In these last days here we are working nonstop to get everything done. The frame of the roof was completed today, and the roof cap was put on in the late afternoon. Gravel was set and tamped down to lay the base of the floor of the house. We built a form for the patio of the floor to be filled in with cement, and built out the shelf that is anchored into the walls of the house. All of our lime is ready to be applied as the final coat on the walls, as we are letting the earthen plaster cure.
At the community center we held a colorful painting session with the kids. They filled endless pages with their bright imaginations. At Monique’s house, which was the previous home we built here in Cormiers, Callie is painting decorative shapes to make it ever more beautiful. Tod is busy around town documenting all of the activity and also telling the amazing story of the local stone carving tradition. We were also joined by Monica, an artist and activist from New York, who jumped right in on site to lend her helping hands.
Until our solar powered batteries were drained, we listened to the beautiful sounds of haitian music that our friends played, and had abundant conversations about all that we have done together and all of our hopes for the future…!

stone carving

Timouns

Windows in place & fresh picked mangos!

Today we finally finished the last touches of earthen plaster! After the first two coats were applied and we covered the structure in wire mesh, these last touches helped even out the walls by applying extra plaster to fill in any depressions. We picked up and installed the custom steel windows of the house, bringing it another step closer to becoming the uniquely beautiful home it is made to be. The sacred geometry of the roof is meticulously being constructed one piece at a time. The roof has 5 concentric octaganol rings that reinforce the strength of the structure itself and will also brace the metal roof panels that go on next. Every single cut is made by hand with a pull saw. Including mitered edges and compound angles that KT has mastered, cutting all 22.5 degree angles freehand….
But the MOST exciting part of the day was when the rest of our amazing Konbit team joined us for our last week here – Callie and Tod both arrived on site with a parade of children screaming their names, pulling at their clothes and hair, ecstatic to see their old friends. We had a massive afternoon drawing session with tons of kids and the bright new supplies Callie brought, and are continuously transforming the walls of the community center into a colorful art gallery.

“Twop prese pa fe jou louvri” – too much rushing does not open up your day

Allude in the framed out and sculpted doorway

Other things happening around the site….. Robinson and a crew of munchkins, and a neighbor pruning a large tree to make the trunk grow wider.

Fine carpentry! After Iris sliced his finger open unloading the corrugated steel roof panels last night, he decided to smash his other finger with a hammer…He’s doing great work with the other 8 though!