Community Building

Students from Becker College and Boston University work on a house in Grand Goâve, Haiti, as part of their Britsionary service trip

This past week, we at Be Like Brit were fortunate enough to host a group of 22 students and faculty from both Becker College and Boston University through our Britsionary program.  This was our first group of this size and our first venture into hosting a group coming from two different places.  Being able to brings these two groups together to work towards a common goal proved that despite where we come from and what differences we may have, we all can be a force in strengthening communities together.

We started out the week with some intense labor, in true Britsionary fashion.  As many of you know, we at Be Like Brit are committed to community enrichment and reciprocity - giving back to those who have given so much of themselves throughout the process of building Be Like Brit and helping us to feel welcome here in Grand Goâve.  Part of this community enrichment piece is reaching out to a local family or two and identifying a need, brainstorming, and together with the family deciding how we can best serve them.  This week we were able to join forces and help two families in very simple but very meaningful ways.

Gama, our "Clerk of the Works" helps secure tarps to keep the house dry during Haiti's heavy rains

With the help of Gama, our groups were able to find two families in need.  Many families live in one and two room "houses" made up of little more than sticks, banana leaves and mud.  With the rainy season just around the corner, Gama thought it would be helpful to help make two of these houses a bit more secure by wrapping them in tarps and rope in order to protect the children and families inside.  These tarps cost little more than $20.00 each, but would otherwise be unobtainable for the families to whom they now provide added shelter.

While our groups were busy building relationships with members from the community, it was also great to see how these two groups sort of became one throughout the course of their Britsionary experience.  It's not always easy to bring large numbers of people together in a place which demands so much from you both emotionally and physically.  These two groups of college students, along with several faculty members did a great job at coming to Haiti to do the kind of work that Brit felt so passionate about!

The end result!

Securing the walls.

 The two groups took things beyond just protecting the family and their house from the elements! While touring their respective houses, the students noticed that neither family had proper table and chairs for dining, and asked if the families could benefit from this sort of contribution.  After it was decided that this would be useful, the teams went out and purchased the necessary supplies to build each of the families they were helping a much needed table and chairs.  They even built a crib for one of our security guards who recently had a baby and was sleeping on the floor!  It's this kind of work that makes all of us here at Be Like Brit proud and exactly the kind of project that keeps Brit's spirit alive and strong!

A very proud group!

Another part of our Britsionary program includes the building of a given number of homes per year in the community of Grand Goâve.  This year, we have plans to build four houses!  Our groups from Becker and Boston University helped with an important first step:  Building a security wall!  The groups started by loading blocks by hand into the pickup truck, hauling them up the mountain, and laying them out one by one. This is an arduous and labor intensive task!  Aside from the unforgiving Haiti sun, the group found themselves up against a mighty force.  Tarantulas! Our Haitian crews got a good laugh at watching the students scatter every time they found one - which was rather often!

Blocks (and spiders!) 

We're very proud of our Britsionary groups!  Every group we host is different.  Some get along great, some take longer to warm up to each other and form a sense of group identity.  These two groups of young adults had quite a few differences - yet as the week progressed, the common bond they shared allowed them to form an organic solidarity - a natural transformation born out of the desire to serve others less fortunate.  Through their compassion, their differences were set aside, and the work they did delivered real, necessary and lasting change to families a world away.  Indeed, their presence here in Grand Goâve from a far away place will not soon be forgotten.  We are so very grateful to them for their service, and their commitment to "Be Like Brit".

For more information on our short-term or long-term Britsionary programs, please go to our website at www.belikebrit.org/britsionary

Please enjoy some more photos from the week, and as always, thanks for reading!

Jonathan