Pana Project

Marc:

Taking 19 SAIT students and instructors to Guatemala for two weeks is a bit of a crazy dream. In my experience, crazy dreams can turn into nightmares, but luckily they can also morph into beautiful reveries.

We set out a very ambitious program prior to leaving for Guatemala, but once we arrived in Panajachel and assessed the conditions on the ground, our group took on even more work… and did so with huge smiles and enthusiasm (“Bring it on!” being the phrase I heard most often).

In our second week in Guatemala the group met Teresa, a Mayan woman who cooks for Mayan Families’ Elderly Feeding Program in San Jorge, a village near Panajachel. When I was in Guatemala last year, Sharon (of Mayan Families) told me that Teresa had recently been widowed, had six children, and was sleeping on the floor of her parents’ home for half the week and her in-laws’ for the other half. One year later, Teresa’s situation remained the same. Mayan Families had started to build a house for her on her own small piece of land in the town center, but the donated money brought the walls up no higher than three feet. In discussing her situation with our SAIT students, we all decided that we had to put an end to her cycle of homelessness.

Within 24 hours we had collected $2050 amongst the group. The next day at 8 am Mayan Families delivered building materials to Teresa’s site, and the SAIT students started building under the supervision of Alfonso, a Mayan builder. We worked on the house for 9 hours a day for 4 days, building walls, making concrete beams, bending rebar, and stirring and pouring concrete. By the end of the week the house had full walls, and the money we collected should be enough for Alfonso to complete the roof. We will continue to raise an additional $1500 so that plumbing and electricity for a kitchen and washroom can be added. Teresa will finally have the chance to live in her own house, on her own land, where she and her children can begin to rebuild their lives.

I was so impressed with the enthusiasm with which our students tackled this project. Not only were they helping out a wonderful family, they were also putting their hard earned architectural skills to work. These students have spent 1½ years in classes at SAIT, drawing concrete, rebar, and formwork. Now they were actually building these things and learning at the same time. When we spend our lives making drawings of hypothetical buildings, it is too easy to forget that each line on the page represents a building material. Each line drawn should be getting the students one step closer to a final product, and in the case of the San Jorge house, the final product became Teresa’s impossible dream: a home for her and her children.

Our students can take satisfaction in knowing that they have forever changed the course of one Mayan family. More importantly, they now realize how they can change the world… one concrete block at a time.

Before leaving for Guatemala I had very high expectations for the outcomes of this trip. I then spent two weeks with the most ambitious, fun loving, devoted, and caring group of students that ever was. I am so proud to have been part of this expedition and proud to be part of the Architectural Technologies program and the institution that continues to allow us to dream up great things.

The reality of this trip, however, was far greater than the dream.

Señorita My:

March 1st: Day 12

8 in the morning and once again we were on Guatemala time, waiting to go to the Mayan Families carpentry shop to build a multi-purpose hope chest for a child in need. Mayan Families has been giving out simple hope chests to poor young Mayan children for a few years now. In the old design, the top opens up to hold a child’s belongings within, and a small mattress sits on top of the chest and becomes the child’s bed. The new hope chest that Paul, Jason, and I designed features side panels that stretch out of the top to accommodate an older child, doors on the front, a space for the mattress inside, and 2 multi-purpose drawers that can also be used as stools, making the chest also function as a desk.

When we arrived at the shop the doors were locked, so we had time to talk to Michael, the American resident carpenter, about his background and how he came to live in Guatemala and become part of Mayan Families. When Carlos, the Guatemalan carpenter, finally arrived, we set to work… right on schedule… according to Guatemalan time.

After an hour of discussing and sketching, we finally started cutting wood, only taking a break mid-morning for the common Guatemalan treat of frozen choco-bananas. We then began construction. As wood is at more of a premium than time in Guatemala, we saved all the scraps from our glitches and used them for other parts of our construction. After 6 hours of work, we were all drained, hungry, and dehydrated. We had worked so hard that we skipped lunch and didn’t even drink any water.

In the end, however, we had an awesome day. At first I was intimidated by Michael, but by the end of the day he was showing his good sense of humour, and we became comrades. Many thanks to him and Carlos for all the help and time they put in with us. I was very touched and thankful when Michael dedicated the newly designed hope chest to me and Jason. I am going to miss everyone. I hope to see you guys again soon!

Señorita Kayla:

This morning I was with a small group of students who met with Molly Molander, a local architect. As an American who married a Guatemalan and is now a longtime resident, her outlook on architecture in the area is inspiring. Her work consists of 70% high end residential and 30% non-profit community work. This is a model that many of us in the group hope to emulate in the future.

To start off the morning Molly toured us around her office spaces, showing us her models, the plotter she uses, and samples of various finishes. I really enjoyed learning about the regional tiles. We also had an opportunity to meet and speak with her son Santiago, who told us about his experiences growing up in Guatemala.

We then gathered around a rustic table, where we had a question and answer period with Molly. One student was curious about the politics of construction in Guatemala. Molly made it clear to us that property ownership can be difficult to govern, but as far as building code is concerned, there are no limitations. One would think this would be a good thing for an architect, who wouldn’t have to worry about getting bogged down in development, but for Molly this is a major concern because anyone can design a house and building conditions can be completely unsafe. She did mention, however, that the Guatemalan government has recently put in place a guideline that buildings are to be a maximum of 3 storeys high due to the lack of constructions laws.

We asked about the cultural challenges Molly faces when designing in Guatemala. We wondered if she has any difficulties negotiating between the indigenous aesthetic and modern technologies. Molly loves the local materials, though, and said that her Mayan workers are talented and interested in learning new ways to build. There are times when the process  moves very slowly, she admitted, but she has long since settled into the “Guatever” kind of vibe. She said something that surprised us, too. We were sad to see many new concrete block homes being built, but Molly explained that many see concrete block as security and progress. While adobe, a beautiful brick made of mud and pine needles, has been used by the Maya for traditional housebuilding for centuries (and is also “bullet-proof,” as Molly noted), after the last major earthquake in 1976, many people are afraid of it.

Señora Jude:

I must have been tiresome when I first returned to Guatemala this year because I likely went on and on about our previous visit last year. But my “We did this” and “We did that” was soon after arrival replaced by “They’ve done this” and “They’ve done that.” Every day I’m in awe of the energy and commitment of the 14 students and 4 instructors who are on this volunteer trip.

Everything was as expected in Antigua when we were still touristas, but it seemed that our first day in Panajachel and our visit to the nearby Mayan village of Tierra Linda changed everything. Playing with the kids and experiencing the remoteness of a village that can practically be seen from Pana, but in essence is a world apart, began the transformation of our psyches. The kids there love seeing their faces on our cameras, so it’s pretty easy to get their photographs and begin to integrate. The SAIT students went further, though, singing songs to the preschool children, playing with the elementary school kids, and helping the high schoolers with their English lessons. The town is pretty poor and eye-opening, but we all seem to carry that place away in our hearts. The Maya are a gentle people, and nowhere more so than in Tierra Linda.

The other village that holds special meaning for me is San Jorge, where the students built a house for Teresa, took photos of the children in the preschool and helped them make their own frames, and installed Liter of Light bottles. For me, however, it’s being with the elderly San Jorge women that always chokes me up. I don’t know if I have grandmother envy or what, but I melt when they greet and hug me. After SAIT sponsored a lunch, after which we interviewed the women, a few “ancianas” went to Gloria, who translated for us from Kaqchiquel to Spanish, and asked her to “tell Jude that we don’t have any food for breakfast or supper.”

Lastly, I must tell you about Claudia. I’ve seen the Claudia’s Story film on the Mayan Families site a few times, but meeting the young San Jorge girl in person… well… just let me say a word to Phil here: Keep the extra bedroom clean in case Claudia shows up at our door one day. She is a sweet and smart girl who didn’t start school (and didn’t understand a word of Spanish) until she was 10, and at the age of 14 she’s even starting to pick up a little English. She takes care of her elderly grandmother who is going blind, and she has no other family. She became my special friend and loved my TV… I mean me.

Last year I had a sincere hope that I could sustain my passion and desire to help and become friends with the Mayan people of the Panajachel region, and this year I know that the energy of 18 others will carry the project and the passion forward, perhaps forever.

Señorita Michelle:

Day 2: We started the day in Antigua with what was supposed to be a 2 hour walking tour, but it turned out to be an ambitious 6 hour excursion led by the instructors. It was interesting because the town really spoke to us as students of architecture. It was like walking through a historical museum of architecture (basically it was a live Arch History class).

The large church in Antigua has been rebuilt 17 times! In fact the entire town has pretty much been destroyed 5 times in major earthquakes, prompting the government to eventually move the capital to Guatemala City. We enjoyed the comedic aspect of our tour through the ruins behind the church with Roberto, our most amusing and eccentric tour guide.

…. Okay, this is how busy I’ve been. I started my blog on day 2, and it’s now D-day minus 3 and we’re almost packing up to go.

Yesterday we had a full work day in the small village of San Jorge. We took on 3 projects there: Liter of Light install, photograph and frame project with the kids at the preschool, and the continuation of Teresa’s house build.

Our debut installation took place at the community centre, where Mayan Families has an elderly feeding program. This centre is special for us because we had the opportunity to hear the stories and the struggles of the women who come here for their daily meal, which for some is the only meal of the day. Listening to the women’s stories about their lives during and after the civil war humbled me and made me realize how lucky we are. Many poor people must focus their attention and their small earnings on their children, so while the Maya have a very sociable culture, often there is no choice but to neglect the elderly.

We installed our first Liter of Light in Rosa’s and Teresa’s small, hot, dark kitchen, where a dim incandescent bulb burns all day, which for families means that their electricity costs are usually between 1/6 to 1/4 of a family’s income. SAIT students’ reactions to the dramatic change in the light ranged from “Holy S—!” to “Holy S—!” Although Marc kept telling everyone they couldn’t say “Holy S—!” on film, we couldn’t think of any other way to describe our feelings on seeing the light flood the room. We went on to install 2 more in the other kitchen, after which we moved on to our inaugural residential install… at a blind women’s house. To explain, though, she has a daughter who isn’t blind. Marc asked the daughter if she’d like a second LOL, and she said she would ask her mother. The blind mother replied, “No we are fine,” leaving the rest of the house in darkness.

We returned to the preschool, where a small group had the opportunity to meet young Mayan children and spend a chaotic time doing arts and crafts. We brought picture frames for the kids to decorate and took portraits of the kids to place inside. As we didn’t know this village’s language, it taught us to communicate non-verbally. This was a new and rewarding challenge to organize 60 kids from ages 3 to 5, based solely on hand and facial expressions.

It was another successful day on the house build site. The crew completed the form work and poured the concrete beam. In the meantime, the previous wall pour from yesterday was cured, and the crew installed 4 courses of concrete block. There was a challenge between Josh’s and Alfonso’s (our foreman’s) trowelling techniques, with Josh coming in a close second. It was a long hard day of work motivated by a great cause!

After a strenuous day, we gathered for beers and burgers at the local Pana pub and discussed the outcomes of a fantastic day in San Jorge!!

Señorita Ashley:

Today is our designated house building day! As half of us are lazing by the pool and soaking up some sunshine, the rest of the group is in San Jorge doing some hard manual labour.

We split into two groups for the day – one for the morning, one for the afternoon. Our day started bright and early. We met at eight to head to the site, but as per Guatemalan time we didn’t leave until a little after eight thirty. Nothing here seems to ever be on time, and I keep forgetting to be late myself. That extra sleep would have been nice.

The site we went to go work on belongs to a Mayan woman named Teresa, a widow who has six children and no house to live in. One has started to be built for her, but as per a lack of funds it has only been built about halfway. We decided to take on some of the project, to see if we could help bring it a little bit closer to completion. We’re all pretty excited to be working on it, and eager to get things done. I think it’s a really great cause, and that is what is just so motivating about the project.

After unloading a truck full of materials, James, Robin, Chris, Paul and I started working on forming some of the rebar for the concrete beams. We were a little slow at first, but started to get the hang of it by the time the others showed up. I took this cue as an opportunity to go take a look at the pre-school with My, Heather, Jason, and Brady.

The school day was just ending so there were still a lot of children there when we arrived. Boy, let me tell you – they were the sweetest little kids ever. We took some pictures, and they all just crowded around us and got so excited about the cameras. We wandered up to the roof of the building where we all stood in a circle and sang some songs. I have no idea what we were singing, but I’m pretty sure we went through a Spanish version of head, shoulders, knees and toes (knees and toes). We then played a few games, and I got chased around by one of the little boys. I went in about two circles before I ran out of breath. I’m not sure if this is a cause of the elevation, or if maybe this is a sign I should lay off the fried chicken.

We then proceeded to lunch, prepared by Teresa. She cooks for the elderly Mayan women, who hike down to get lunch 5 days a week. It’s a program run by Mayan Families, and we were lucky enough to get to join them for some amazing food. We got to ask them a few questions afterwards. It was a little funny having a translator to translate our translator, as none of the elderly women spoke Spanish or English. We couldn’t understand a word they said, but even so, they were very endearing. A few of us got some nice kisses on the cheek as we parted and said our goodbyes (mine was a nice wet one).

All the people here are just so wonderful. I wish I could go into more detail, but I don’t know if there is a way to explain how amazing everything is here without writing an entire book.

Señor Brady:

Since we are extremely busy with all of our amazing projects our blog has suffered a little as a result. To keep you all updated on our adventures this will be a general recap of the first week’s activities.

After leaving Antigua we made our way to Panajachel (Pana) to begin working on Litre of Light, Hope Chest, and volunteering with Mayan Families. On our arrival we were greeted with a feast fit for a king at the Mayan Families compound. Women in traditional dress served us the most delicious chicken, beans, and fried plantains and finished the evening with the most sumptuous fresh vanilla ice-cream. During the meal we were introduced to the Mayan Families organization, and Jude was given the chance to present the Pana Project she worked on with Christine.

The next day we awoke with zest after being amped up by the previous evening. The group of us traveled to a small Mayan village named “ Tierra Linda”, which is located just up the hill from Pana, but because of the rugged landscape it feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of the town. In the village we had the opportunity to visit several schools, including a pre-school, which I think it is safe to say was a very special experience for all of us. The children sang us some very cute songs. We were able to provide each child with a toothbrush and toothpaste, and they couldn’t have been more appreciative. We hiked back to Pana on a path that Mayan people have been using for centuries, and we were submerged in the flora and fauna of the region. Once we reached the bottom of the mountain the group dispersed and several students, myself included, went to a cooking class, while others went to help build a house with a group of Americans.

Then the true work began. We broke off into smaller groups and started working on a multitude of different projects.

Kayla, Josh and Paul ventured over to the woodworking shop with Michael, the carpenter for Mayan Families. There they took site measurements and drafted plans for an addition to accommodate 12 students in the workshop. Kayla and Josh thoroughly enjoyed the CADing environment, and they are positive that Paul caught some fleas while napping on the dog bed because he was sick.

Jason, James, Shawn and Nick went back to the American construction site and aided in finishing the construction of the house. They erected the roof and put the finishing touches on the building. The American volunteers were extremely grateful for the assistance of young capable bodies and were blown away with our eagerness to help and our knowledge of construction. They also found out that the building sciences that we adhere to rigidly back in Canada do not apply in Guatemala due to climate and availability of building materials.

Michelle, Robin, Ashley, Jeff, Chris, My and I embarked on our journey to improve the Litre of Light project, with the assistance of the local International School’s senior class. We faced several complications in the pre-design phase of the project but as Nick mentioned in his blog, we produced a successful end result that we were all pleased with.

After a hard day’s work we all met back at the hotel feeling greatly satisfied with the work we produced. It was great that we were able to divide and conquer, using all of the skills we have acquired in our education.

Señor Nicholas:

Today was my first trip to the Marti. Having finished all we could at the house build with the group from Ohio, James and I were reassigned to Litre of Light. Quick stop at the hardware store for a few more supplies and we were on our way. James and I tried a new metal cutting technique that Julio showed us at the house build. By running a wire under that metal and placing a board on top the stuff would cut like butter when pulled tight. Unfortunately it only worked well on the light gauge steel. Back to using tin snips. Cut my hand pretty good in to process. We’ll file that one under “learning experience”.

After our attempt at “revolutionizing” the cutting method I decided to focus on building a template for the hole we needed to cut in each unit. After some fine trimming, Brady and I successfully assembled what would be the standard unit for the remainder of the day. A section of bicycle tube, silicone and roofing tar created a three layer water seal. With a hose clamp keeping it all in place our prototype was ready for production. We managed to salvage a few cardboard boxes to build a make shift test chamber. Armed with Brady’s handy iPhone we tested the light levels in the “room” with several variables. The results? To our delight, the litre of light yields far more foot candles than just a hole cut in the roof!

Following a bite to eat we headed back to the Marti to keep building. By the end of the day we had ten units ready for the install. Many cut fingers. Scrap metal everywhere. Gloves covered in tar. It was a long day, but I feel like we made huge progress. I hope we’ll be delivering these things to the public soon.

We regrouped over a Gallo at a bar on the main street later that evening. It was the first time all the students were together at the same time and same place. Without a doubt we’ve become a tight group of friends. Sometime around eleven we wandered back to the hotel.

El Presidente

Señorita Heather:

We woke up in Guatemala City after a long day of travel and enjoyed a leisurely half day at the hotel. Some students spent the afternoon exploring Guatemala City, while others took the opportunity to get to know each other by the pool. Then we embarked on our journey to Antigua. The drive was interesting. We journeyed through the capital city and were interested in the differences that a different culture makes to a cityscape. The countryside was beautiful, as we travelled up through the highlands and captured beautiful glimpses back to the city down below.

Our first glimpse of Antigua was unexpected… in a good way. It was like a flashback to the 1800s. I didn’t realize that Guatemala was so influenced by the Spanish and also didn’t expect to see such a quaint and character-filled city. I guess I’d expected something more third world, but instead I saw a beautiful town built around a lovely central plaza with a magnificent Catholic church on one side. Carlos explained to us that a typical Central American town always has a central plaza where all the people gather, with a large church on one side, military buildings on the second side, and a large municipal building on the third. Apparently Carlos forgot that a square has 4 sides.

At the luxury Barceló, Marc had told us that all the accommodations would all be downhill from there, but boy was he wrong. We were all in awe of the hotel in Antigua. It was a renovated mansion, with a number of lush courtyards and a rooftop panoramic view of the city and the surrounding volcanoes. Paul lucked out with the best room in the hotel—the honeymoon suite, basically—and invited us in only to give us a glimpse of the fire in his fireplace and his juliet balcony overlooking a courtyard fountain.

We immediately went out to visit the market. I found it a bit overwhelming and claustrophobic at times, but it was a really cool experience to see the culture in action. Too early for impulse buying, though.

In the spirit of Family Day, our new family of 19 dined al fresco on a patio at La Fonda de la Calle Real, and I ate stuff no one else could pronounce. We ended the evening bonding with a nightcap on the rooftop of the hotel.

Christine:

Back in Calgary now, and I am realizing just how difficult it is to try to sum up the last 16 days. Jude and Marc have done a wonderful job capturing some of the trip’s highlights, so I thought I would touch on how the trip itself became possible.

For those who are unfamiliar with our story, Jude and I presented our idea this past December to the ’88 Olympic Legacy Committee, with the hope that we would obtain the funding to make our research trip possible. During our presentation we explained that Pana Project would be “an excellent project for us educationally, an important curriculum development for the AT program, a new possibility for SAIT and incoming students, and ultimately, a vital opportunity for the Mayan community in Panajachel.” We spoke these words with belief and conviction, yet we had no idea how fully our thoughts would be realized.

Educationally, I can’t possibly quantify the number of lessons we’ve learned in a very short period of time. Every day in Guatemala provided us with new opportunities for learning and growth, both architecturally and culturally, enriching our education beyond our imaginings. We forged many new alliances with professionals and community members and uncovered a wealth of opportunities for future student involvement. On a nightly basis, the three of us animatedly reflected on these possibilities, discussing potential integration within the School of Construction, as well as within other SAIT schools. We visited with our NGO and a number of Mayan communities and witnessed a society facing devastating poverty with an extreme need for assistance. In the course of 16 days, we gathered the information we required to continue with the design of our school, and also a bounty of inspiration for future involvement.

The greatest thing in all of this? Our students and faculty have the ability, the talent, and the drive to help communities in need of assistance. We have the opportunity to reach beyond our classroom walls, expand our potential for growth, and simultaneously use our skills to touch another human being. There is endless potential here just waiting to be tapped.

I have to say once again, thank you to the Legacy committee for making this trip possible. I think we did you proud.

With that, thank you to everyone who has supported our vision and helped give it wings. Already this journey has been extraordinary—I can’t wait to see how it unfolds from here on in. We’ll continue posting updates to this blog as we progress with our design, so be sure to watch for new developments.

Marc:

Wow! Where do I begin?

As Christine had mentioned in an earlier blog, the idea of  coming to Panajachel was borne in Jude’s kitchen. At that time it was a “What if?” dream. The dream has now turned into a reality and we are completing the first phase of this project.

An idea like this doesn’t happen overnight. Jude and Christine have been working on this since April of 2010. Such an idea also requires a tremendous amount of energy and support from key players. Our AT faculty, Chair, School of Construction Dean and Associate Deans, as well as SAIT administration as a whole, have jumped on board to make this happen. Our NGO in Panajachel, Sharon Smart-Poage and Dwight Poage of Mayan Families, have been most accommodating. Without all these people, this idea would have gone down the drain in Jude’s kitchen sink.

Jude and Christine have gone above and beyond with the Pana Project. Not only have they pushed themselves beyond their own limits, but more importantly they have pushed SAIT as a whole to think outside the classroom. I will be returning to SAIT with many ideas about how we can carry this project forward.

We leave for Calgary soon. Tomorrow is another day and another project. On Monday, March 7, ten SAIT Architectural Technologies students and ten Architecture students from Selçuk University in Konya, Turkey, will meet for the first time on Skype. They will work together for the remainder of the semester via internet (Skype, Facebook) on housing in the East Village in Calgary. The SAIT students will act as the consultants for the Turkish students, who are designing in Calgary. Our SAIT students will be answering questions that we would otherwise take for granted. While they are teaching the Turkish students, they will also be learning about another culture and another way to build. My hope and expectation is that they will also realize that they can’t take the simplest things for granted. From April 30th to May 14th, these ten SAIT students and I will travel to Konya to continue our work in person with the ten Turkish students and their professor, my friend and colleague Dr. Havva Alkan Bala, Associate Professor of Architecture at Selçuk University in Konya. Havva has created an International Design Studio-Atelier for this purpose.

It is Havva’s and my wish that we can continue to bring our students together with this International Design Studio in Konya  for years to come. We also wish to include other colleges and universities in the annual pilgrimage to Turkey. Architecture is an international business. We need to make our students aware that there are many needs that we can fulfill in this profession, many of them beyond their imaginings. We also need to help these students open up their world to all that is possible.

The photo in this blog is entitled “HOPE.” Last year Havva and I were walking through squatter settlements in Istanbul. She pointed to buildings that had rebar sticking out of their roofs and turned to me and said, “This I call ‘HOPE.’” Havva explained that the owners of the building hope to have the money in the years to come so that they can add a second storey, or they hope to expand their family, or they hope to have room one day for their extended family. As I walk through Panajachel, I see many buildings with HOPE. People in Panajachel, for the most part, are poor; life is difficult, but they have HOPE.

I too have hope:

I hope that the Pana project will continue to grow. What started as an academic exercise for Jude and Christine has grown into a real possibility that a trade school can one day be built in Panajachel.

I hope that we can share this experience in the classroom with all the students who could not come to Pana with us this time around.

I hope that the Pana Project experience becomes commonplace in our program.

I hope that students from the Architectural Technologies program at SAIT will graduate with a sense of purpose and mission. Architecture is not about building big houses for rich people. The buildings we design and build are a response to a need—the answer to a question posed.

I hope that SAIT becomes a place for students to not only graduate with an Architectural Technologies diploma, but to leave with the drive and a goal to make this world a better place.

I hope that as you are reading this, you can say that you are living your life through your passions and not your fears.

Jude:

My final writing task from this trip to Guatemala is tough not because it’s difficult to sum up my time here, but that I’m reluctant to do so because it means my trip is nearing its end. When we began working on this project in the summer of 2010, I had a fear that I’d wake up one morning and realize that this—the Pana Project—was just a dream. Now I realize that it is a dream, but of a different kind. When Christine and I first approached Marc, we explained that we wanted to design a building that would have even the slightest chance of being built, and we were also interested in working for people who couldn’t afford to pay for design services. This project has been all that… and so much more.

Marc used to say, ever so humbly, that Christine and I were doing all the work and he was just along for the ride. This isn’t true at all, but I can say now that it often feels like the Pana Project is racing full tilt and we’re all just along for the ride. For some reason it has had a power of its own from the very beginning, and the three of us have been running along behind it just barely holding on. I have to tell you, though—this is a good thing. Ours is not a feeling of being out of control; it’s rather a feeling that this thing we started is exploding. It seems that we chose the right project at just the right time.

We’re working in Pana with an NGO that believes in giving people “a hand up, not a hand out,” and this trade school would do just that. We’ve seen firsthand the poverty, the need for education, and the possibilities for people who get a hand up. In our short time here we’ve been approached by a number of organizations and individuals who want to hear our story (and it’s an odd one, let me tell you, with one student who looks like our daughter and the other student who’s older than “el profesor”). They all say to us, “A trade school is exactly what Panajachel needs.” These contacts will also prove to be invaluable when it comes time for fundraising to purchase the building site (HEL-LO ROTARY CLUB!).

All along, though, it’s been the connection with SAIT that has proved to be the most exciting. We’ve received great feedback from instructors in various programs who are interested in working on the Pana Project, and we’ve got a hundred ideas as to how students and faculty can become involved. Christine and I hope to present our experiences and ideas to students, faculty, and admin in the School of Construction, at which time we’ll tell you all about the past, present, and our hopeful future of the Pana Project.

So I say goodbye from Panajachel to our blog readers, thank you to our friends here, and hasta luego to Guatemala. We will return… there’s no question in our minds.

Marc:

Today we headed out to “Marti,” the Pana Project building site, where we began the task of site measuring so that Jude & Christine can gather the necessary information to begin their design process. In Canada we would simply work off a site plan, but here in Guatemala legal site plans simply don’t exist. Land ownership is totally locked into stories of place: i.e. “My grandfather sold off this piece of land when the crops failed, then bought up this room when he had money again,”  or “We divided this piece of land when my uncle got married.”

Marti has several layers of history to it—over the years the owner has purchased adjacent  plots and also sold off various pieces of the site. One baño (bathroom), for example, was sold off to a neighbor who needed a second for his restaurant.

Another interesting challenge here is that there are no walls that are perpendicular to adjoining walls. Some of the walls are sun-dried adobe brick, while others are formed out of concrete block, so we can’t make any assumptions about “typical” wall widths. The only thing here that is tipico is the Guatemalan breakfast: eggs, tortillas, beans, and guacamole. We do not suffer here.

I gave Jude and Christine a mini lesson onsite on how to measure existing buildings and take accurate measures of the site. It is important to get good field notes and immediately transfer the information to AutoCAD. This is just one more task I’ve had to add to the long “to do” list for Jude and Christine. They are organizing meetings here, working on transferring site information to AutoCAD, studying for a midterm, which they must write the morning of their return to SAIT, and keeping up with the general workload of being Architectural Technologies students at SAIT. They have put in long hours each night just trying to stay on top of it all.

We also visited the emergency response center (Bomberos) in Pana, where last year Wayne Skogman of Be One to Help Foundation in Okotoks delivered an ambulance he’d purchased from SAIT, which was filled with medical equipment and supplies that SAIT had donated. This tale brings us back to the beginning of our project because we had read about this SAIT connection in a faculty newsletter and contacted Wayne to talk with him about his work in Guatemala. It all seems so long ago now, but  in our minds we are returning full circle.

Christine:

I have always believed that travel is the best education an individual can experience. Prior to my time at SAIT I had spent a fair amount of time travelling, during which I marvelled at ancient buildings and architectural details that had otherwise only been known to me from the pages of a book. After coming back from those travels with hundreds of pictures of buildings, I had absolutely confirmed my passion for architecture and my love of travel.

Fast forward six years, and here I am travelling through Guatemala. It’s different for me now, though, as I have an entirely new set of eyes. I’m still the one snapping shots of buildings and their intricate details, but I now question so much more. How was the structure constructed? Where did the building form originate? What were the influences? How is it inhabited? The list goes on and on….

Previously, I hadn’t considered the impact of pairing my formal SAIT education with my love of travel. In actuality, my travel has been an apprenticeship of sorts. Rather than my education being confined within four walls, it is being conducted every day in a huge outdoor classroom called Panajachel. It’s been a reciprocal kind of instruction, with the teachings at SAIT informing my travels and my travels taking me to a new level in the classroom.

I feel lucky to be here, but I don’t want it to be an exclusive club. Every day Marc, Jude, and I think of new ideas as to how various programs at SAIT can be involved in the Pana Project. My time at SAIT is drawing to an end, but it’s exciting for me to see how SAIT supports this kind of learning experience. Now that the Pana Project has begun to grow legs (and arms and a torso, even!), I hope that other students can venture out on this crazy adventure and expand their education beyond their wildest dreams.

Marc :

We are now in our second week in Guatemala, and the project focus is shifting. In our first week we learned about the local culture and norms, visited key architectural projects in the area, and studied sites and villages where our NGO, Mayan Families, is working. This week the focus is on establishing an architectural program for Jude and Christine’s design project. As with any architectural project, one needs to establish a rapport with the client, understand the local context, and ultimately translate the client’s dream into architectural form.

Yesterday we met again with Sharon from Mayan Families. The reason we are here in Pana is because Sharon, an Australian by birth, has a dream of establishing a small trade school in Panajachel. This meeting was really about listening to the client and hearing what she had to say. Sharon has been living in Panajachel for more than 20 years now, and she has gained not only a very thorough understanding of the local needs, but also a warm and trusting rapport with the local community. She knows well how this trade school would fit into the future of the Mayan people.

Mayan Families is currently renting a portion of a traditional finca, a typical Guatemalan courtyard farm building. Her wish is to purchase the property (the owner has expressed a desire to sell), renovate some existing buildings and add some new buildings. We discussed the general program requirements, classroom sizes, equipment, meeting spaces, issues of security, and possible conflicts between the different uses (i.e. noise and spatial incompatibility). This finca will be Jude and Christine’s project site.

We then met again with Molly Molander, the local architect who has graciously given us a lot of her time. She has visited the project site with us and pointed out architectural elements that are traditional Spanish colonial and yet specific to Guatemala. We also talked with her about the role of the architect in Guatemala, local building practices, building codes (or lack thereof), local building materials and tradespeople. It is interesting to note that doors, hinges, door hardware, and windows (all products that we normally just order in Canada), are all handmade in Guatemala.

The next steps will be for Jude and Christine to measure the existing buildings and document the layout and site, photograph in detail, and draw important features of the site.

Jude:

Christine has so well captured the essence of this trip, and in fact the entire process of the Pana Project. I don’t know how many times the three of us have looked at one another in awe, as we meet people who seem to fit right in with the project’s goals. Okay, granted, sometimes we have to manipulate the situation, like when we drafted John, our impromptu videographer from the States who came with us to Santa Cruz simply for a boatride and a visit to a beautiful little town. But really, the whole process has been a bit fantastical, from the moment we approached Marc with our wee dream to this moment when we are meeting with architects and NGOs and conducting site visits. We’ve also heard from a few instructors at SAIT who are interested in integrating their programs with the Pana Project (usually followed by a visit with someone here who asks us if we have any ideas about the very same trade or initiative).

