Sometimes, a picture is a thousand words. In this case, the video shot and edited by the Star's Spencer Wynn -- with music donated from indie music giant Black Lab -- is a touching an heartfelt look at the spirit that is Nuevo Reancer. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
And another Christmas video celebrating Dove Missions' pig program. This one is fun!
The daughter of an OHBA member claps during the key ceremony.
My experience at the OHBA Humanitarian Build in the Dominican Republic in late November stays with me — it’s certainly changed the way I think about “community.”
I had the pleasure of sharing breakfast this morning with Christal Earle of LiveDifferent and the Star’s Spencer Wynn to chat and reminisce about our seven days in Nuevo Renacer.
One of the things I shared with Christal was how amazing I thought the people were; they cared so much about each other and although they had very little, they were willing to share it with each other -- and us!
The expression “It takes a village to raise a child” came to life for me there. Mothers extend their arms and hearts to all the children of the community, and all the children know that they are loved by all the mothers. Fathers teach their sons how to play football and mothers teach their daughters how to cook and sew (gender roles are still very distinct there).
Christal also told me about LiveDifferent's Hampers of Hope, which are Christmas hampers with a difference. For instance, a $35 donation will fill a "school hamper," which will buy a uniform and books so that one child can attend school. A $100 teacher's hamper pays the salary of a teacher for one month. I think I'll be giving these special hampers as Christmas gifts!
Christal is also excited about another large group of corporation types who will be building in Nuevo Renacer in the spring: WestJet, which has very forward thinking and engaged executives running the airline.
It got me thinking about returning … to become engaged with the continuing work. Just a thought.
Alvin Curling at the key ceremony.
I’ve had the good fortune through this experience to meet some wonderful people. One is Alvin Curling, former MPP, speaker of the legislature and envoy to the Dominican Republic. He came along on the trip and was fully engaged in the building and in community building.
I received a wonderful email from him that I would like to share with you here:
“My role as the ambassador of this project was unique. I was not assigned specifically to any one of the six sites and this allowed me to see a spirit of humanity demonstrated that words would definitely fall short of capturing. I saw tears of joy, tears of kindness, and tears of gratitude and relief. Individuals were transformed from giving to receiving from acceptance to sharing.
“Canadians coming from the comfort of their homes to assist others with less means of material infrastructure found a community that welcomed them with a spirit that has sustained them through natural and human disasters for decades.
Smiles that melt the hearts of all, children that wanted piggyback rides to say that ‘we are family,’ children of both nations sharing their games and spaces as all kids do when they get together .
“ ‘HOLA’ was the welcoming word heard as we arrived at the sites each day, as we sifted sand, mixed cement, assisted in cleaning up the beach and numerous other task in the construction exercise. The spoken languages were never a challenge.
“Neither side speaks each other’s language but it did not matter; both sides seemed to recognize that there was a greater force at play and proceeded to let it runs it’s course.
“I saw the language of human kindness in full flight through smiles, laughter, high fives, low fives, or sharing a Presidente, a Dominican beer. These action transcend all spoken words. In precise term it was saying nuestra familia.
“The glow in the eyes of the Canadians as they returned each day from the sites, back to the hotel was evident as they recalled the day’s experience.
“The key presentation was an emotionally charged event filled with thank yous on both sides and saying good-bye to our new-found family.
“It was indeed an honour and a life changing experience to be part of it.”
Danny Gabriele at the key ceremony.
And this from Danny Gabriele, co-chair of the build, who I witnessed working as hard as anybody.
“Often you see the statement ‘exceed your expectations.’ I have always thought that was a ridiculous description. But I would have to say this is the first time I would use that descriptive phrase.
“What I really wasn’t expecting was the fashion in which all the participants pulled together as a team and were selfless in their daily efforts. I can truthfully say that I have never worked that hard around my own home.
“It was pretty clear after seeing everyone completely drenched (with sweat) that people were of the mindset that they were going to do everything they possibly could to make these homes happen.
“There are two moments that I would describe as watershed experiences. They both occured on the last day of the build. A couple of us from the Marz team were working with another team mixing a large pile of cement on the street that was to be used for that home’s basement. It had rained quite a bit that day and the street was a river of mire. All of us were working the mix fully equipped with our work boots, gloves, hard hats and sunglasses. I looked over and saw a boy about 10 mixing as franticly as we were. I looked down and saw he had no shoes. I asked the translator to ask him if it was his home we were working on. The boy said, ‘no, I just want to help like you people are doing.’
“Shortly after I was parging a wall and my helmet fell off my head and into an ungodly pile of I don’t know what. I immediately looked at my helmet and unleashed a tirate of construction vocabulary. A local gentleman was across the road watching. He ran across the road, picked up my hard hat and gestured that he would return. I was not sure what he was going to do with it. He he washed it and brought it back to me. And then quickly left. It was clear he was not looking for anything other than to help.
