Status: Complete.
Today was our first day of real work out in the field. La Fuerza Azul split into three teams that went to separate locations.
Team 1: The self-proclaimed "Dream Team" were the first group ever to begin work at Batey 91, known locally as "Papita." Since all of the concrete homes at Batey 50 were completed, we have the opportunity to work with a nearby village and forge new, lasting relationships. We were the first team to break ground on the first house to be built in the batey. Working alongside our contracted Dominican construction crew, we dug long trenches approximately 2 feet deep using just pickaxes and shovels. Often we encountered large rocks that had to be painstakingly broken apart before we could continue shoveling. In addition to shoveling, students tied together rebar to prepare it for placement in the trenches to reinforce the concrete. We saw a wide variety of animals including pigs, turkeys, chickens, horses, donkeys, dogs, and cats. Although there were countless animals, we took to naming two of the dogs. One we named "Dog," and the other we named "Cat."
Zach D. & Nate F. in the trenches
Claire C. playing with a child on Batey 91
"Dream Team" selfie
Team 2: The second group of students returned to the Joe Hartman School located at Kilometer 6. This is a private elementary school affiliated with The Good Samaritan Mission. Our team has sponsored the education of several students and the secondary education of their teachers over the years.
Last year, our Wat DR team helped build a playground for the students. Here it is today:
After arriving to the campus, we got to work immediately on the next phase of expansion: the cafeteria. First, we cleared the ground of plywood, nails, and weeds in preparation for leveling the floor. By lunchtime, we had hauled a truckload of 94 lb bags of concrete into a storage unit. In the afternoon, we worked on the future floor of the cafeteria. Because the ground was too low and rather uneven, we moved two truckloads of dirt--by hand--to begin the leveling process. One of our greatest takeaways was the time it took to complete our task at hand. In the United States, machines would have done in ten minutes what it took a team of fifteen people literally hours to accomplish. We certainly had a newfound appreciation for infrastucture, both here in the DR and abroad.
Team 3: Our third and final team went Batey Guazabal to run our medical clinic. Our team of students, adults, doctors, a dentist, and multiple other medical professionals treated 110 patients. Common ailmants that we saw were malnutrition, vision problems (cataracts), headaches, back pain, infections, and several large absesses that required draining. One patient needed to have a cast removed from his foot that had been on for five months. This process took upwards of 30 minutes and required the attention of all four doctors.
Our four fearless doctors! (From left to right) Anil, Maggie, Lys, and Ann.
One adorable little patient.
Former Head of Upper School, Sandy Garcia, helping to run the medical clinic. Her dual fluency in English and Spanish is key to our success.
Several children on Batey Guazabal
To finish our night, we are food packing. We are thankful for a successful work day and look forward to the opportunities tomorrow will bring for us to improve the standard of living for our fellow human beings here in the Dominican Republic.
Hasta mañana!
No comments:
Post a Comment