We're looking for a few good men (and women) to help us train Haitians in construction on the next homes.  If you think you have the right skills and the time to volunteer, please contact Sherman Balch at SDB6010@aol.com or call Extollo at 925-225-1500.  Extollo will provide food, lodging and will consider travel cost reimbursement based on skill level and time commitment of the volunteer.  More details are below:

We're looking for skilled construction craftsmen to volunteer for a minimum of 2 weeks (preferably 3 to 4 weeks) in June, July and August. Volunteers will provide on the job training to a small group of 1 to 4 Haitians in learning the following skills:

Carpenter: Frame walls, porch roof, install metal roof and lap siding on 12' x 24' Porch
Carpenter: Frame interior walls, roof framing and install metal roof on 704 SF family home
Finish Carpentry: Hang doors, windows, build/install cabinets
Electrical: Rough and finish electrical for family home (all 110 volts)
Plumbing: Rough and finish plumbing for family homes consisting of one bathroom with tub/shower, toilet and 2-sinks.
Masonry: Work with and lead  mason's to improve their skills and productivity
Concrete: Install rebar, place and finish, foundation and floor slabs.
Painting: Work with painters to improve their skills and productivity
It is Extollo's goal that Haitians learn the skills and processes needed to independently build an orphan home with minimal supervision. 

Note: Electrician and Plumber trainers will work with other crews part of the time due to the limited scope of this work. Ideally seeking one person to teach plumbing and electrical and/or assist with other trades.

If this sounds like you (or someone you know) and you feel God's calling to help - please send a short description of your experience and skill to Sherman Balch at SDB6010@aol.com and copy christie@extollointernational.org .
 
In addition to providing food and lodging, Extollo international will cover up to $500 of volunteer travel expenses for approved skilled leaders staying 2 weeks and up to $1,000 for 3 weeks. Extollo will also provide construction plans, on site support and supervision to help volunteers succeed in equipping Haitians with employable skills to rebuild Haiti.

Blessings to you!

Christie Gloster

future screened in porch

future entrance area

future house parent living quarters

future kids dorm 1 (fits 4 to 6 kids... w/bunkbed option)

future washroom

future bathroom

future kids dorm 2 (fits 3 to 4 kids... w/bunkbed option)

future entrance area (looking out through the front porch)

i "stole" these two helpers from the Wesleyan Hospitol Construction Manager (Julina) to help me confirm the lengh of the back wall.  (Ella... waaay close up... 8 & and Rebecca waaaay far away... 10)  btw... Rebecca often drives me around on my quad as my chaffer... when i have a some extra time to spare.  she's QUITE good at it... and the locals never cease to look perplexed!  ;-)

these next three are just for fun... some of the wonders of life in Haiti...

found this in my toilet Sunday afternoon... at first, upon opening the lid, i thought i (or someone) forgot to flush...

i have seen this dude around the outside of the building before... but never inside.  got himself right good and stuck, he did!

cool orange eye, yeah?  and a vice-like jaw!  (i'll let you all do the mental math/imagery of what could happend if one need to use the sit-down facilities at night.)  ;-?   and with that... have a nice day all.  ;-D

Carpenter: Frame walls, roof, install metal roof and lap siding on 12' x 24' Porch

Carpenter: Frame interior walls, roof and install metal roof on 704 SF family home

Finish Carpentry: Hang doors, windows, build/install cabinets

Electrical: Rough and finish electrical for family home

Plumbing: Rough and finish plumbing on one bathroom with tub/shower, toilet and 2-sinks.

Masonry: Work with mason's to improve their skills and productivity

Concrete: Install rebar, place and finish, foundation and floor slabs.

Painting: Work with painters to improve their skills and productivity

The goal is for Haitians to learn the skills/processes needed to independently build an orphan home with minimal supervision. Extollo will provide food and lodging.

*Note: Electrician and Plumber trainers will work with other crews part of the time due to the limited scope of this work. Ideally seeking one person to teach plumbing and electrical and/or assist with other trades.

Contact Sherman Balch for further information email: SDB6010@aol.com

some of the ALIVE Wesleyan Team... with Extollo's Steve and Josh!

thanks all for the great help!!  ;-)

;-)

Padawan

fyi... the next three pics are NOT in proportion... WIDE ANGLE lens in effect.  ;-)

COMPOSITE pics.... in reality ALL is even and level.  ;-)

and finally...  the VIEW from down the "street".  ;-D

Congratulations on a stellar effort in fundraising these past two months!  In early March we announced that a local church in Northern California had offered to match every dollar that we raised by April 30th, up to $100,000.  With little to no notice, everyone went to work to see what we could do.  By the end of March, $30,000 had come in... By the end of April, another $47,687.41 came in.  A total of $77,687.41 qualified and was doubled by the Matching Fund offer for a total of $155,374.81 towards our goal!  Simply outstanding results for 6-7 weeks of effort.

Nurses in Scotland, students in Canada, churches here and there in the U.S. and Scotland, families, businesses and individuals all over... coming together to get this done... truly amazing!

Some of your efforts are still yielding results which did not make it in the books in time.  NO WORRIES... A SECOND $100,000 Matching Fund has been issued by the same church!  All donations received April - July 31st, up to $100,000 will be matched as well.  This is the last of any matching funds that I am aware of.  We have until July 31st to take FULL advantage of this new Matching Fund Campaign.  

Total amount of money raised since September 2011 for this current Housing Phase:  $295,374.81

Total amount which still needs to be raised to complete the housing phase and move the children in: $301,625.19

Interesting fundraising news... About (8) people followed the simple steps on www.Okipe.org under the "Grass Roots" tab to set up their own fundraising page online through First Giving.  This is a good early start, but I wonder if we could get that number much higher over the next couple months? This is an awesome tool that equips a regular person with their own website to send friends and family to... where they learn about the person's fundraising goal and cause.  Donations are made right their on the site.  These donations are automatically routed to Shine and categorized accordingly for the housing project.  Really cool stuff!

Our goal is to move the children into the new Children's Village by the end of the year.  We are working together to keep the construction funded properly so there are no delays.  We can do this!! :)  Imagine what it will be like for these children who have gone without so much for so long, to have safe housing to sleep in, running water, electricity, safe drinking water, safe outdoor space to play and learn... it is hard to grasp the HUGE impact we are joining together to make!  What an honor to serve together for such a worthy cause :)

I am greatly encouraged by our growing strength in fundraising... and I am sobered by the work that remains to be done.  We are essentially half way there.  We need our best effort yet over the coming 3 months.  I am committed to join you as we continue to turn our great intentions into great actions and results.  To borrow words from a wise book, "Where there is no vision, people are unrestrained..." (proverbs 29:18a NAS)  I have found the opposite to be true as well, in fact, I have found it necessary... in order for people to restrain or focus on and prioritize something...we need a vision of what we are making the effort for.  Please keep the vision of what I asked you to imagine two paragraphs earlier, ever in front of you.  Oh what a celebration awaits us!

For the weak and the fatherless,

Bill Cody

even after 13 duffles and a couple of suitcases they still had smiles on their faces!  ;-)

... in fact, they even had enough energy to put on an acrobatic show for us all... oh, to be young!

and the next day they took the kids to the Wesleyan Complex to run and hang and play.  always fun!!

and here's some of the learning aids in the classrooms.

and just hangin' about with da kids...

hey... what's going on here?...

oh... found out!... and smile all around.  ;-D

too cute fo surz!