The construction typology of the school buildings was
predominantly timber frame, while the modern vernacular
of urban Haiti is reinforced concrete frame and concrete
block. Haitians, after seeing heavy concrete walls crumble
on friends and family, were fearful of rebuilding with masonry.
This influenced Save the Children’s initial design choice.
However, those initial fears slackened over time, potentially
warranting a design shift.
The construction of the concrete skirt wall provided some
opportunity for training in hazard-resistant techniques,
but the timber framing on the upper portions provided
significantly fewer opportunities for Haitians to learn new
techniques they could apply in their own homes. Learning
opportunities would have been enhanced if masonry
walls had been full height. These changes would not have
significantly increased costs and may have dramatically
increased the school’s lifespan.
Key takeaways
The Save the Children experience in Haiti highlights the
importance of applying key principles in safer school
construction, and the challenges that come with this
process. They were able to ensure the oversight of technical
aspects and engage communities as partners to achieve
and maintain safer schools on many sites. They were also
partially able to develop the skills and awareness of local
contractors and community. Supporting a culture of safety
and building on local knowledge, however, proved more
challenging during this complex humanitarian response.
• Periodically review decisions about the tradeoffs between
‘time, quality, quantity and cost’ to ensure the program
remains relevant to shifting post-disaster reconstruction
contexts.
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
Design choice challenges
• Where technical construction capacity is low but hazard
risks are high, consider using visual and practical
teaching approaches rather than printed guidance to
engage local workers.
• Make the dissemination of risk reduction principles a
deliberate goal of both private and public reconstruction
projects.
• Look to lessons leant in other sectors – such as health
and hygiene promotion and community-based shelter
reconstruction – for effective education and behavioral
change strategies that may be applicable to post-disaster
safer school construction.
Students during a Disaster Reduction Drill at a school in Leogane Haiti. This school was built with Save the Children’s support using
innovative yet simple techniques that make it more hurricane and earthquake-resistant. Photo: Susan Warner/Save the Children.
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