“I believe both stories reflect the impact of our efforts to the people of Aguas Negras.
“The fact that this big group of gringos cared about their community inspired them to believe in their community and they did their utmost to express their appreciation through their kindness.”
Some of the children -- both of OHBA members and locals.
Alex and Matthew Memme, sons of Mike Memme of Montainview Homes.
On the beach.
LiveDifferent's Christal Earle's daughter Wildene.
Children enjoy colouring on the beach.
Dodging the mud on the main street.
One of the many ferral dogs in the barrio.
Eating a frozen treat.
This father was incredibly proud of his children.
An OHBA member and his son.
Two girls, one local and one an OHBA member's daughter, clean up the beach together.
A stuffed toy makes all the difference.
The boys loved to pretend they were hiphop stars.
Juliani, a sweet face with a personality to match.
A group of kids pose in front of our make-shift photo studio.
Most of the dogs in the community ignored humans, but this little guy liked the attention from the kids.
A new home, a new dress and a new toy bightens this girl's day.
A real cutie!
Mother and daughter.
This little boy seemed intent on getting his shoes off.
This girls wasn't spanking her brother, she was drumming out the beat of the music coming from the radio.
Security comes in the form of a pacifier for this little guy.
Children at the preschool.
Quinn Henderson, son of OHBA'S Dave Henderson, on the build site.
Two of community leader Sandra's daughters.
Toys, including guns, are prized.
Working hard!
Sisters.
He did crack a smile after I made a face at him!
Coolness at its very best.
A very tired girl.
I haven't finsished with my photo essays. Tomorrow I shall post pictures of the community and dedication cremony.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, which is why I've put together this photo gallery of members of the Ontario Home Builders' Association's Humanitarian Build working hard on the homes in Nuevo Renacer -- formerly Aguas Negras (Black Water).
Check back here tomorrow for pictures from the community.
James Bazely encourages his team members.
The Team Heathwood/Mikey home starts to take shape.
OHBA's Sajida Jiwani, left, and Norma Kimmins help mix cement the hard way.
Laying cement bricks seem to make these two chuckle.
Volunteer buiders' backpacks.
A truck delivers gravel to the building site.
Volunteers remove garbage from the beach under the direction of LiveDifferent's Nettie Brown.
Mixing cement.
The house being built by Team Marz takes shape.
James Bazely places bricks in the Team Simcoe house.
Dirt has to be sifted by hand before being added to the cement mix.
After the first day of building, Christal Earle leads a debriefing with OHBA members to get feedback from the group. Many volunteers offered their experiences on the build site, and how it touched them.
Luke Bazely shares some of his feelings at the debriefing following the first day of the build.
OHBA's Dave Henderson enjoys the debriefing ... there were some light moments during the evening, too.
The Tarion team hand sifts dirt.
Team Mikey works inside the house.
Team Mikey cleans up the building site on Day 3, including the Star's Cindy Lloyd (in red cap).
Having fun!
Building roof trusses.
Team Brantford working hard.
Sheets of tin are used for the roof.
Marz Homes put a plaque on all their homes, and this one is no different.
Day 3 and Team Simcoe is skimming the outside of the home.
OHBA president Doug Tarry gets dirty ... and back on the tools.
Spencer Wynn of the Toronto Star was documenting the build for the OHBA.
Parging the walls inside the house.
Day 4 rain meant that tarps had to be used to keep the rain off the building sites.
The Team Simcoe house is almost complete. The builders also made a ditch at the front of the house so that the street wouldn't flood in the rain.
Maria Garcia, who was featured on the cover of the Star's New in Homes & Condos section, was thrilled when I gave her a copy of the paper. She ran around the community showing off her picture.
We leave today and it's raining. But the sun came out yesterday here at Riu Bachata on the north shore of the Dominican Republic. OHBA members and their families took a much-deserved day to relax and enjoy the beach and the pool and the other amenities on offer. As for me, I'm trying to get caught up on some work, but will head to the beach now before 4 p.m. check out. There' was a party tonight – a farewell dinner – and many of the participants let their hair down.
Sunday was a day for farewell, and many tears were shed, as this experience has touched us all. I'll follow-up with some of the participants and let you know exactly how this trip has changed them.
As for me ... I am changed, too. My priorities will be different and, although I already knew it, I am blessed to live in Canada. After witnessing this poverty, where children run through sewage-laden streets in bare feet, where nourishing food is the exception and not the rule, where clean water is privilege and not a right, where in this resort maids work 12-hour days and earn $60 a month, where people do hard manual labour without proper work equipment or shoes, and squatters are currently living on the garbage dump, how can I not love Canada?
So, this is my message to you: Love Canada, try to make a difference in your community and remember how lucky we are to live in Canada.
