Habitat for Humanity, Oaxaca

We thought there was no Habitat for Humanity group in Oaxaca, so we were happily surprised to step out of our courtyard one morning just in time to see a truck pass by with the HFH logo on the side.  Later that day, I googled Oaxaca HFH, and found them.  Stuart sent a note, in english, and a couple of days later received a response from Elizabeth y Raquel, obviously translated into spanish with an electronic translator.  Fortunately, my spanish has improved enough to write a simple note, and soon enough we had a date to see the job site here.

Habitat Oaxaca has a sponsor Angel from Boston, a group that gives money regularly, which is sorely needed here.  Right now, Habitat Oaxaca has 12 houses in the plans, and I think they work on about 2 houses at a time.  The 12 owners, and two paid employees, do all the work.  We met Marta, who's house is about 2 weeks from being completed.  She very proudly showed me the kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom and living room.  The entire house is 7 meters by 7 meters.  Elizabeth showed us the beginning of another house, where the foundation was being dug through the sand and rocks.  The construction is concrete and block, normal construction for this part of the world. 

These two houses, and I think the other 10 in the current project, are in the barrio Santa Cruz Amilpas, which is tiny, close to the city, but off my map.  We turned off the paved street, at a bus stop, onto the dirt main street of the barrio, passed tiny houses and shops, everything covered with the dust from the dirt street.  We saw no more cars, but people walking down the hill to the bus stop.  We drove up a very steep hill, and parked to walk up a little further.  There is no way to negotiate these dirt streets in the rainy season, and I don't know how they walk in the mud.  But, the view of the valley to the east and south is spectacular!

We toured Marta's house, and saw the next one, which was close by, and then visited with Marta and an old woman who was cooking outside.  They served us beans and tortillas and coffee, and we had a visit while I asked a few more questions.  Stuart and I hope to put together a group to come back here...I'll begin to investigate the logistics of getting here/staying here, while Stuart talks to the Wilmington group about planning with Elizabeth and Raquel.  Here are a few pics....

The downhill trench is the bulkhead for the rest of the house.  I don't know where the septic tank goes, but there will be one!

 Oscar and Emilio were drawing the lines to "square" the foundation.

Oscar (in the red shirt), the job foreman, with the bricklayer.

Straightening rebar, using a hammer with a pipe handle.  It will take them at least 2 days to cut and straighten the rebar for this house.  Then, they'll begin tying the rebar, for the foundation.

It's simple construction, with the wiring buried in the cement inside plastic piles.  The windows and doors are all custom cut and set at the end.  The gas, for the cooktop, will come from a tank outside.  The water will come from a huge tank on the roof, which is normal.  Stuart came back the next week, and spent a morning tying rebar, getting an idea of how to make a simple tool to help the next time he's here!