Community Center in Chuparipal

In January we began the construction of the Community Center in the Paria Peninsula, the most challenging project in Trazando Espacios’ history. 

It is our first building for the common good, as we have only done open spaces so far. It is being built 100% by the local community that have been trained in construction techniques that will help them improve their homes and quality of life. This has allowed us to empower and restore hope to a forgotten society in one of the poorest states in the country.

We have been able to teach and give work to unemployed people in the community. The work has been a catalyst to activate people to join the project, recruiting more than 50 people inside and outside the community.

Like any proper building, we made sure to make a good infrastructure (foundations and brace beams) since we are in a seismic zone, very close to the El Pilar fault. Once this phase was completed, we poured the floor slabs, a very important part for us. When it was ready and dry, we were very excited and we began to build the wall bases with cement blocks to protect the Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) from humidity. We have produced 800 CEB and we need to duplicate/triplicate that amount in the upcoming weeks. We are proud to say that after three months of testing our CEB recipe with local soil we have passed the resistance tests in the Materials Laboratory of the Andrés Bello Catholic University. 

This week we are assembling the structure (columns and wooden ceiling) of the multipurpose space, and placing the blocks for masonry stairs.

We are happy to report that we are keeping pace with the timeframes established in the project goals. With a surprisingly capable workforce, and good weather in our favor, we will soon be able to see a fully conditioned Community Center which, more than building a space, is going to transform people for the common good.

Additionally, 16 houses regained water supply after approximately three years without it. The baseball field was reactivated, which allows money and visits to be brought to the community. We gave the community the tools to clean the field but inspired by the project we are building, they decided voluntarily to clean it up. Finally, there is already a waiting list for the women of Chuparipal to teach women from other communities to embroider.

We are deeply grateful to you for being part of this project. Thank you for trusting Trazando Espacios and for being kind enough to allow the Chuparipal community to broaden their horizons, allow themselves to dream and have a space to grow both personally and as a community. 

We are still short of resources to be able to complete the construction in June. We need your support to raise an additional $12,000 that will be used to build the roof, the warehouse, medical office and supplies and furniture.