We started our day with a visit to the local Habitat for Humanity office where we were briefed on the process for determining how houses were allocated to families. The Paraguay program builds approximately 100 houses a year and provides housing upgrades for an additional 400 families a year. This with a small office and staff of 40.
The staff walked us through what a normal family would experience when applying to be a Habitat family – from financing to house size, right down to the kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Families can also request certain upgrades such as tiles.
Later when we arrived at the build site, the masons were already hard at work laying the foundational bricks.
While the masons were laying bricks some of us were tasked with digging the latrine and cesspool. With no residential sewage service in this area, the indoor toilet will be connected to a latrine and cesspool system.
The day ended with a very exhausted team. The temp was 33C and the humidity was high with almost no wind.
Dinner tonight was very special. We were hosted by the local harp music school. The harp is the national instrument of Paraguay. The practice room doubles as a makeshift restaurant in the evening and often the students will play for the customers. Because we were a big group we had the place to ourselves. The young musician, Adrian, was very talented and played for us a combination of traditional Paraguayan music and contemporary songs like the Beatles and Coldplay.
The night of amazing BBQ food and music ended with an impromptu jam session of Adrian, one of our volunteers, our driver and the Habitat volunteer coordinator.
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