This feels so right

Director of Internal Communications Cathy Kuehner, June 7, 2011: It's been 17 months since the earthquake in Haiti, and to a first-time visitor it is difficult to imagine what Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area looked like before the quake, and what it looks like today is too much to process. What is easy to see is why it is so right for Shenandoah University to do what it can to help one school rebuild. It cannot be over-stated that educating current and future generations of Haitian children will play a large part in this country's ultimate success. We may not see that success in our lifetime, but we have to believe it will happen.

Over the past three days, Shenandoah University President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Director of Physical Plant Gene Fisher, Winchester-based architect David Ganse, AIA, and Winchester-based engineer Jody Fox, PE, have put in long days, meeting with founder and principal of College Catherine Flon Willio Saint-Fort as well as administrators and teachers from the school. They've met with a local contractor and people who explained local building codes and government "norms" for construction. They have asked hard questions and intently listened.

College Catherine Flon (CCF) occupies four small plots of land all located along one road in Carrefour. Almost 5,000 students ranging in age from 3 to adult attend CCF. They used to attend school in respectable buildings; today classes are held in wood-framed structures covered in tarps.

Shenandoah University, which is committed to being a responsible neighbor in Winchester as well as places around the world, will help College Catherine Flon rebuild, because it is the right thing to do. Once you see the school, its dedicated administrators and faculty and most of all its students, you know it in your heart.

Now we have hope

Architect David Ganse, AIA, June 7, 2011: Common theme among our Haitian friends: “Now we have hope,” “Rejoice…our dream is coming true!” Every class to which we were introduced chanted this. We are all humbled, gratified and deeply touched by goodness we’ve been shown. Meeting with administrators was exceptional. It’s apparent Headmaster Willio Saint-Fort relies on the individual expertise of his trusted core staff members. Building program continues to evolve for both sites. Refining program objectives this evening in preparation for a morning meeting with Mr. Saint-Fort to reach final accord on his overall objectives. Have started the conceptual design… Yahooooo!

Architect's first impressions of CCF

Architect David Ganse, AIA, June 6, 2011: Greetings from Haiti. Our host estimates removal of perhaps 20 percent of the debris and rubble thus far; still looks like a battle zone. Construction machinery is almost non-existent. We observed workers with sledgehammers pecking on the roof of the Presidential Palace; seems absurd.
Today, June 6, was full and productive. We met with a rep of the education ministry over a fabulous cup of Haitian coffee; then with a building contractor capable of a project of this magnitude. Both meetings were to discuss “Norms”; their term for codes and standards. It’s apparent the education ministry has a clear objective and clearly believes the future of their nation relies on educating their youth. Norms for building construction are non-existent.
Off to College Catherine Flon to view a typical day on campus and discuss design objectives with school administrators. Turns out we will be designing an elementary school on another site as well. The site has been cleared and makeshift space has been fashioned from wood and tarps provided by USAID; essentially an enormous tent.
Below the roof is a sea of UNICEF bench desks filled with students of all ages dressed in crisp white shirts and gray slacks and skirts; over 50 to a classroom. It’s loud, hot, vibrating with energy.

Engineer suggests new building material

Jody Fox, PE, June 7, 2001: The amount of debris and devastation is breathtaking. It’s obvious the historic construction of lightly reinforced concrete columns and beams, which are instilled with low-quality concrete block, will not work in this high seismic region. The construction is brittle and easily broken by vibrations and movement. The construction is heavy which introduces very high loads when the building shakes.
For the College Catherine Flon, we are introducing a new construction technology to the area. We are proposing to use light-weight cold-formed metal for walls and floors and roofs. The floors are to be covered with a thin layer of concrete and the roofs covered with metal roofing panels.
By using light-weight materials, the building won’t be as stressed by shaking from earthquakes. The cold-formed metal will give and not be highly damaged. While the new product will need to be shipped to Haiti – Does anyone have a good construct to help us ship it for free or at low cost? – the construction can be done manually and is labor intensive. These buildings should take advantage of the highly available local work force and will therefore fuel the local economy.
We discussed this concept in great details with a reputable local builder, and he was very excited. When questioned about cost, he believes it would actually be less expensive than traditional Haitian building methods.
Perhaps we can introduce a new building technology to Haiti to yield safer buildings at a lower cost. There will surely be a learning curve, but if the project is successful, we will make a difference in how buildings are built in Haiti: safer and cost effective. Eventually, if the construction method takes hold, local entrepreneurs may set up shops that would roll the cold-formed metal shapes from flat sheet steel, creating more job opportunities here – and a ready supply of this important building material.

