Out with the old

Today was the first work day for the students.
Kellan knocked on my door bright and early — 7 a.m. — with Adam, to begin building a new wall for Pepe and his mother, Miriam.
Their house is a simple one where the pavement meets the dusty dirt road on the outskirts of El Sauce center. Five people live in the small home, with a tiled empty room, two bedrooms and a kitchen. There is a latrine out back and buckets and barrels to collect water. A very big rooster and some chickens clucked around in the yard while we worked.

Pepe's home is typical of many of the poorer homes in El Sauce. More stable homes and buildings are made of concrete or brick. Traditional adobe homes are made of bricks formed from mud and dung. A mason told me today that most adobe walls will last about four to five years. Heavy downpours and flooding in the rainy season every June to November erode the walls. There's a black line a foot above the base of Pepe's steps where the water is. Rain pours down the dirt streets sometimes a few feet deep, sometimes every day. The adobe just can't stand up to it for long.

Pepe's wall lasted about 15 years because it was old-style adobe, made with mud and fermented dung. It is stronger, but not that strong. It's coming down and he and his family have no way on their own to fix it. That's where 4 Walls and Adam come in.

Here's how it started: In 2007, El Sauce Peace Corps worker Meghan Haslam, of Exeter, New Hampshire, was inspired to start 4 Walls after an experience with a dear friend, Juan Pablo. He didn't want her to see his home. She finally convinced him to invite her over. It turned out he was ashamed of his house. One adobe wall had fallen in and they could only cover it in plastic. Their situation, and his embarrassment gave her an idea of how to help. She collected money from her family and friends and hired a mason to help Juan Pablo and his friends build a new wall of brick and cement.
The cement binds the bricks together and in combination they last a very long time and can stand up to the torrential rains.
The program has grown and has helped many families in El Sauce who are hardworking but cannot save for home improvements, like Pepe. Most Nicaraguans make $2 to $4 a day. Most money is spent on food and a bit on utility bills, if they have electricity.
People donate and Meghan and Juan Pablo identify those in most need and who are responsible. They and volunteers from Rochester, N.Y. as well as community members have built 14 walls, several roofs and also home frames.

The latest is Pepe's home. He is also a mason who volunteered his time to build two house frames. Now, Adam and 4 Walls is helping him.

In one week Adam, Pepe, his friend Noel, Meghan and I will build a new wall that will last.

It is possible that Kellan and the Geneseo program will take over the 4 Walls program when Meghan's Peace Corps assignment ends this spring. More students will surely come to volunteer.