A few pictures before I leave, but I will be posting a photo blog later this week of some of the amazing people I have met, as well as some feedback from OHBA members on what this trip has meant to them.
Come on back!
Two local girls don gloves to help clean up the beach.
Julani wears one of the builder's hard hats.
Girls watch the dedication ceremony.
Two young build members on the way back to the resort in the back of an open truck.
James Bazely with Annie, an orphan who lives with the pig farmers.
The Toronto Star's Spencer Wynn hams it up with some of the local kids.
Comunity leader Sandra waves a greeting.
Truck driver.
Canadian Ambassador Todd Kuiack carries his children Zoe, 7, and Christopher, 4, over the black water.
Todd Kuiack, the Canadian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, along with his wife, Christine, and children Zoe, 7, and Christopher, 4, joined the OHBA Humanitarian Build for two days, Friday and Saturday, and stayed for the dedication ceremony.
“I became aware of the initiative when I got a call from (former ambassador Alvin Curling,” Kuiack told me in an interview. “I then spoke to James (Bazely) and Doug (Tarry).
“Zoe read the family profiles and she wanted to come. Zoe has always wanted to help and she showed a lot of enthusiasm for the project.
“And she's invested herself here, working along with the others.”
So, for the second time in this adventure, I've heard the story of daughter talking a father into becoming involved (Melissa and James Bazely, too).
Zoe was attracted to this child and couldn't wait to hold her.
But he was happy his children came to Nuevo Renacer so they could “see how lucky we are in Canada and a little effort can make a big difference.”
Kuiack, 42, is an ambassador with a difference. Getting muddy on a building site isn't something that envoys usually do – they are mostly suit-and-tie types – but Kuiack said that “this is just one of the radical things I've done while I'm here.”
“I do the usual things, like meet with the tourism chiefs (there are 800,000 Canadian visitors to the D.R. each year) and the economic councils, but we've also started live-saving courses for life guards. We bring in trainers from Canada, which WestJet pays for, and train locals.
“I also advocate for the Good Samaritan Foundation with Elio Madonia and they have already built 1,000 houses here.”
Todd and Zoe Kuiack negotiate the streets of Nuevo Renaceer.
Vanessa tends Chum Chum Chum's babies, making sure each one get some milk. Mom is fast asleep and snoring.
There an old adage that if you give a man a fish, he eats for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, he'll eat every day. Working on that principle, Liz McKie and Melissa Bazely of Dove Missions began the pig program in Nuevo Renacer.
In this pilot program, a female pig was bought for a family, who was taught how to take care of it, as well as a pen and food. When the piglets reach about two months, the farmer gives one female pig back to Dove Missions and can sell the other piglets (for about $30 for a female, about $25 for a male).
Then Dove Missions sets up another family with the new pig, and when she matures, she'll be bred and and the cycle continues. It's a way of providing income and food for the community. Pork, by the way, is a real delicacy here, with a pig roast the favoured Christmas dinner.
Late last week, momma pig, who they've named Chum Chum Chum, gave birth to 15 piglets (one died at birth, the other on Sunday). So, after the farmer gives one female back to Dove Missions, he'll have 12 piglets to sell.
The key ceremony was originally planned to take place on the newly cleaned beach, but an overnight rain storm flooded it so the ceremony was moved to the school. With over 200 volunteeer participants, including LiveDifferent volunteers, plus about 400 community members, the streets were crowded. I expect more of the residents of Aguas Negras showed up after we departed for the cake that was on offer as part of the dedication ceremony.
Each family received their key to their new home at the ceremony from each of the team captains. I cannot begin to express how moving this was. The language barrier didn't prevent us from understanding the feelings of love, thanks and pure joy in the community, which now wants to be called Nuevo Renacer (New Life).
I can tell you, however, that they gave more to us then we to them.
James Bazely, co-chair of the OHBA Humanitarian Build, addresses the crowd at the key ceremony as Nettie Brown, left, and OHBA president Doug Tarry listen.
Leslie Memme (husband Mike is president of Mountainview Homes) spoke on behalf of the mothers, bringing here children, Matthew and Alex onto stage with her. The speech was also translated into Spanish so the community could understand, too.
“We've met many moms and kids over the past few days. You've opened your arms and homes to us, your kids took us by the hand and led us through the streets. They shovelled with smiles, they giggled when they passed buckets and they smiled.
“Your families showed us a lot of strength.
“Thank you for welcoming us into this beautiful community. You are a inspiration to all of us.
Canadian Ambassador Todd Kuiack spoke in both English and Spanish.
“I cannot tell you how happy I am to be here,” he said to about 600 people gathered for the key ceremony. “I have the distinct honour to represent Canada here. It is a privilege to represent these 200 Canadians, as well as the 800,000 Canadians that come here every year.
“I didn't do enough (on this build) but I will do more.”
