Episode 460: It's Hard To Do Good
The new school building in Villard, Haiti. Caitlin Kenney/NPR hide caption
The new school building in Villard, Haiti.
Caitlin Kenney/NPRIn 2010, we reported on a poor town in Haiti, where school was held in a small, one-room church.
Planet Money listeners were moved to donate some $3,000, which the principal of the school thought would be enough to build a school. A few months later, the money was gone, and all there was to show for it was a foundation, some concrete blocks and some rock and sand.
We thought that would be the end of it. Then we heard from Tim Myers, a retired contractor from Colorado who decided to go to Haiti to build the school — and who realized, in 2011, that the project would cost more than $100,000.
On today's show: We return to Haiti, to see how the project is going. And we hear from Tim Myers, who says, if he had it to do over, he might do things differently.
Tim Myers, founder of the Haiti School Project, talks with his construction foreman, Gilberte, and his translator, Matt. Caitlin Kenney/NPR hide caption
Tim Myers, founder of the Haiti School Project, talks with his construction foreman, Gilberte, and his translator, Matt.
Caitlin Kenney/NPR
Edmon watches Tim's crew build his new school. Caitlin Kenney/NPR hide caption
Edmon watches Tim's crew build his new school.
Caitlin Kenney/NPRTo learn more about TIm and the Haiti School Project, visit their website.
Music: Freelance Whales' "Generator Second Floor." Find us: Twitter/ Facebook/ Spotify/ Tumblr. Download the Planet Money iPhone App.