CAMPUS TIMELINE
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2017
PROPERTY ACQUISITION OF 20 ACRES
In the fall of 2017, Project Living Hope purchased 19.5 acres of property for the construction of the King Center. Located in the town of Camp Marie, Haiti. Twenty-four people shared claim to the property. For that reason, the signing process took several hours as each person proved their identification and land ownership and each item had to be recorded by hand. The people in the room were excited both to be closing the deal and to see that this project they had heard about was actually moving forward.
2018
SITE SURVEY
KING CENTER MASTER PLAN
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
When we bought the land, we made an agreement with the community that they would carve out a wider, more drivable road between Route 1 and our property.
Without their involvement, the King Center will only ever be Project Living Hope’s project. But with the community members efforts, this will be Camp Marie’s project. We are taking the time to build relationships and work with them to accomplish the goals.
GEOTECHNICAL TESTING
Having access to our property allowed the geotechnical testing to be done, getting us one step closer to breaking ground on Phase One of the King Center!
TEMPORARY SOCCER FIELD
In October of 2018 we excavated a temporary, dirt soccer field. The Camp Marie team plays in our national league, but they had to use the field in the nearby town of Montrouis as their home turf. On October 21, 2019 they got to play their first game on the temporary soccer pitch on the Project Living Hope land.
2019
MASS GRADING
On February 2, 2019 PLH broke ground on the King Center campus! The mass grading project spanned five weeks during the months of February and March. Fifteen American and ten Haitian team members worked on the project and an estimated 80,000 yards of dirt was moved by eight machines and seven dump trucks. The building pads for the King Center facilities, three soccer fields and the pond and ditch were completed.
BUILDING PADS AND POND
SOCCER FIELDS
Our excavation teams worked hard to get the three soccer fields completed because in April of 2019 we started our youth soccer league! The kids and coaches were so excited! We wish all the men who worked hard to prepare the land could see the fruit of their labor firsthand.
In order to keep the games centralized and the playing environment controlled, PLH will host all of the league games on the PLH property. As grass is difficult to maintain with limited water supply and extensive play throughout the week, we are looking to install artificial turf fields.
PERIMETER FENCING
2020
DRAINAGE PIPE
The Oregon construction team supervised the installation of drainage pipe on the two soccer fields. Last year, these fields would have standing water that would take a week of clear weather to dry. This year, these pipes effectively divert that water leaving the fields clear.
Thank you Pacific Corrugated Pipe Company for your generous donation of all the pipe needed to complete this project!
EROSION CONTROL
The field edges suffered erosion during the 2019 rainy season, with the assistance of straw erosion mats, vegetation is growing along the slopes stabilizing the dirt and making the campus greener every day.
BUILDING PADS
A crew of over 30 men mixed and poured the concrete by hand to complete the two building pads for the vocational center and multipurpose building.
GATES
A local Camp Marie welder and his crew constructed two chain-link gates for the PLH property. These gates are a definite step up from the previous sheet metal and 2x4s.
CISTERN
Three masons from Camp Marie and the surrounding area created a cistern which will allow for easy access to water for projects and future classes in the vocational center.
vocational center and multipurpose building
The first two buildings on the PLH campus, the vocational center (on the left) and the multi-purpose building (on the right) , were constructed in December of 2020. These buildings host classes, meetings, workshops, and events.
2021
BASKETBALL COURT
In March of 2021, three volunteer project managers from Oregon, three Haitian concert finishers, and a crew of about 20 local laborers and concrete mixers poured the first PLH basketball court. This was a huge pour as it was deep and had to be strong enough to one day support a steel roof. The pouring crew worked from sunup until well past sundown several days to get the job finished. Now, the court hosts pickup basketball games and friends shooting hoops together as well as futsal practice on Saturdays (a form of soccer played on a court). We plan to launch an official basketball program soon.
BATHROOM and Locker room FACILITy
While working on the basketball court, our construction manager from Oregon supervised the pour of the foundation for the bathroom, and the Haitian masons took it from there. The facility includes a men’s side and women’s side each including a multi-stall restroom and a large locker room where players can change before games. The building also includes a shower room where staff and workers can wash up before returning home. Thank you Waterless Co. Inc. for donating the urinals for our men’s bathroom!
SOLAR POWER
In Haiti, the power grid is unreliable at best. In our area, those on city power go months without receiving any power. Many homes and organizations rely on generator power which accrues monthly expenses and over the past couple years, fuel shortages have become more frequent and longer lasting. PLH is committed to being 100% solar run. This system, which was funded by generous donors on GivingTuesday in 2020, powers the vocational center, classroom, office and bathroom facility.
2022
Kitchen
The kitchen will meet so many needs. Not only will it be a large and more practical solution for teams and events, it also will be used to prepare staff lunches nearly every day. With the kitchen, staff will be able to purchase at a discounted price a full, nutritious meal. This also means job creation as PLH will need to hire three cooks to prepare the meals.
FRUIT DRYER
This building has multiple purposes. We purchased a locally-constructed solar dehydrator which will be housed on top of the building, and we are creating a fruit prep room next to the kitchen. Mangoes, breadfruit, manioc, and other locally harvested produce can be dried and ground in a nutritious flour. This venture will create jobs, bring in revenue as products are sold, and bring business to local farmers as PLH will seek to purchase mangoes and other fruit locally.
LAUNDRY ROOM
The building includes a laundry room with 2-3 washing machines and will again create jobs for local women.
WATER PURIFICATION CENTER
Currently, PLH purchases all of its drinking water, traveling 10 to 15 minutes to refill 30 plus water jugs several times per week. This was nearly impossible to do with the fuel shortage last fall. The PLH Water Purification Center will provide drinking water for our own use, offer the community a local place to refill their gallons at a low price, and create jobs for locals.
What is Next?
2023
CHICKEN COOP
The Chicken Coops, once complete, are proposed to house 1000 hens producing an average of 800 eggs per day. The coops will create jobs and sustainability. Local merchants will be able to purchase eggs in bulk to resell at the markets.
EDUCATIONAL CENTER
This center will include four fully-equipped, modern classrooms, a library and study hall, a conference room, a computer lab and offices. These spaces will provide valuable education and training to hundreds.