ROTARY SWEAT EQUITY TRIP INFORMATION Haiti UPDATE

Hello Everyone,

We now have dates in place for our trip to Haiti Our scheduled date of departure is Tues March 28 2017 and leaving Port au Prince Sat April 8th 2017. For those who cannot take the time, there is the option to leave at different times. These dates could change.

Route
The route will be via Miami on American Airlines. It is an early morning flight and we should arrive about 12.30 pm in Port au Prince. From the airport, it is a short bus ride to our hotel which is located in a safe area in the outskirts of Port au Prince. It is a 15 minute walk to the school

Our Work
In partnership with Emmanuel International and Oeuvre Baptiste de Bethesda, we will be working mainly at the Delmas School constructing 2 classrooms. This is a private school. Private schools in Haiti, as in other developing countries, are much different than in Canada. This school is for marginalized children and they exist as an alternative to the poor public schools. Our focus will be on building new classrooms but will also involve some teaching and considerable interaction with the children and teachers. Work will not be heavy and no one is asked to do more than they are capable of. Depending on time and people, we may also help to build a bridge linking the school with a church. The cost of the classrooms is about $17,000 US and the bridge about the same amount.

Delmas is a school which runs from Standard 1 – Standard 8 As we all know, education is the basis for poverty reduction in the developing world. It should be noted religion is very important in Haiti, however, as we know from previous partnerships with Emmanuel, religion is played out by the good works Emmanuel does in their community.

Daniel Jovin and Richard McGowan from Emmanuel will be with us for part of the time and will add considerably to our trip. Daniel’s parents oversee the project in Haiti.

Other Activities
Upon arrival, we will take time to get acquainted and start work on Wed. On the weekend, we will visit the rural areas and see the state of repairs from the earthquake and recent hurricane. We will also visit some of the other rebuilding sites.

It should be noted, we will be a distance from the area most affected by the hurricane. Cholera should not be an issue. One can protect oneself by drinking bottled water, eating only fruit and vegetables that have been peeled and taking proper medication such as Dukarol and staying out of swampy areas.

We will also connect with local Rotary clubs.

We plan on having local speakers who can help us learn more about Haiti. The quality and diversity will be in keeping with what we have done in previous trips.
In summary, we want people to get as much of the feel of Haiti as possible. We all know Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

Accommodation and Contact Information
Our hotel will be the Luxcomfort in Port au Prince. We will have double rooms with showers and air conditioning. There is a swimming pool. Some meals will be at the hotel, however, many will be in restaurants nearby. If you wish a single room, this will cost an additional $200. However, do not expect the food and restaurants to be at the same level as in Cambodia.

Baggage and Costs
Each person is allowed 100 lbs in 2 bags. No bag can weigh more than 50 lbs.The cost of the trip will require a donation of $4,000.00. The above includes amounts for building supplies, cancellation and baggage insurance, meals, accommodation and transportation. It does not cover the separate weekend excursion, alcohol, out of country medical insurance, souvenirs and other personal expenses.

Cheques need to be received as follows:

Cheques in the form of a donation are tax-receiptable and are to be made payable to
EMMANUEL INTERNATIONAL

• $400.00 deposit with application(non-refundable)
• $1,800.00 dated January 3rd
• $1,800.00 dated March 1st
Tax receipts will be issued after the trip.

• Note: while we hope you will not have to cancel, if you do cancel for health reasons, you will receive a refund of the full amount less $400.00 plus an airline cancellation fee.
• If there are extra expenses because of alternate travelling arrangements, this will be for your account.

All cheques are to be sent to Julie Dunaiskis c/o ECC Group, 100 Simcoe St, Suite 110, Toronto, ON M5H 3G2. Please send in all cheques together, post-date accordingly and fill in the attached participant application form (using your full name as it appears on your passport) along with the waiver as soon as possible. EMMANUEL INTERNATIONAL will pay the airline and other expenses.

Note: We suggest you send in the form and money as soon as possible to guarantee a place on the trip. The $400.00 will hold your place. If you wish the tax receipt for 2016, please send in an additional amount. If there is an over-subscription, forms and money will be held. If there are cancellations, we will provide opportunities to go in order of receipt.

Changes and Separate Excursions

If you wish to make separate travel plans before or after, please review with Chris Snyder at (416) 364-0181 Ext. 2501, email snyder@eccgroup.ca or 905-990-1735. The cost of any changes are your expense. We will connect you with our travel agent if you wish. We are using Raptim, an organization used by Emmanuel that specializes in humanitarian travel.

Passports & Visas
You will need a passport that has an expiry date no less than 6 months after your scheduled departure from Haiti.

What to Bring
Your attitude is the most important thing to bring, however, once we have received your deposit, you will be sent a “what to bring” sheet as well as a wish list from several of the organizations.

Travelling Money
You will not need much money unless you wish to buy a number of souvenirs or travel separately afterwards. We will be visiting local markets. U.S. dollars are recommended. ATMs are available and credit cards may be used in Haiti in a few places but generally cash is best.

Participation
This is a trip in which everyone participates. Many activities will be group activities, however, it is recognized there is a need for individual space. It is not intended that anyone receives special treatment. We will be working alongside local people. The main focus will be to build, however, as indicated, we will provide opportunities at other jobs at the hospital, in the schools and other organizations.

The schedule is important. It will be necessary for everyone to be on time. It is not fair for one person to hold up the entire group. Meals, flights, tours and meetings need to operate on schedule. Please act with the entire group’s welfare in mind.

It should, though, be recognized things in Haiti do not always go as planned. Being flexible is a must.

Fundraising
We have found that friends and others wish to make donations to help with the building of the school. We will provide details at a later date. However, we will need to raise approximately $20,000 over and above our own donations. We will also bring other supplies such as clothes, sports equipment and school supplies. Details will be provided. Often it is better to buy these locally.

First Aid/Medical
Report any medical problems to the team leader immediately.

Remember, in a hot or tropical country the climate demands that you drink plenty of water whether you think you are thirsty or not. This will be provided for you on the job site.

Check with your family doctor to determine your personal needs for special medical precautions, shots, prescriptions, etc. Local travel clinics will advise on the specific needs. The big precautions are for Hepatitis A and B, influenza, Measles .I have had mixed comments on Malaria.

Dukarol is also recommended for stomach problems including cholera and an antibiotic such as Cipro is often recommended. You should also keep in mind this is a physical trip.

Your health is your responsibility as is out of country health coverage.

You should exercise great caution with the food. We sometimes have people who get sick.
Safety is always important. Always being aware of your surroundings is a good mantra.

In Summary
Anyone who has ever been on one of these trips knows how special they are. The camaraderie with others in the group and the local people for many is the best part of the trip. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Chris or visit our website makeanimpact.ca.

Regards,

J. Christopher Snyder
Coordinator, District 7070
100 Simcoe St., Suite 110
Toronto, ON M5H 3G2
416-364-0181 Ext. 2501
905 9901735
snyder@eccgroup.ca