A group of 15 traveled to Las Penitas, Nicaragua. We worked at various locations finishing a roof, digging foundations and pouring a footer. The main work was on a house for a family that welcomed our efforts. The house started at the footer and ended being ready for the roof. The off time was spent swimming in the ocean and playing with the children. It was a great trip
House Chelsea, Nicaragua 2021
In Peru, we worked at three different house sites. The work pictures shown here, show the effort of removing earth to make the lot for the house level. With the help of a jack hammer and muscle we were able to level the lot, which allowed the land owner to begin house construction much earlier than she expected. We ended the work time, knowing we had truly made a difference.
The teachers and parents continue to express their thanks for the supplies and it shows in the way they keep the schools clean and orderly.
The first domestic trip of the Arnold Foundation brought us to the community of Hull, Texas. We rebuilt foundations and walls, installed insulation and sheet-rock. This group formed friendships as big as the Texas sky. We are thankful for those who came together to support this effort. You can truly believe your time and donations were put to good use and the misery brought by Hurricane Harvey is a little less than it was before.
The latrines have been completed. The sidewalks repaired and the gate has been repaired with money that the parents saved by doing much of the labor themselves.
Sri Lanka 2015
Rosita lives with her mother in Poneloya, Nicaragua. Poneloya is a sister village next to Las Penitas, where we have visited many times. Rosita's father died earlier this year and she had to stop going to school due to mobility issues.
With new leg braces and wheelchair she will be able to resume her school attendance. The goal was to raise $600 to purchase the new leg braces and a wheelchair so Rosita can resume her studies.The wheelchair was purchased and Rosita was measured for new leg braces which will be provided by a doctor in Managua.
Thank you to the donations that made this possible!
While on a house building trip to the community of Agomeda on the outskirts of Accra, the capital city of Ghana, we noticed they had to have water brought in by truck. The water, after being pumped to a holding tank, was then used as needed for the construction effort. After talking with our local contact the idea to provide a water well for the community took shape and a presentation was created to solicit the help of private and corporate investment. The Budget of $7500 was obtained and the water well was completed by a local contractor. The water well continues to provide water for the residents of the housing community and to aid the the construction of new houses currently being built
Guatemala Water Works, Pia de la Cuesta 2011
Mercedes has lung cancer and currently undergoing chemotherapy. The Arnold Foundation is supporting this family in multiple ways. We purchased a machete for her father so he can work in the fields. Danilo, our trusted local partner, arranged for a friend to teach Mercedes father how to prune the guave plants for a better yield so he can sell them in the market. We are also going to purchase tires for the family cart so the father can use it to earn money for the family. Danilo was able to have the latrine repaired and we continue to provide money and support where we can to help Mercedes and her family in this difficult time
Puerta Blanco
Zacapa, Guatemala 2018
Our work at Puerto Mantica is close to being finished.
There are three projects that we started:
- make repairs to the sidewalks,
- build a new latrine,
- build an outdoor kitchen
This project will be completed with local labor and donated money. The latrines are being constructed so that if the Education Ministry does repair the facilities, we can relocate them to a school that would benefit from an extra latrine.
This is another way the generous people of The Arnold Foundation are trying to help make the world a better place even though we can't be there.
We continue being hopeful that one day soon we will see our friends in Las Penitas again, and we'll hold the door open for you!
This is a project that we do every school year, thanks to continous donors. If you wish to be involved in this effort, please contact us
School Supplies for Nicaragua
School Repairs at Puerto Mantica, Nicaragua2020
We are proud of the work that has been completed and thank you to all who donated to this effort. This school is a better place.
The second trip to Armenia created new friends and gave us a chance to renew old friendships. This trip gave us another chance to work with a family as they get their home closer to being finished with the final coat of plaster on the walls. The trip finished with visiting a monastery and a short little hike to the top of Mount Aragats.
Armenia is the size of Maryland and out of 3 million people, approximately 26,000 families are homeless. On Sunday, after a short nap… we took a walking tour of Yerevan. Monday and Tuesday were work days in which we applied plaster to walls. On Wednesday, we visited some memorials and museums and got educated on the history and traditions of a great country. Finished plastering on Thursday and Friday. The city was safe, food was great and the people were the best.
