📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Volunteers For Peace has selected Institution Mixte du Progres in Desab, Haiti and Director Fenel Jean as community partners for this project. Director Jean is deeply connected to the community and extremely motivated to involve his community in this project. Fenel Jean was raised in this community and attended this primary school. In addition to being the Director he is a pastor at the church next to this school. He has deep connections with this community and a strong desire to advance opportunities for students in this area.
💼 What the programme involves
Morning work will be in the classrooms with kids. Focus will depend on interest and skill of your group but could be English language, art, music, math.
A meal will be served for all kids when they finish school around noon and volunteers will help to prepare and serve this meal.
Afternoon extra-curricular projects will be offered for about 2 hours and you can pick the theme. Some popular themes include art, sports, music, dance, culture.
There will also be some physical work projects focused on school or community infrastructure improvements.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will stay in dormitory that is behind the school. There are bunk beds, a kitchen and new outhouse. There is a Biosand water filter for clean water and a generator and solar panel for charging equipment. Volunteers are expected to assist with meal preparation, getting water, cleaning and other daily tasks. Volunteers will be using an outhouse. Hot water for showers is not available in Haiti.
Meals will be typical Haitian fare, centering on rice and beans and supplemented with fruit and vegetables that are in season. If there are special dietary needs for the group please let us know so we can accommodate them. Volunteers will enjoy exploring new foods and assisting in preparation over open fires or charcoal!
📍 About the location
Desab is a small rural area with about 3,500 people about 1 hour north of Port au Prince. It is an agricultural area where you will see lots of small farms.
Port au Prince tour including Haiti National History Museum, iron market, Notre Dame Cathederal, Hotel Olfson.
Cultural activities will be planned each week day and will include a walk to a local waterfall, visiting the water source, a movie on the history of Haiti which we watch with the local community and follow with a discussion, glow-stick dance party, dinner with Parent-Teacher group and school teachers, and some art or craft exchange if you are interested.
There will be an afternoon trip to the beach to enjoy the beautiful Caribbean!
ℹ️ Additional information
This is a special group project for students from Desert Academy in Santa Fe, New Mexico ONLY.