Abaco Vulnerable Housing Rehabilitation Project - 2021 - 2023

The Discovery Land Company Foundation, Abaco Relief, is supporting GER³ to lead a significant housing rehabilitation and capacity building project in Abaco. The project, which began in October 2021, seeks to address a critical gap in housing repairs in Abaco, which GER³ became aware of through its ongoing involvement in Abaco's recovery effort. Many of the most vulnerable home owners have yet to be able to return to their homes over two years after Hurricane Dorian. With DLCF's support, GER³ has already led the rehabilitation of 38 vulnerable homes and is now working on an additional 24 homes. The project is being implemented by GER³'s team which includes a number of local cash-for-workers who were also affected by Dorian. This provides income opportunities to community members and builds skills and knowledge for them to continue their own recovery. All homes are being built back better, increasing resiliency and sustainability.

Housing Rehabilitation & Capacity Building - 2021

From May through September 2021, GER³ led a vulnerable housing rehabilitation and capacity building project in Abaco. GER³'s team led significant rehabilitation work on eight particularly vulnerable homes in Abaco, directly managing and supervising the work conducted on each home to ensure effective, efficient and high-quality work. GER³ also assessed where there were gaps in training and capacity building on Abaco, learning that learning to building to code is often a challenge. The team organized a training course, made available to the Abaco public, on how to effectively install hurricane straps and clips to support locals with reslient building techniques and building to local code. This project was funded by Templeton World Charity Foundation, First Trust Bank and Templeton Religion Trust.

CENTRAL ABACO PRIMARY SCHOOL REHABILITATION - 2020-2021

GER³ led the full rehabilitation of the Central Abaco Primary School in Abaco, the largest public school on Abaco. GER³ employed critical elements of building back better throughout the project, enhancing resiliency and sustainability. Key improvements included new metal roofing, hurricane strapping, and a circular sanitation system for improved waste management. The school was also rehabilited to meet official hurricane shelter standards to serve the community in future storms. The $4.9 million recovery project was funded by a multitude of donors and spanned over 12 months.

HURRICANE SHELTER & HOME REHABILITATION - 2020

To reduce the significant gap in available hurricane shelter space and resources on Abaco, GER³ rehabilitated four key hurricane shelters, led shelter manager trainings and provided a range of emergency shelter supplies. Funded by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the project also identified particularly vulnerable households to support in the surrounding communities. All shelters and homes were rehabilitatd to have increased resiliency and sustainability.

ABACO DEBRIS MANAGEMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING - 2020

GER³ developed a debris removal project on Abaco that included muck-and-gut, mold remediation, and debris removal services at two schools and 8 teachers’ homes using a cash-for-work (CfW) modality. Funded by UNDP, the project also included capacity building components, such as a week-long workshop for 15 local participants to receive training and full certification for mold remediation.

EVERY CHILD COUNTS SCHOOL REHABILITATION - 2020

ECC is a special needs school in Marsh Harbour that provides education and housing for children and adults living with disabilities. Funded by the Discovery Land Company Foundation, GER ³ worked closely with All Hands and Hearths (AHAH) to complete the rehabilitation of the school.

FREEPORT DEBRIS MANAGEMENT & SCHOOL REHABILITATION - 2019

GER ³ provided rapid debris removal, muck-and-gut and cleaning of schools and homes in Freeport, Grand Bahama following Hurricane Dorian. Funded by UNICEF, GER ³ led the rehabilitation of seven (7) public schools and eight teachers homes, supporting over 3,000 students to get back to school. The local team included 25 local cash-for-workers and 12 local contractors.

EAST GRAND BAHAMA DEBRIS MANAGEMENT & HOME REHABILITATION - 2019

Funded by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, GER³ supported community debris removal and home repairs in several severely affected communities in East Grand Bahama. Led by the community members, the team provided debris removal, recycling & reuse of materials, muck-and-gut of homes and local businesses, sanitation and mold remediation, building repairs and more. The project stimulated the local economy, provided training & skill building for local staff, gave hope to homeowners, and exemplified sustainable recovery.