Construction, Culture, and Community: Five Days in Chajul
In August, I had the honor of joining my Building Goodness Foundation trip leader and Martin Horn CFO, Jack Horn, along with our skilled welder, Noah Sims, in the Ixil region of Guatemala. We were there to provide field expertise and extra hands for the final phase of construction on the Limitless Horizons Ixil School. The school, located in the town of Chajul, serves the educational needs of the entire region’s youth.
While there, I immersed myself in both the work and the culture. I learned about the rich history of the Mayan people, observed the practical CMU brick and concrete construction methods prevalent in every small town, and enjoyed the traditional BoxBol dish, which was both delicious and comforting.
For five days, I joined the concrete pour bucket brigades, conducted quality control, and helped install bearing plates for the welded-truss roof system. Noah worked closely with the local welder to ensure the truss design was executed accurately, while Jack and I focused on overseeing the rest of the ongoing quality control. It was remarkable to see how the local workforce accomplished structural feats with far fewer resources than we’re accustomed to in the U.S.
The experience was truly rewarding. I was able to help, learn, and have fun all at once. As Jack always says, “I know how to build, and I like to travel.”
