Train four builders in Haiti to build safer homes

As a result of your generous support Build Change has fully funded the training of four builders in Haiti GlobalGiving project. While we will continue to train builders in our training center and on-the-job; we are now focused on the promotion of our REZO program. Please see the story below of Delva, a Build Change trained builder and a member of the REZO network.

Born in the North of the country, in Borgne, Delva is a 45 year old father of two girls. He left his town in 1991 and established himself in Port-au-Prince after the coup where he started in the construction industry as a simple unskilled builder. In less than a year, he became a qualified professional in the sector. His first work was done in 2002 under the supervision of an engineer. Nevertheless, when Build Change interviewed him about the quality of the work he used to perform he said that he knew nothing about disaster resistant houses.   

In 2012, the French Red Cross, in its reconstruction project of the lower Delmas area, selected Delva to receive the training offered by Build Change on disaster-resistant construction practices. In that project, he reinforced of two houses under the supervision of Build Change engineers. In the second phase of the project, he completed his first new construction using disaster-resistant technics. He transmitted his lessons learned to all the team members working with him, such as, the steel workers, the carpenters, and other masons; and encouraged them to apply the principles themselves.  Delva is one of the first builders trained by Build Change who integrated REZO, which is a network of construction professionals. He beneficiated from many advantages offered by REZO partners, for example, he built a new house with the help of our partner FONKOZE.  

In February 2015, he won a BID that was published by Build Change for the construction of a 50 square meter house in the Carreffour-Feuilles neighborhood where he applied the technics earned in our training center.  

In August 2015, out of a total of six participants, he won another BID published by Build Change where he was able to build a safe house in less than two months, which permitted him to save money.

Now, Delva lives in Fontamara with his wife, and he is now working on a business project for his wife to strengthen the revenues of the family. Delva now refuses to work with builders that do not respect chained masonry construction quality standards that he has learned and applied.  For him Build Change needs to keep on training and doing awareness activities to promote good practices.

"I will not buid houses that could cause loss of lives." Delva 

Links:

• Please click for a short film about REZO