PRoTechos was founded shortly after Hurricane Maria with the dual mission of resiliently rebuilding roofs damaged by the hurricane in under-served communities throughout the island while providing residents with basic carpentry training, addressing the need for safe housing and the shortage of skilled carpenters in Puerto Rico. Each roof project costs an average of $5,000 including labor, training, and materials.
More than 2 years after Hurricane Maria, about 30,000 homes in Puerto Rico still have a blue tarp for a roof - or no roof at all. Following Maria, hundreds of thousands of residents left the island, among them many skilled laborers. The mass exodus of skilled talent left Puerto Rico without the very assets it so desperately needs to address the problem.
Rebuilding roofs while providing carpentry training in under-served communities throughout Puerto Rico addresses both housing needs and the shortage of skilled construction workers on the island. Blue tarps will be replaced with strong roofs using trained carpenters who teach local residents resilient building techniques. Trainees will be paid minimum wage in a "learn and earn" program.
This project will build capacity in each community it touches, with an impact far beyond the 10 roofs built and 10 people trained. Each roof will provide shelter to additional people who will be better positioned to become stronger, healthier members of their community. Each trainee will be better equipped to procure employment at a time when skilled carpenters are in great demand, and increased employment combined with secure shelter will raise the morale of each member of each community.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser