Sa-k-la-k-wel was co-founded through a year long process involving four Haitian and three foreign staff members as an Earthship style community center that would hold a triple purpose:
- an amphitheater for displays of art and music.
- space for classrooms.
- self-sustainable water catching bathrooms.
The building is also a demonstration example of self-sustainable AND hurricane resistant construction, much needed in a place like Haiti as it demonstrates construction techniques critical for the health and well-being of Haitians.
In particular, these buildings are made primarily with re-used waste products of our society; tires, cans, bottles and cardboard are some of these materials. The form of the building is designed to resist the extreme winds from a hurricane. In addition, the building is designed to catch, treat and supply fresh water from the sky.
HISTORY:
2014 – cleared the land, dug into the hill and began the tire work.
2015 – built the dome roof and finished building the theater, finished the walls to one of the classrooms, poured a very large floor and dug seating for 125 people. Twelve to twenty five people a day showed up to volunteer. Restarted Sa-k-la-k-wel’s tradition and host an annual celebration event. It was memorable.
2016 – finished digging two-thirds of the seating with the addition of one more row, built a protective double wall of tires, finished pounding the walls to the second classroom and packed out everything built. Also succeeded in holding the traditional annual music event!
2017 - One full classroom was finished, catching and recycling water.
Thank you for helping us build an important venue and supporting a local Haitian movement that is working collectively to be sustainable and create access to fundamental knowledge and ethics.
