Cisco Systems + Habitat for Humanity = Dominican Republic
Impacting the life of hundreds of families!
Another great experience with Cisco Systems + Habitat for Humanity and this time in the Dominican Republic (DR). A total of 20 employees (16 employees from Cisco USA + 3 employees from Cisco DR + 1 employee from Cisco Panama) joined forces to build two (2) houses for low income families in a remote town called: Los Montones and Juan de Herrera in the province of San Juan de la Maguana.
The team learned a lot about the culture and history of the Dominican Republic! It was an extremely remarkable experience with this amazing team!!
Cisco Team USA, Dominican Republic and Panama!
Cisco Systems Team #WeAreCisco May 18 – 26, 2019
Cisco Systems Engineers from USA, Dominican Republic, India and Panama!
The work was very intense, but it was also very rewarding! Why? Because for this trip we had as our allies Concrete Mixers, Wheelbarrows and enough Shovels to keep everyone busy and working hard without stopping one minute! The process of building new homes is all “automated” and very well calculated by the civil engineers that work for Habitat for Humanity and are in charge of the labor, design, sites and construction of every house.
The machine!!!! The concrete mixer, our savior!!
Hey guys! Make sure we put enough gravel to that concrete!! 🙂
Also, The D.R. is on the top of the expertise when it comes to low income family home construction because they are using a unique technology that we haven’t seen anywhere else for concrete houses build. The houses (Lego House) are built with Slabs that can support Cat 4-5 Hurricanes and 8-9.0 Earthquakes, which is pretty amazing!
Habitat for Humanity Dominican Republic have multiple construction factories in the Dominican Republic. Specifically, in the areas or towns where the build a lot of houses for low income families.
The work never stops and every time a new Habitat for Humanity Volunteering Group comes, the group build more slabs, new foundations and new homes so Habitat for Humanity can have enough material and foundations ready for the next volunteering groups that will come in to serve the community and build new houses. This construction cycle continues so the production is always running 100mph/s and never slow down. Amazing, right? That is what Habitat Dominicana is doing and they are accomplishing a great job with this type of dynamic in place!
Slab Factory in San Juan de la Maguana
Slabs ready to use to build new houses
Slab concrete frame tables empty
Slab concrete frame table full of new slabs. Total of 16 layers
Team picture, after completing the slab work in the factory
The 2nd foundation we completed for the house the next volunteering group will build!
After completing the foundation of the house! Ready for the next group that will be in town in 2 weeks!
Dick Hess, Mr. Jose Ciriaco (new home owner) and Ariel Maceo
Our Cisco Team that built the 2nd house!
We also had some fun while painting the house. Let’s go Cisco!!! 
The most amazing experience of this trip was to start and finish the house and do the dedication and inauguration of the house for Osiris’s family!
Osiris with his kids and the Cisco Team!
Picture taken by Habitat Dominicana team!
We had the pleasure and super exciting moment to celebrate with Osiris and his family the inauguration of his new house. Moving into their new home built by Cisco + Habitat! Such a blessing and humble experience to be able to give back building hope and better life!!
Mr. Jose Ciriaco was extremely happy because we were able to complete his house as well!! Such an overwhelming experience!!
Furthermore, we had the opportunity to explore a little bit the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, D.N. we visited the Colonial Zone. The 1st European Settlement in the Americas! Very impressive and extremely rewarded tour for the oldest city of the new continent! We also had the opportunity to take advantage of one cultural day and to go to the beach and experience a little bit about this Paradise in the Caribbean.
Visiting the Colonial Zone!
Dick Hess, Rafael Ceara, Jim Southwell
Cisco team at the Colonial Zone!
Having a little bit of fun at the beach!
This trip was very special for all of us but for me it has been one of the biggest Tim2Give blessing of my life because I was able to give back in the country I was born and raised. It was very cool to share with all my teammates the food, music and culture in general of the D.R. This is our 3rd trip with Habitat for Humanity and we will keep doing these Global Village Trips to serve, help, support and make an impact for those in real need.
#WeAreCisco #LoveWhereYouWork #CiscoRocks
If you want to learn more about my passion and journey please visit: www.rafaelceara.com
See you on my next article!
Best regards,
Rafael Ceara.-
