' due to potential manifestations
- instigated because of election results Monday)  :0(

4th - 10th April: school build........

7:30am, we all leave for work on the 'Tap Taps'

(Tap Tap to go, Tap Tap to stop!)

 This team going to rubble site (one of 100s as a result of the earthquake)

Our team off to School No.10 site 

(5 off us, led by Carpenter Mike)

 Dave and I fixing the posts ready for the form boards

 

Fixing the form boards.
about 10am now and over 30 degrees already
.....scortio!!!

 Chris & I cutting more form boards.......power tools.......love it!

 Back at base selecting timber for base plates - we'll fit these tomorrow

 Carpenter Mike giving me instructions on required measurements

 what?.....2' 91/4".......talk in metric man!!!

 Ok, got it.......844.55mm  :0)

Carpenter Mike gives one of his 'why is my timber not ready yet?' faces

 

.......Nice hat!!!

 Measuring, cutting and fitting the 'rebar' (US term for supporting steels I think!)

Few extras on the construction team today..........

 

Paul (US)

 Sharon (UK)

 Sara (Aus)

 Michelle (US)

 Foundations set - ready to pour in the concrete on Monday.....by hand!

Monday 12th April..........

1st phase concrete pour:

 How many bags of cement?........
we went through more than 80 on that day alone!

 Fix the ramps in place,wheelbarrow the cement around the perimiter
(foundation approx 200ft x 20ft, large enough for 3 classrooms accomodating 150 pupils in total)

More concrete pouring tomorrow......Bye for now!