BECA Travels: The New HardtHaven Compound

The New HardtHaven Compound

As I said above, we are living at the site of what will become HardtHaven, while the children continue to live at a rented facility about a ten-minute walk away.  The single-story cinderblock buildings are built in a sort of U shape, with the home of Edem, Jessie, and daughter Isabella at the bottom of the U.  We are staying on one side – the four men in one room, the six women in another.  Jean-Pierre, the Production Coordinator, is in his own room, and I also am in a room by myself. We sleep on bunk beds with comparatively thin, but adequate mattresses. We were asked to bring sheet “sleeping bags” (a flat double sheet folded in half and sewn together) and pillow cases. Some of the students brought their own pillows. Those who didn’t are doing without. Across the courtyard are three volunteers from Holland, young women.  The two single bathrooms and two single shower rooms are also located on the other side of the cement courtyard.  In the middle of the courtyard is a huge water tank – probably 5 yards in circumference and 10 feet tall.  We use that water – carried in buckets – to flush the toilets and to pour over us to serve as a shower. (Occasionally, a small amount of water comes out of the nozzle on the shower – but you have to be the first one up to get it!)

At the top of the U is a breezeway – a cement walkway covered with a tin roof.  Under that is a big table and there are electric lights. Our meals are brought to us three times a day, and we eat at that table under the roof.  We also have our production meetings there.  Often, a breeze comes through the breezeway – welcome in the heat and humidity.  It’s been about 90 degrees F, with high humidity, so any breeze – and even rain – is welcome.