Keys represent a important element to these families – safety. At night, Nuevo Renacer changes from the warm, welcoming community we witnessed, to a more menacing place where crime is rampant and women and children are not safe. Being able to lock your door and sleep without fear is something we take for granted, but is a luxury to many of these families.
Kuiack is right: This was a privilege beyond description.
And here, are the deserving families, in alphabetical order:
The Almonte family's home was built by Team Heathwood/Mikey Network.
The Domingue family's home was built by the team from Simcoe County.
The Garcia family's home was built by the On-Tarion team.
The Lopez family's new home was built by the Brantford HBA team.
The Marsimina family's new home was built by Marz Homes.
The Silverio's new home was built by Waterloo Region HBA / South Western Ontario.
More later on my conversation with the ambassador and a report on the pig program.
Sunday started early, with an 8:30 call to go grocery shopping with Hero Holidays volunteers Jocelyne, Heather, Rode, Heather and Nettie to buy provisions for the six new homes. It was fun – each house had a $100 budget – with six shopping carts trolling the aisles of La Sirena (The Mermaid, the D.R.'s version of Walmart). There's no way to sum up the what we did, so here's a picture of the cart I was pushing.
Here's what was in it:
Mop
Toilet brush
Bucket
Pail
Bleach
Laundry soap
House cleaner
Candles
Matches
Rice
Cooking oil
Ketchup
Bread
Pasta (two kinds)
Eggs
Doritos
Cookies
Sugar
Canned tomatoes
Salt
Milk in tetra packs
Vinegar
Toilet paper
Corn Flakes
Sardines
Coffee
Dish soap
Beans (white and red)
Chicken broth
Pear juice
Plastic mixing bowl
Melamine plates and bowls (five)
Jug
Cooking pot
Stirring spoon and slotted spoon
There were also donations of soap and shampoo as well as toys and school suplies from the OHBA members, so these items were not on the shopping list.
The check-out line.
We delivered the goods to Aguas Negras and were helped by community members take each of the packages to the family homes, which were mostly completed (some still needed painting).
The local children welcome us to Aguas Negras.
The sense of accomplishment is unbelievable. Participating members of the OHBA Humanitarian Build were puffed out in pride, and they should be. This was a daunting task and but they were up to the challenge. They worked without any of the tools that we take for granted – like pencils, tape measures and power saws – and did everything the old-fashioned way.
This may seem like a small thing to us – one week of our lives given to make a difference in six families' lives – but it was a monumental challenge.
Somebody has asked for more pictures ... and their wish is my command.
The homes are taking shape and most of them are completed. The 14 piglets are doing wonderfully, and the community is excited by their new arrivals.
The volunteers here – both from the OHBA and the locals – are pumped about this adventure. Asked if I'd do this again, my response was “in a heartbeat.”
This experience has been life changing, not just for me, but for most of those involved. When I think that a child in Aguas Negras cannot go to school because their family cannot afford a uniform, it breaks my heart. I spend more money on coffee in a day than the price of a school uniform. I will think twice before I order another double-shot Americano.
So, here, in 12 pictures, is a day in life of an OHBA Humanitarian Build. Forgive me for missing so many of the participants, but there is only so much room (and the Internet access here is spotty at best).
The first of the community's piglets -- 14 in total.
Brian Loder of Brookfield Homes has fun with some of the local children.
Lumber is scarce here but these roof trusses are put into place.
Bernie Torchia of Monarch and his three daughters worked hard throught the build. All four told me it was an amazing experience.
Dick Brouwer and Frank Giannone of FRAM pitched in to build this home for a very deserving family.
Doug Tarry, OHBA president, braves the mud of Agua Negra to, er, supervise the volunteers building houses.
This young man, who was disabled while driving a moto-cab (a motorcycle taxi) will move in to his new house tomorrow.
This house, which sits in a low-lying area of Aguas Negras, has been lifted out of the mud and will welcome it's new homeowners tomorrow.
Language barriers aside, homeowners Maria Garcia put her hands togethered and said "blessed." I knew that she meant that she felt blessed by the OHBA buildng her a new home.
The homes are basic -- with cement block walls covered by parging -- but they have flush toilets, running water and are above the level of the flood water.
Many of the volunteers came from the community and did whatever they could to help.
The children of Aguas Negras are totally captivating, open and loving. When you take their picture, they want to see it on the back of your camera and laugh and giggle.
I will post more pictures of the children later today.
Tomorrow, there is a dedication ceremony and the homeowners will receive the keys to their new, safe clean homes -- and have a door that locks so they will be safe.
Also tomorrow, I will be going shopping with some of the volunteers from Hero Holidays so that the new homes will be be furnished with a washing machine, beds, linens and groceries. I will report on that tomorrow.
Gale Beeby is the editor of the Star's New in Homes & Condos section and has a fascination for anything to do with construction, building, city planning, design and decor.
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