Our visit to the trade school at Santa Cruz la Laguna, a 20 minute boat ride from Panajachel, was edifying in so many ways. A few years ago an American woman who lives in the town gathered the community to ask them what they needed in a new building, and the community voted for a trade school. When construction began they carried concrete blocks up the steep path to the town centre and helped build the modern, beautifully designed school that houses a carpentry shop, sewing centre, traditional weaving area, computer room, and culinary arts facilities. In the photo above a local employee at the school is explaining to us the manner in which the community decided upon the purpose of the building and use of the space.

Christine:

Where do I begin…. I suppose it’s more typical to utilize a blog for accounts of the daily happenings, sights, sounds and smells, but I can’t focus my mind right now to tell a single tale. If only my eyes could translate all that has been happening, it would be easier to describe the state of amazement I’m in.

I truly never thought I could be here, nor witness what I can only describe as the waters parting to empower something that began as an off the cuff conversation in Jude’s kitchen and has now transformed into a very real, very tangible goal. Every step along the way, I have been shocked when one minute a discussion adds another layer to our dream and the next minute a stepping stone falls onto our path. Is it possible that this trend can keep continuing like this? I can’t even answer this question.

Some may be thinking “oh yeah, come on,” but let me put this in perspective. Not only have we met with several fruitful allies as we’ve described in earlier postings, but when a sudden downpour hit us and a lovely couple who just happen to be involved in humanitarian building projects in the hills of Guatemala stopped to offer us a ride, well, just how unbelievable is that? Or when our nightly makeshift office in front of Marc’s hotel room leads us to meet a New York architect involved in social housing initiatives in Honduras, at some point I need to stop and pinch myself… is this for real?

I’ll stop myself now before I go on and on, but before I go… the next time you have a conversation over coffee and something seemingly crazy is put on the table, run with it, dream… and then dream some more.

p.s. scroll down the page to read my updated posting about Maya Pedal

Marc:

We visited the village of San Jorge on the hill beside Panajachel. My intention was to conduct a needs assessment in one of the 3 feeder towns that could benefit from a trade school in Panajachel. As this was a research trip, my mind was on Jude’s and Christine’s academic work, but when we walked into the small community centre funded by Mayan Families, we were taken aback by the warm welcome we received from all the elderly Mayan women. Mayan Families funds a feeding program for the elderly in San Jorge, and they also deliver meals to those who are not mobile.

Poorer Mayan families often have to make a choice between feeding their children and feeding their parents, and the women in this room were from families who could not afford to feed them, so before this centre was created, these women were malnourished. As we’re finding with many initiatives here, what appears as one solution can actually solve a few problems. The building acts not only as a lunchroom, but also an informal community center for the elderly. The other benefit is that Sharon hires local women to work on her initiatives, and the cook at this particular centre is a single mother working to feed her 6 children.

So while we went to San Jorge as an academic exercise, I see that for Jude and Christine this is all very real. They believe that the trade school would begin to end the cycle of poverty because if the young can be educated, they may not have to make the choice one day to either feed their parents or feed their children.

Marc:

Jude and Christine have put together quite the program for this trip. Yesterday, we visited a Mayan Families carpentry shop/program. They build small hope chests to give to Mayan children. The typical Mayan home consists of only  two rooms, a kitchen and a living/sleeping area. The chests have been designed to be multi purpose, they store items, act as a table for small children, a bench, and a platform for a mattress for the child to sleep on. Very ingenious design.

Today we helped deliver laptops to  a junior high school in a remote village high up in the hills. The students learn all about computers, and most of their lessons are via E-learning. We walked down the mountain from the village along a very steep and narrow path and entered Panajachel via the sweeping delta that feeds into Lake Atitlan. Walking  is the main form of transportation in this area. Farmers bring down produce to sell and walk back up a very steep slope at the end of their long day. Children also scamper up and down the hills to go to school and back every day.

Later in the day, Jude, Christine, and I interviewed Molly Molander, a local architect. Jude and Christine were able to discover first-hand the intricacies of designing in this community. There are very limited building codes in this area, and architects have to design for earthquakes and floods. Building materials are scarce and designers have to be extra creative in order to deliver a project. We also discussed ways to have buy- in within the community and strategies for  socially and environmentally sustainable architecture.

The three of us have also had many fantastic discussions along the way. One recurring theme is the notion that you have to be prepared to give something  out if you want something in return. In that spirit, Jude and Christine are going to go back to Molly’s office to help her load and configure her Revit  and ArcGIS software.

At this stage, Jude and Christine are learning to step back and begin the design process in a simple manner, first establishing trust with the community, their major stakeholders. They need to clean their mind slate, so to speak, and look at the project’s requirements, their clients’ desires, and the community’s needs, and have no preconceived ideas about the end result.