People

With the majority of the Totoco workforce involved in one of the 4 construction projects, it is a nice moment to glance around and get to know some of the faces helping make our dream come to life on a daily basis…

Cabin #1 is under the watchful eye of Leonide (right) who has been with us since the construction of the bodega and has proved himself to be reliable and fast. He likes to get on with things and has been mentoring one of the more promising youngsters (Kiore- left). Kiore is also learning to weld during his time with us- provoking the mild jealousy of his older brother Harbin (white shirt). Harbin is gaining ample experience himself however and is one of the younger masons who led the construction of the pumpkin ferro-cement tank and is now working with Ulyses (picture below)- the lead mason on the main-lodge construction.

Work on the 2^nd manager’s cabin is being led by Margarito who has a team of 5 other workers including an apprentice mason. As the photos show the majority of the work is as yet on the foundations which is of course the most important part of any building.

After the foundations of a building are complete, work moves on to the stem walls and then the pillars which support the roof. In the case of a chowiton roof a specialist is brought in who puts up the wooden roof frame and lays the banana leaves. Cabin #9 is serving its purpose as temporary bodega at the top storing wood for future use in roofing.

The storage facility at the back of the main lodge is nearest completion and is overseen by Carlos (left) and Solomon (right w/ axe)

As work continues we will introduce you to other members of the Totoco team!