Helping the Poorest of the Poor-- EcoShells in Haiti
March 8, 2004
by Kris Garrison
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Located in the Caribbean Sea, Haiti occupies the western one third of the island of Hispaniola and is approximately 650 miles southeast of Florida and 60 miles southeast of Cuba. A typical yearly income for a Haitian is approximately $300. That amount requires that most citizens go without many of life's necessities -- shelter being one of those necessities.
Recently, Nick Van Wingerden of Double Harvest and several co-workers returned from Haiti after spending time preparing for and constructing a 20-foot EcoShell as a demonstration home for the Haitians.
A traditional mud hut costs approximately $1200 to construct and only offers about 160 square feet. On the other hand, a 20-foot EcoShell offers over 300 square feet and costs the same. It's not just the increased space that is beneficial, it is protection.
June through September brings the hurricane season and with it rain storms and extremely high winds. The typical mud hut offers very little protection or stability in that type of climate. Also, the excessive moisture in the huts causes an increased supply of bugs, snakes, disease and sickness. A Monolithic EcoShell, however, offers hurricane protection and keeps residents dry during the wet seasons.
Van Wingerden says there is one huge barrier to getting many domes constructed quickly, "It isn't that the Haitians don't have the resources. They have plenty of concrete, sand and stone. And labor isn't an issue. It's money that's an issue."
Sponsorship
About Double HarvestThis project was begun in 1981 by Aart Van Wingerden, a Christian businessman who is now with the Lord. His family and associates continue to support and subsidize Operation Double Harvest Haiti. Haiti, being the poorest country in the western hemisphere, was chosen to help the people help themselves. Double Harvest has a two hundred acre farm, a clinic and vocational training school beginning with kindergarten. The school was begun in 1996 with two classes with a capacity of 30 students per class. Each year an additional class will be added, thus requiring 30 news sponsors per year. Since 1992 Double Harvest has been sponsored by Evangelical Baptist Missions. Double Harvest |
"I do not want to build domes for the people and leave," Wingerden said. Instead he hopes to convince American families, corporations and private companies to sponsor a Haitian family. "Our goal is to teach the construction process, thereby educating the people and the masons in Haiti how to build the dome homes for themselves. We believe that the EcoShell is a real solution for the people there. It's maintenance proof. It's everything they need."
The Mission
Van Wingerden and his associates' mission is threefold:- First,they are seeking acceptance of the dome home in the country by showing the completed dome to many people.
- Second, they plan to simplify the building process so the average worker can construct the dome without any complications or failures.
- Third, they plan to seek sponsorship. They anticipate being to that stage within the next six months.
Van Wingerden plans to use the Internet, radio stations, television, and whatever else it takes to generate funs for this project."We really believe that money will be the easy part. By having American sponsors, the money will go to the Haitian masons to build the domes, which in turn helps their economy. Over 10 years, we hope to see many, many homes in Haiti that are safe, comfortable, dry and liveable."
We hope there will be others who will come in to the country and copy what we are doing. Anything to help these people. For more information about this project and how you can help, e-mail Mr. Van Wingerden.
Editor's Note: Due to political unrest, they cannot complete the final touches on the dome home until it is safe to travel to Haiti again, which they hope will be soon.
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