In September of 2017, Mexico suffered one of the most critical periods in its recent history. Two hurricanes and two large earthquakes affected at least one third of the national territory, leaving behind great material and human losses. The southern, southeastern and central areas of the country suffered the effects of two earthquakes of 8.2 and 7.1 on the Richter scale on days 7 and 19 respectively, causing significant damage to 9 entities of the Mexican Republic that were declared in a state of emergency and as disaster area.
As part of the response of organized civil society in these circumstances, Reconstruir Mx emerged as an initiative aimed at helping people affected by earthquakes and who had partial or total loss of their homes. The feeling of solidarity and the need to provide knowledge and skills brings together a large group of construction professionals to support the victims in the reconstruction and efficient use of the resources allocated for this purpose.
Reconstruir Mx began its work with a stage of diagnosis and evaluation of the damages with visits to different affected communities of the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Puebla, Morelos and State of Mexico. During these organized visits, the brigades raised data on the level of property damage and were identified, by the inhabitants' own voice, their needs.
Regional community workshops were designed with the purpose that the inhabitants will be trained in construction techniques appropriate to their needs and resources, emphasizing aspects such as safety, durability and housing quality. For this purpose, and after a brief period of training and testing with professionals, students and volunteers, the installation of these workshops in selected communities was projected for their level of affectation and their strategic geographic location, with the idea that inhabitants of neighboring populations they could also approach and learn building techniques to use and adapt them to their population, thus expanding the margin of impact. To facilitate their access, the workshops
can access them. They have rest and hygiene facilities for all those volunteers who are not neighbors of the community and who do not have a place to rest; but who participate actively and directly in the reconstruction.
Currently, the regional community workshops are in the training phase. Interested neighbors receive the support of architects and engineers to determine the best options for reconstruction, shoring and rescue of affected homes. In addition, they make use of the donated material and tool to rebuild the home of a family chosen by the same community with the dual purpose of helping that family and put into practice what they have learned. The workshops will soon be open to the rest of the community so that more people can take advantage of all the resources and training to rebuild their homes.
Arriving at this point has involved a great effort; but none of this would be possible without the valuable help of
All the allies and friends who have cooperated with us to help rebuild. Several companies and movements have joined our work, such as The Home Depot, Diageo, #LoveArmy Mexico, Global Shapers Mexico, among others to achieve the reconstruction of quality homes, where families that were affected by earthquakes can have a good level of life and well-being.
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