A brick mason from Canada uses his vacation to lend his skills to help build a Habitat home. A large portion of the construction for Habitat is done by volunteers. Both International and Local teams assist in whatever ways they can. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
International volunteers come to the Dominican to give of their time, strength and money to help keep housing costs down for families in need. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
Habitat for Humanity is a very well-respected NGO in the communities. Always eager to participate in Habitat projects, some school kids hitch a ride on the back of a Habitat truck. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
Finding adequate tools is not always easy in the Dominican and local tradesmen use whatever tools they can find. For example, a team of men use a self-made “guinche�, a gas powered contraption that mixes concrete and then lifts it onto the roof to pour into the forms above. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
According to Habitat, more than 1 million Dominican families live in sub-standard housing. Families are often forced to construct their homes with salvaged materials. The result is an unstable shack incapable of withstanding the hurricanes that plague the island each fall. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
A local site supervisor bends rebar, which is used to reinforce the concrete blocks that Habitat uses in the construction of every home. By reinforcing the concrete, the houses are stronger and better able to withstand earthquakes. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
After mixing the concrete, the guinche lifts the mixture through the tower. A second member of the team releases the mixture and pours it into the wooden forms for the roof. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
As the sun sets, family members gather around a newly inaugurated Habitat home. Community members and friends gather at Habitat inaugurations to celebrate with the recipient family. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
Habitat National Director, Hector Fernandez, and a fellow board member (far right) cut the inaugural ribbon of a home in San Juan. The homeowner is a single mother of four daughters. This is her first time ever owning a home. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
Habitat National Director, Hector Fernandez, addresses the the crowd gathered at the inauguration ceremony for nine families. Habitat advocates that a safe and secure home is a fundamental right of all families. However, most families are unable to access bank financing to either buy or build their own homes. Habitat assists these families own their own homes through volunteer labour, donated materials, and by negotiating low interest rates from financial donors. Barahona, Dominican - 2010
During colonialism, European powers instituted the cultivation of sugar throughout the colonies, one of which was the Dominican Republic Sugar production has remained a significant portion of the Dominican economy even until today. Despite the financial contribution to the Dominican GDP, the living conditions in the sugar cane fields are among the worst in the country. Those who work the fields also live on the very same plantations. They form communities called batays. Most batays are made up of illegal immigrants from Haiti and are entirely creole speaking. San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican - 2010
The inauguration ribbon is cut during a ceremony to celebrate the dedication of a Habitat home. Since it opened its doors in the Dominican in 1986, Habitat has helped over 3400 families access dignified housing either by new home constructions or through improvement projects. Barahona, Dominican - 2010
The majority of Habitat housing constructions are single-family dwellings. However, Habitat developed a pilot project in Nagua in which they constructed five apartment buildings and two individual housing units. 22 families in total benefited from the project. Nagua, Dominican - 2010
The youth who live on sugar cane plantations have little to no opportunity apart from continuing in the work of their parents - cultivating sugar cane for global export. There is no schooling available to them and often times they do not speak the local spanish language since many of the families are illegal Haitian immigrants. In these conditions it is nearly impossible for young people to break the cycle of poverty that has afflicted their families for generations. San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican - 2010
Despite living in some of the worst housing conditions on the island and after having worked in a sugar cane plantation presumably for his entire life, this man lends me his earnest smile. San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican - 2010
Joy is evident on the face of a woman as she receives her portion of the inaugural ribbon. Without Habitat, many of these families would never have the means to afford a home of their own. Barahona, Dominican - 2010
International volunteers come to the Dominican to give of their time, strength and money to help keep housing costs down for families in need. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
A brick mason from Canada uses his vacation to lend his skills to help build a Habitat home. A large portion of the construction for Habitat is done by volunteers. Both International and Local teams assist in whatever ways they can. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
The majority of Habitat housing constructions are single-family dwellings. However, Habitat developed a pilot project in Nagua in which they constructed five apartment buildings and two individual housing units. 22 families in total benefited from the project. Nagua, Dominican - 2010
Finding adequate tools is not always easy in the Dominican and local tradesmen use whatever tools they can find. For example, a team of men use a self-made “guinche�, a gas powered contraption that mixes concrete and then lifts it onto the roof to pour into the forms above. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
Habitat National Director, Hector Fernandez, addresses the the crowd gathered at the inauguration ceremony for nine families. Habitat advocates that a safe and secure home is a fundamental right of all families. However, most families are unable to access bank financing to either buy or build their own homes. Habitat assists these families own their own homes through volunteer labour, donated materials, and by negotiating low interest rates from financial donors.
Habitat for Humanity is a very well-respected NGO in the communities. Always eager to participate in Habitat projects, some school kids hitch a ride on the back of a Habitat truck. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
Barahona, Dominican - 2010
During colonialism, European powers instituted the cultivation of sugar throughout the colonies, one of which was the Dominican Republic Sugar production has remained a significant portion of the Dominican economy even until today. Despite the financial contribution to the Dominican GDP, the living conditions in the sugar cane fields are among the worst in the country. Those who work the fields also live on the very same plantations. They form communities called batays. Most batays are made up of illegal immigrants from Haiti and are entirely creole speaking. San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican - 2010
According to Habitat, more than 1 million Dominican families live in sub-standard housing. Families are often forced to construct their homes with salvaged materials. The result is an unstable shack incapable of withstanding the hurricanes that plague the island each fall.
A local site supervisor bends rebar, which is used to reinforce the concrete blocks that Habitat uses in the construction of every home. By reinforcing the concrete, the houses are stronger and better able to withstand earthquakes. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
After mixing the concrete, the guinche lifts the mixture through the tower. A second member of the team releases the mixture and pours it into the wooden forms for the roof. San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
The inauguration ribbon is cut during a ceremony to celebrate the dedication of a Habitat home. Since it opened its doors in the Dominican in 1986, Habitat has helped over 3400 families access dignified housing either by new home constructions or through improvement projects. Barahona, Dominican - 2010
The youth who live on sugar cane plantations have little to no opportunity apart from continuing in the work of their parents - cultivating sugar cane for global export. There is no schooling available to them and often times they do not speak the local spanish language since many of the families are illegal Haitian immigrants. In these conditions it is nearly impossible for young people to break the cycle of poverty that has afflicted their families for generations. San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican - 2010
As the sun sets, family members gather around a newly inaugurated Habitat home. Community members and friends gather at Habitat inaugurations to celebrate with the recipient family.
Habitat National Director, Hector Fernandez, and a fellow board member (far right) cut the inaugural ribbon of a home in San Juan. The homeowner is a single mother of four daughters. This is her first time ever owning a home.
San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican - 2010
Joy is evident on the face of a woman as she receives her portion of the inaugural ribbon. Without Habitat, many of these families would never have the means to afford a home of their own. Barahona, Dominican - 2010
Despite living in some of the worst housing conditions on the island and after having worked in a sugar cane plantation presumably for his entire life, this man lends me his earnest smile. San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican - 2010