Grenada rebuilds: after the hurricane.

• Author: Coley, Kari

On 7 September 2004, when Hurricane Ivan struck the Caribbean island of Grenada, Yvonne Felix lost almost everything she owned. But just over a year later, thanks to a sustainable livelihood rehabilitation project, she is now a trained and certified carpenter and helping to build housing for destitute families left homeless by the hurricane. She described the carpentry training course, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as "a tremendous benefit", as she "moved from the position of hopelessness to developing a new career".

Yvonne participated in the construction of new houses in Cafe Beau Hill, St Georges, designated for three low-income families: two unemployed single mothers with young children and a household headed by a 67-year-old woman who is surviving on income support from the Government's welfare programme. These families, like many others in Grenada, had their homes completely destroyed by Hurricane Ivan and had since been living under makeshift arrangements with friends and relatives. With the support of carpentry trainees and volunteers from the Windward Islands Caribbean Youth Corps, construction of the three new houses, designed to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes, was completed in mid-June 2005. Yvonne expressed her fulfilment, knowing that she "made these families very happy and comfortable" and "they have somewhere once again to call home".

Ms. Hosford, a 34-year-old single mother of five and head of household of one of the poorest families at Cafe Beau Hill, told the story of how she moved from her wooden house to a neighbour's concrete house upon hearing of the hurricane alert. After category-4 Hurricane Ivan left her house in ruins, she built with her neighbours' help a temporary shelter covered by a tarpaulin, but admitted to having no idea as to what she would do with no income to support herself and her children. In consultation with the Housing Authority of Grenada, UNDP selected her family to receive a new house, which they moved into and where they safely passed category-1 Hurricane Emily in July without any problems.

Hurricane Ivan caused the deaths of 37 people and damages in excess of $900 million--200 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP)--and destroyed 90 per cent of housing, which left the island's population devastated and vulnerable. According to a damage assessment conducted by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the UN Economic Commission for Latin...