After 60 days in Pisco Playa, Hands On Disaster Response (HODR) continues to thrive! Our projects have grown and changed and volunteers continue to pour in, working urgently to assist this community with its continued recovery. Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished in the past thirty days.
Abe’s School
The idea of one person, combined with motivated donors and the help of many hands is how HODR rolls. In this case it is Peace Corps Volunteer Amy, who had the idea of helping a local school director whose building was destroyed. Led by the efforts of Douglas Beale, a targeted fundraising campaign raised the necessary resources. HODR volunteer Tim got the “build it” fever and assembled a team to begin the on-site work. We have now moved into a full-on construction! Volunteers have dug the footings, bent the wire for and erected the columns and cistern, scavenged wood for forms, and poured load after load of concrete. They demonstrate amazing dedication to the project – perhaps it’s the ice cream man who visits the jobsite daily with double-decker ice cream sandwiches! Stay tuned for project updates. If you are interested in being a part of ongoing funding for this project please contact paula@hodr.org.
Ica Classrooms
Following our successful toy painting and backpack stuffing partnership with UNICEF, they approached us with the outline of a temporary classroom (“aula temporale”) program in Ica province. UNICEF defined the scope of the project and sited materials at 16 schools, HODR provided on-the-ground project management, quality control, and volunteers to construct and inspect the structures, and the local Ministry of Education assisted with coordination. Volunteers Ken and Crystal have been leading a large HODR contingent at our satellite base in Ica; every morning they head off to work at schools in diverse communities of the province. One team might be working in a rural school fringed by asparagus fields and pecan trees, while another is working at a gritty, urban lot bordered by busy roads on three sides. We plan to construct and inspect/repair 60 aulas in total.
Ramadilla/Con-Con Potable Water Plant
In a continuing effort to help the residents of Ramadilla/Con Con we have initiated the re-building of their potable water system. Lead by volunteer Sarah (hydro-engineer!) HODR will collaborate again with Yanapasayki and local residents to repair, replace, and upgrade the system, which creates drinking water from river water channeled through sand and gravel filters. After the filtration process, the water is pumped up to a nearby hillside reservoir where it gravity-feeds the two communities. The specific sand and gravel needed was hard to come by, so the HODR volunteers have been meticulously working sieves to sort the materials. Hard, hot, tedious work, but the end result is drinking water coursing through the pipes of this community once again.
Celebrate, Celebrate!
Over the course of Project Pisco, HODR has developed a close relationship with the communities of Con Con and Ramadilla. With the completion of the irrigation canal project and work on the water filtration plant well underway, we returned en masse on 10 November to have a fiesta commemorating these great projects! This was also an opportunity to bid farewell to volunteer Katie, who led several phases of the irrigation canal construction. HODR hired our friend and neighbor Ricardo to drive a party bus of 22 volunteers to the christening and re-opening ceremony for the Ramadilla/Con Con irrigation canal. It was a perfect day and after some speeches, a blessing, and more speeches we joined our friends, the local farmers and government officials in an all-out fiesta. There was food and music, a piñata, pisco, dancing, laughter, capstrike, more speeches, more pisco, more food……etc.
A Roof for my Country
Un Techo Para Mi País (http://www.untechoparamipais.org/) is a South American NGO which combats poverty through building homes and running social development programs. After the earthquake, they made a strong pledge to increase the total quantity and the rate at which they placed modular homes for the most needy. Over the weekend of 8 November, HODR volunteers have joined 3 Techo team builds to date, where a total of 185 houses were set-up in marathon weekend sessions!
Salvation Army Modular Homes/Rubble Clearing
Earlier I posted a report on the cooperation between HODR and the Salvation Army. I am happy to say that the relationship continued to prosper, clearing lots to ready them for homes and erecting 100 modular houses!
Bob’s Latrine (finished it!)
One of the biggest unaddressed needs is proper sanitation to accompany the modular units being distributed. Hands On volunteer Rob had a great idea – find an extended family and build them a long term, proper latrine, something that will be the cornerstone of their permanent structure. He designed a 3m x 3m tall brick wall with stub dividers between a shower stall, toilet area, and sink. What he started, HODR volunteers Mark, Merlin, Lucas, and others have completed. The happy family is very grateful!
HODR II (Dos)
Brick by brick, we’ve been refurbishing and expanding into the earthquake-damaged building and spacious lot across the street from HODR HQ. As it’s a work in progress, it feels more like a construction site than a home. Volunteers Linda, Emily, Mads, and Marcel adopted it as theirs and they have taken great care in converting it from simply sleep space into a comfortable living space and home for many! The Hands On logo now adorns the whitewashed wall facing Avenida de las Americas thanks to the artistic talents of volunteer Dennis.
Pisco/Paracas/Pueblo Rubblers
A special thanks to all of the HODR volunteers who work every day to clear the rubble of fallen houses. The space created by this hard work has allowed 100s of residents to erect transitional shelters on their property, a move that allows them to return to some sense of normalcy. Thanks to our crew leaders Peter, Kirsty, Tom, Antonio, Ken T, and more, and to all of the volunteers who work with them!
Ludoteca
The UNICEF/CEDAPP program to provide safe space play for children whose families were relocated to camps continues. Every day, about 10 HODR volunteers spread out in the city to visit 4 different camps. Long term volunteer Jolley has left but the passion he put into this program continues in the hearts of others.
Marc Young
Operations Director
Hands On Disaster Response
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