Haiti needs a solid foundation

[CementTrust]

The crumbling concrete is a testament to a couple of issues that need
to be addressed before we start rebuilding.

1. We must stop the mixing of cement on the ground and provide them
with the proper concrete mixing tools and consistent recipes for good
concrete. Link to a post the explains problem:
http://cementtrust.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/concrete-crisis-in-haiti/

2. Train masons and concrete workers as to the importance of not
skimping on Portland cement powder in their concrete recipes. Teach
them the poor results from adding too much water to their concrete
mixes that weaken the concrete.

If we don't fix the basic concrete production processes, we will see
foundations fail and walls crumble down again.

We have a team of concrete mixer designers who have worked on a mixer
for Haiti. It was developed to fit within the "Bucket-Brigade" style
of concrete construction that is used in Haiti. It provides a system
for making consistent batches of concrete for foundations, walls,
columns and roofs.
A link to a slide presentation on the mixer:
http://cementtrust.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/a-mixer-for-haiti/

We want to be a part of the solution to Haiti crumbling concrete, and
will work with any group that needs quality concrete that can be
produced by Haitians.

[Ivan Olsen]

First thank you Cement Trust for this important information.

I have booked marked your site and will be trying

to get some NGO to partner with me to buy one of you 

new designed for Haiti Mixers so we can loan it to others.

Second the hard reality of life as it really is in Haiti.

The normal average Haitian normally will never here about this.

And even if they do they will not pay the money to rent one from

an NGO or local entrepreneur business person.

The biggest percentage of person mixing the cement on the ground is a home owner

or a day labor, NOT a mason or trained concreat worker.

I even bought if the trained Mason would pay to rent one of these

when he can pay a day laborers for much less money.

EDUCATION, education, EDUCATION.

For this knowledge to ever have ANY kind of effect on the normal

Haitian contractor AND the Day labor work force.

Their must be small classes in all the communities AND

the CAMPS throughout Haiti, with very simple comic book type instructions

in Creole and English (French is worthless) AND there

must be DVD maid in Creole, and possibly english subtitles.

WHY English.........well who (NGO) is paying the Haitian to rebuild

and what language do they speak???? (enough said)

Remember its not just the Haitians that we must educate

about a new and better way to rebuild Haiti.

And i can help you make the DVD, or better yet hire the

students at Cine Institute in Jacmel.

Money must be found to get these into the communities

so people can rent them at cost OR subsided rate.

They have got to be EASY to find and extremely affordable,

to change a 100+ years of construction culture.

The best of luck in changing Haitian Construction Culture.

Just the thoughts of one guy.

Ivan in CA and hopefully in Haiti this year.

[Bruce]

Ivan,

 

Thank you for your interest in this issue and for following CementTrust and the new Concrete MD.

We are shooting video of the MD today, so I will send you a link to the final video when it is completed.

 

Our suggestion to USAID, the government of Haiti and other larger NGO’s is to fund the distribution of many of these mixers around the country for rebuilding efforts. These units would stay during the initial push for building permanent housing and then will be left behind for Haitian entrepreneurs to use for a business opportunity.

 

Of course, we will also provide Concrete MD’s and the Concrete CUBE (http://www.concretecube.com/) to any organization who will find the technology useful to completing their projects.  We already have 1 of the CUBE mixers down in POP building a school and hospital.

 

I agree with you that EDUCATION is the key, but the Haitian people are in a great position to accept the value of building with better concrete. After living through the crumbling of the poor concrete from the past, they should be ready to accept an better way of producing concrete.

 

I would love your assistance in creating training videos and materials that are appropriate to Haitian culture and understanding.  How would we start that project?

 

Bruce Christensen

b...@cart-away.com

503-434-4444 office

 

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