Tuesday: Construction Training (Day 1)

In our third workshop, Construction Training: Theory and Planning, facilitators stressed the importance of laying a proper foundation. They also shared the importance of discarding tradition, once tradition ceases to serve its purpose. For example, participants explained that their practice of building roofs with only cement blocks was handed down to them from French colonists. The team explained that the earthquake demonstrated why the tradition of building with only cement was a dangerous one and could easily be replaced by using materials that will make the roof lighter, stronger, and safer. Although skeptical, participants were willing to consider making a change. In order to move from theory to planning, their homework was to design a roof that did not contain cement. This was a lively workshop where participants asked many questions and demonstrated their hunger for more understanding of proper construction principles.