First planning meeting of the first CHP brigade, February 1999.
Marg and Isis and a model of the house we will be building.
Lucy, Sarah, and Pat.
Luisa Centeno shows us what used to be Barrio Triunfo: there used to be 100 houses where now you see nothing but rubble.
The video crew from In the Life captures the scene.
Beatriz has already started clearing the foundation for her new house in Santa Teresa.
The newly dug ditch is a good place to take a rest.
Marta and Tonia tie ironwork back at the workshop.
Isis and Sarah make sure that the holes for the footings are deep enough.
Marg holds the ironwork for the column in place while Isis covers its foot with concrete.
There are 12 columns to do...
Lunchtime is a good time to take a short siesta -- besides it's too hot to work at midday!
Beatriz surveys the progress on her house.
Because the ground is not level, we lay a few courses of blocks to support the seismic beam.
The ironwork for the seismic beam sits on top of the cadena ("chain"), and we tie it in with the columns.
Jairo and Angelica laying blocks.
Polly checking the plumb.
Beatriz is pleased to see her house shaping up.
Sarah taking a break under the scaffolding.
Polly laying the decorative "breeze blocks."
Luz Marina and Ligia prepare to install a window frame.
It's looking a lot like a house now!
Sarah rejoices over the capping beam (corona).
Building the formwork for the corona.
Beatriz and Yubelkis
More CHP Photos