Building our first house donated by Finding Freedom in 2009 was a humbling, dirty and hands-on experience. It was the first and last time that I ever personally assisted with the construction process of one of our Guatemalan homes. There is no part of the blister-inducing process I regret, but there were a few lessons learned from the experience that we have incorporated into our narrative as an organization.
Here is what we now, thirty houses later, know:
A good builder in Guatemala is to be respected, kept close and paid fairly. Building a house without a concrete mixer, heavy excavation equipment, proper tools or even gloves is a job that is not for the faint of heart. Most men living in the rural villages would claim that they have “construction experience.” So now, do I. I have helped build one house. An inexperienced builder is simply a man trying to earn a living. In similar fashion, an organization started with good intentions but poor infrastructure is but a group of humanitarians who come together for a common purpose. Longevity, credibility and generational benefit to the participants requires a solid organizational foundation.
Just like an organization, a house has to be built on a solid foundation. If you don’t mind the little details in the beginning of the process, they will come back to remind you later. Solid concrete block is more sturdy than those with an open core. Mortar must be made correctly. Rebar is essential when building in an earthquake zone (all of Guatemala) and the integrity of the roof is as important as a good foundation.
Children in Guatemala work. They work hard, they are outdoors the majority of the day and questioning their place in the social fabric of Guatemala is not something that occurs to them. Working alongside of an adult is in their DNA. There is little to any pediatric ADHD in Central America. The children in rural Guatemala sleep well; it is exhausting to work for your basic needs from childhood on. Children are the foundation of the future. Keeping them in school instead of in the fields is a key ingredient for the well-being of any country.
The mothers work harder than the children. Harvesting fields, gathering firewood, nursing the newest baby and hauling laundry to the creek is the rural Guatemalan version of a workout. It is an honor to engage with these women in securing their housing. Our part feels like a small thing in light of the big issues they face. Our relationships with our participants in Guatemala and Egypt is built on a strong foundation of friendship. This foundation, in the journey toward self-sufficiency or in the construction of a house is essential toward a positive outcome for both them and for Finding Freedom.
