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Haiti Fundraising Pays for Local Group’s Skills Training, Volunteer’s Construction Expertise
ACDI/VOCA recently completed a seismic safe construction training program—funded by the generosity of people like you—for local trainers and construction workers in Haiti’s Southeast Department.
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ACDI/VOCA volunteer Kent Allen trains students at APTECH in seismic and hurricane-resistant building techniques. Photographer: ACDI/VOCA-Haiti |
Kent Allen, a volunteer from Wyoming with extensive experience in seismic safe construction, traveled to Haiti last month and trained 40 local trainers and area craftsmen in light construction, seismic and hurricane-resistant building techniques, and how to assess materials used for various types of construction.
This four-week hands-on training is part of a six-month job training program designed by APTECH (Ateliers Pilotes de Technologie), a Haitian educational association, to help train workers in new building techniques crucial to this earthquake-prone region.
Both training efforts are paid for by REACH (Rural Economy Acceleration in Haiti), the small-grants program funded through donations to the VOCA Fund in the aftermath of the Jan. 12 Haiti earthquake.
“We’re thankful to the generous ACDI/VOCA community for making our fundraising for REACH a resounding success,” says Haiti Chief of Party Emmet Murphy. “We’re excited that we’ve awarded the first funds and have the ball rolling to help Haitians get needed job skills and improve local construction standards.”
Haitian Construction Workers Benefit
In September, APTECH, which provides training and skills building for technicians and artisans in Southeast Haiti, received the first REACH grant of $41,000 to cover the expenses of classes and materials to train 40 students over six months in earthquake and hurricane-resistant construction skills.
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Allen and the students celebrate the successful training. Photographer: ACDI/VOCA-Haiti |
Then in October, Allen, a construction expert with 30+ years’ experience teaching applied technology in construction at the vocational school and university level, traveled to Haiti and volunteered his time and expertise to provide technical assistance to strengthen APTECH’s curriculum and help train the workers.
The result: a solid six-month training curriculum on construction, one of the crucial areas where skilled workers are needed to help rebuild Haiti.
“At this time, it is obvious that APTECH has a solid footing in construction, manufacturing and teaching from which it can continue to expand its service to the Jacmel area,” says Allen, who will continue to support APTECH’s training efforts by supplying needed reference materials and helping to have the materials translated into Creole.
Your Donations Make a Difference
ACDI/VOCA designed REACH to disburse small grants to local Haitian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the Jacmel region to create jobs and aid job training.
See more photos of volunteer Kent Allen working with the REACH students.