Never underestimate the human spirit

Director of Physical Plant Gene Fisher, June 5, 2011: It’s good to return and see friends we made 15 months ago. The school site has been cleared of rubble and Mr. Willio Saint-Fort has the school functioning again with wood frames and tarps. Dave Ganse, AIA, and Jody Fox, PE, have donated their services in Shenandoah’s efforts to rebuild the facilities at College Catherine Flon. We are meeting with local contractors – people who can help establish the availability of materials and methods for rebuilding. Dr. Jacques Bartoli, our gracious host, has been very informative on how we can proceed and obtain information relating to construction issues.
We visited Meloonda’s home today, June 5. This little girl, who was severely injured by the earthquake, was examined last fall by doctors who used the latest technology and reported she would probably not recover much functionality at all. Regardless, Shenandoah’s physical therapy and occupational therapy faculty and staff proceeded to give care and therapy to Meloonda. Now, 17 months after the quake, Meloonda’s smile and amazing desire to live are remarkable. She is doing things that have surprised our faculty and students. It is a reminder to me that the human soul cannot be measured by our technology and expertise. We are hopeful for her continued improvements.

Saying goodbye to Meloonda and her family

Port-au-Prince has dried out quicky, and the dust and unending traffic is back. When we arrived, everything was wet.... the floors of houses were wet, the tent cities were a mud pit, and the drainage ditches were overflowing. The Bregard's tent had blown away in the hurricane and their hut was leaking inside onto their beds. The sun and heat of yesterday were welcomed by everyone.

We returned to work with Meloonda -- this time teaching her mother how to do the exercises to stretch her muscles, how to "ring-sit" in order for Meloonda to learn to hold herself up while playing, how to use the "stander" so that Meloonda is not always in a sitting position, and how to transfer the seat from the indoor wheelchair base to the all-terrain wheelchair base. Stephanie and Lauren also worked with her mother about safe feeding and drinking techniques and how to encourage swallowing -- in order to prevent aspiration.

The good-byes were emotional all around.... it is good to see Meloonda back with her family, but all of us at Shenandoah and in Winchester that have worked with her and loved on her are going to carry her in our hearts for a long time.

Meloonda's therapy at SU concludes. The Bregards, accompanied by a team from SU, return to Haiti.

Physical Therapists, Stephanie & Lauren, write:

All the rehab team did an impressively comprehensive job working with Meloonda directly as well as preparing the educational materials and equipment for this adventure. Yesterday at Meloonda's house here in Haiti, we got all the equipment assembled while Meloonda and her mother got reacquainted. It was also very heartwarming to see how Meloonda's sister responded to Meloonda's return. Very sweet.

Those here in Haiti, who knew Meloonda prior to her rehab trip to the states immediately remarked on the improvements in her head control, her ability to open her mouth for feeding and ability to reach.

Today Lauren and I have laid out a plan for education and instruction focusing on safe swallowing (positioning to minimize risk of aspiration), the importance of changing position (prone, out of chair, standing etc) and review of use of the equipment. We will also be making some field adaptions to the seating system.

The hurricane blew away their former tent, but the family acquired two days ago a new (and better) tent and tarp. Unfortunately, most of Mr. Bregard's books were water damaged by the storm.

Good for all here that the rains appear to have stopped today -- this country sure needs a break.