Armenia 2017
Sometimes the path we walk leads us to lean more on local talent. This was the case for a home in Pia de la Cuesta. Funds were donated to they were put to good use for a family that needed improvements to their house. A working bathroom was constructed that includes a shower. The kitchen area was given a new roof and a concrete floor. We used local labor and the home owners family to complete this project. It was a very good week.
Ghana 2013
A very good trip. We all arrived on Wednesday and left Sunday and got one more roof built. The team was great. Linda from Vancouver, Romy from Mississippi, Santos from Nicaragua and Rick from Texas. We are thank-full to Henry and all the neighbors that pitched in. Such a great sense of community will keep us going back.
Nicaragua, 2015
Las Brisas Preschool, Las Penitas, Nicaragua 2015- 2018
The week of November 12th takes another group of good people to the shores of Las Penitas to engage in another building event. John Manchester returns with 22 people from the Maryland area. Several of the people on this current trip are returning for the second time to Las Penitas.
Pia de la Questa, Guatemala 2019
Peru 2014
Puerto Rico
United States 2018
Latrines for Students, 2020
Help for Mercedes, 2022
We have been asked to provide 4 latrines for the Andres Castro primary school in Las Penitas.
There are 180 students and their teachers that will benefit from this construction. The school does have a septic system but the Education Ministry has not made maintenance of the system a priority.
Las Penitas
NIcaragua 2017
Our latest project is a single mother in Virginia helping a single mother in Nicaragua.
Sandra Rios is a single mother with two young girls and lives in a 9ft x 9 ft room. One of our monthly contributors wanted to reach out to Sandra and build her a larger home. We worked with our local partner to create the plan and using local labor the construction began. The house is complete. Sandra provided much of the labor during the construction. Thanks to all that made this happen,
The Water Project in Guatemala provided funds and labor to dig a well, run 1 mile of 2" PVC from the well to the water tanks in the village. The well pump is powered by 6 Solar cells and pumps water during the day to the storage tanks which gravity feed the houses in the village. Originally designed to provide water for 35 houses the village has grown to 80 houses. This project was part of a $14,000 improvement plan intended to improve the quality of life and education for the people of the village. The budget was met by private and corporate sponsors. The team of 13 with the help of the community supplied the labor for the five days working 8 to 10 hours a day, to set the pump, solar panels and run the pipe
In 2015 we traveled to Sri Lanka for the first time.
This was our longest trip, as we spent the weekend travelling around the island nation that is located south of India. We experienced the typical construction methods of using brick and mortar, and of course the hospitality of the people made us feel welcome and safe.
One of the first trips we did with the "Fuller Center for Housing" was in Ghana, Africa. We worked with concrete blocks that were made locally. We worked with local masons and carpenters. We carried many bricks and mixed much concrete. The houses are about 700 square feet on 50’x70′ lots.
We have learned that the Las Brisas school is now holding classes in the evening to teach the fathers of the area to read and write. Another story to show what we do at one point in time, can grow and help future generations... Thanks to all who make our projects possible...
Hurricane Harvey
Hull, Texas 2017
Armenia 2016
In October of 2015 we visited the Las Brisas Preschool in Las Penitas. The children were learning under the shelter without walls, running water or safe electricity. The idea was born to provide a better building to learn in.The project has been completed in phases. Phase 1 (early 2016) was to build the walls that included the large iron gate and windows. Phase 2 (early 2017) was to expand the footprint of the original building for a kitchen and eating area for the students. The last phase (May 31 of 2017) was to paint the school and finish the latrine and provide an environmental friendly stove.
Great time we had in Puerto Rico. 13 people traveled the Aguas Buenas, and help make repairs to houses on the island. From painting to constructing a roof and kitchen to just some good ol' work with sledge hammers. We are grateful to the people of Puerto Rico for allowing us to walk with them on their journey.
Wheelchair for Rosita, Nicaragua 2021
As you can see by the photos, the parents and local contractor has made much progress. The kitchen has been constructed to provide lunches for the students.
Ghana Water Well, 2014