Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

April 27, 2010

I am proud to say that not only are my clients cool, they are good people too. And they are changing the world.

Keri and Christian have started, what I feel would not be an understatement to call the most ambitious undertaking by any 23 year old I’ve ever met. Christian, who studied architecture, designed a home that self heats and cools and it’s not that much more expensive than the viviendas sociales (houses) that the government currently builds for low-income families.

They are currently in the process of building one of these self-heating/cooling homes for a family (full description of the family here) who lost everything in the earthquake. Keri and Christian are doing it with the help of donations, but they’ve put in a hell of a lot of their own money too. Not only that, but they’ve put in a lot of blood sweat and tears into this project as well. Keri is working as the jefa de obra, or foreman of the construction site. She’s been out there with a shovel in hand, digging a hole in the ground, pouring the cement, building a home for people, who only a few weeks ago, were strangers to them.

And the master plan is that eventually, they would like to see the government of Chile completely replace viviendas sociales, with their viviendas pasivas, as they’re calling the house that Christian designed.

This family, in three weeks, will have a home, not a temporary home, but an actual functionable, permanent place of residence that won’t fall down when the next massive earthquake strikes Chile that is ecological and economical. This family, in three weeks, will have a roof over their heads because of Keri and Christian.

Keri and Christian make me ask myself, “What have I done today to help someone, to make this world better?” Ask yourself that question honestly. If you’re like me, the answer might make it a little harder to sleep at night. I hope you see these photos and feel inspired, like I did when I saw what Keri and Christian are doing, and want to help.

For more information on their project, visit their website or their blog for the most recent updates on their progress.

Here’s the family, minus one son, in their almost finished vivienda pasiva!

Their daughter Moira showed me where they’re sleeping — like most families who lost their homes in the earthquake, they’re in a makeshift tent covered with plastic to protect them from the rain, the whole family sleeping together on a mattress on the ground.

The cool thing about this project is that the family is active participants — every day that they’re not at work at their day jobs, they’re there alongside Keri and Christian, helping build their new home.

Their current home below:

And what will soon be the inside of their vivienda passiva:

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18 Comments

That's pretty inspiring. I love the fact that they get to be actively involved in building their future.

Comment by Marianne Taylor — April 27, 2010 @ 11:14 am

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What an inspirational story. Please keep us updated when the house is finished, I'd love to see pictures of the family moving in and settling in.
Kyle, you inspire me, both through your actions – funding Marcelo through college, for example – and through your blog stories – to be a better person, to give something back to the community that I live in. And for that, I want to thank you.

Comment by Eliza — April 27, 2010 @ 12:31 pm

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This is an awesome idea! I am checking out the website as we speak. Thanks for posting and have a great trip Missy!!!

Comment by Tyffanie — April 27, 2010 @ 1:47 pm

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Inspirational and touching. Lovely photojournalism.

Comment by bradrossphotography — April 27, 2010 @ 6:20 pm

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That's so awesome what they are doing! Great shots of the project!!

Comment by dani k. — April 27, 2010 @ 7:32 pm

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Wow. So inspiring. Way to go Keri and Christian!

Comment by gringagonesouth — April 27, 2010 @ 7:39 pm

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They're pretty amazing!

Comment by kylehepp — April 27, 2010 @ 8:43 pm

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It is very awesome! I'm proud to know them.

Comment by kylehepp — April 27, 2010 @ 8:44 pm

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Thank you Brad!

Comment by kylehepp — April 27, 2010 @ 8:44 pm

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I know, I find it incredible that they are convincing the country of Chile that spending a little bit more money on something that's good for the environment is worth it!

Comment by kylehepp — April 27, 2010 @ 8:44 pm

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Thanks Eliza! I just feel so overwhelmed sometimes like everything I do is just a drop in the bucket and I need/can/want to do more. But I guess we all have to start somewhere. Then someday I'd like to be like Bill Gates/Leonardo Farkas

Comment by kylehepp — April 27, 2010 @ 8:45 pm

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I love that part of it too Marianne, I think it makes the project even more special.

Comment by kylehepp — April 27, 2010 @ 8:46 pm

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WOW. That IS an ambitious project! Great storytelling here, Kyle! It's very inspirational… thanks for sharing the story.

Comment by Lisa Novakowski — April 28, 2010 @ 5:21 am

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Me parece… mÃ¡s que estupenda inciativa, algo ENORME. No se puede describir con una sola palabra el trabajo que Keri y Cristian estÃ¡n haciendo. De partida son muy emprendedores por hacer una idea asÃ y llevarla a cabo ellos mismos para que el gobierno les tome atenciÃ³n, me parece una propuesta espectacular. Que bello, hermoso, que lindo es que exista aun gente asÃ, que ayuda desinteresadamente, que como dices, no solo pone dinero, sino tambiÃ©n sudor, cansancio, lÃ¡grimas y TIEMPO, que es lo que la gente menos dice tener para dar.
Aplausos para ellos y que lindo que lo hayas documentado.
CariÃ±os!

Comment by Loquenoves — April 29, 2010 @ 3:26 am

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This project is SO cool. I really hope it catches on because it just seems like there's no downside.

And before you start beating yourself up too much, please remember that you're funding someone's education. That's more than I do and more than I think most people do. So while it's great to have goals and people who inspire you, don't lose sight of the fact that you're also doing good things that inspire others (like me!) to do a bit more.

Comment by emilyinchile — April 29, 2010 @ 2:38 pm

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SUPER INSPIRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy there are wonderful people in this world. Please post an update every once in a while!

Comment by GlobalButterfly — April 29, 2010 @ 11:30 pm

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Inspiring story, Kyle. thank you for sharing it. Your pictures tell a great story.

Comment by Razvan — April 30, 2010 @ 1:44 am

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Thank you Kyle so sharing this…it's so good to see people helping each other…and you're helping by spreading the message of being a good samaritan.

Comment by teresakphotograpjy — May 10, 2010 @ 3:43 am

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