As of March 2015

Progress! The cupola (which is important for passive solar ventilation) is installed and the roof (which is insulated against the heat of the sun) is on! Now the windows are being fitted and installed and the floor will be finished.  Soon, the library construction will be complete!  The Conseil Administratif (the library advisory committee formed by ODES members in Deschapelles) in collaboration with the SCEH Library Committee have been busy training and hiring librarians; selecting and purchasing books; selecting electronic sources of reading/research materials; and selecting and purchasing furnishings.

Many thanks to FOKAL (La Fondation Connaissance et Liberté/Fondasyon Konesans Ak Libète),  an independent foundation in Haiti supported by the Open Society Institute and other international and local organizations. Since 1995, FOKAL provides a range of educational, human development and economic activities to the local communities and community civil society organizations in the country and has become the leading independent organization shaping the future of Haiti.

As of September 2014

The library building is well underway! We were a bit stalled waiting for the angle iron to arrive for the roof.  Last month, the angle iron began to arrive! Progress!!  The roof has been installed on the gatehouse which provides not only a welcoming building for patrons to pass through and check their backpacks, but also provides storage, and the room for the electric generator. (We will be looking into solar possibilities at a later date.)

Operationally, we are very pleased to report that FOKAL informed ODES and us early this year that they will be happy to provide partial support of the library’s operational budget.  ODES and we are very grateful and honored to have their support.

While ODES and our Library Committee have been very busy with the construction of the building, they have now turned toward the planning for the library’s operation.  To that end, ODES has formed an Conseil Administratif (an Advisory Board) that is developing a budget for the library, in collaboration with SCEH and FOKAL.  It has also identified and trained two librarians and, among other things, is working on programming, volunteer coordination, community and school communications.

We are well on our way to a fully functioning library and community center in Deschapelles. Pretty soon, we will need a name!

As of August 2013

Construction is well underway on the Deschapelles library.  The architectural drawings are complete, the perimeter wall is largely installed, the well has been dug,  the site has been mapped out, the foundation has been laid and rebar for the supporting posts have been installed.  This is truly a community effort. 

As of April 2013

Jenifer Grant just returned from a visit to Deschapelles and has provided us with wonderful news that there is a beehive of activity at the library site: the wall is largely installed, the foundation of the library building is dug, rebar is getting laid and cement is getting poured.  Check out some of these photos!

Men are shoveling sand, gravel and rocks into the cement mixer.  The cement mixer is the only mechanical piece of machinery on site and is turned by hand. The house in the background is owned by our neighbor who is a teacher.  He is quite excited about the prospect of the library right next to his house!
Water is in the blue containers which is brought by truck to the site.  Cement is brought to the foundation area by wheelbarrow and 5 gallon buckets.
The library site with  #8 rebars for the posts as specified by architect Hope Proctor.   They were all bent by hand using a traditional jig.

As of March 2013

The construction phase of the library has begun!  As you can see from the following photos, the perimeter wall is largely installed, the site has been located and mapped out, and they have started digging and preparing the foundation.  This is truly a community effort with ODES leading the way. Luquece Belizaire, President of ODES, is the Construction Manager, and has been able to employ many residents of Deschapelles providing much needed income for their families.

At the end of January, SCEH Executive Board members, Terry Smith, Dan Taylor-Stypa, David Evangelisti, and Jenifer Grant traveled to Haiti to evaluate the construction progress of the library.

They also met with Elizabeth Pierre-Louis and Eric Toussaint of the FOKAL Library in Port au Prince and continued to strengthen that already established relationship.

Installing the perimeter wall: rock, grave, sand and cement are poured into wooden frames.

A  perimeter wall with chain link fencing on it is being installed to secure the site.  Note the women that are employed as well.  This is a very good example of ODES’ collaboration who advised the SCEH Library Committee of the need to secure the site.

Three ancillary buildings are being constructed.  A gatehouse at the entrance of the library will help to secure the site.  A depot will be used for storage.  And a pump house will contain the water pump.  Water is required for the construction of the building (e.g. mixing mortar) and will be necessary during the operations of the library.  The water pump will also serve the needs of the immediate community.  Note the rebar being used for earthquake protection.

The library is staked out using posts and string.  This development represents a tremendous amount of work by Hope Proctor, an Essex architect, along with other architects and engineers in Connecticut and Deschapelles all of whom have volunteered hundreds of hours. Thank-you.

Hurrah!  We have begun digging the foundation for the library.  Many men and women in the Deschapelles area have been employed during this process.  This is truly an exciting collaboration–both for people in Connecticut and for people in Deschapelles!