Journey to Haiti 2013
JOURNEY BEGINS
During the wee hours of an ordinary Monday morning before the sun came up we started our day. The group congregated at the airport in high spirits for the long-awaited journey. Thirteen in all and 20+ bags checked we boarded the plane, Haiti bound, with connection in Miami. We arrive in Miami and within minutes learnt that a Brazilian military plane crashed onto Port-au-Prince only runway. In fine Haitian style, that plane wasn’t moving anytime soon. Our group now in total trepidation with no flights out to Port-au-Prince until Thursday (3 days later), what were we going to do in Miami for 3 days? One very resourceful member in our company (Sam Otum) suggested a detour, going to Dominican Republic (DR) and driving across to Haiti. With that, we overnight in Miami and enjoyed some traditional Cuban fare. Tuesday morning arrived with luggage once again checked. DR here we come! Just as our last bag was checked a very nice American Airlines (AA) manager, a Good Samaritan, mentioned that a direct AA flight had just opened up to Port-au-Prince. The saga continues. A kind AA attendant “Gal” kindly agreed to pull some 20+ bags from our DR plane unto the Haiti bound plane. We were on our way to Port-au-Prince, 2 days lost but spirits were still high! We arrive in Port-au-Prince all baggage accounted for, well not quite. One poor soul did not receive her carefully planned wardrobe for the 30+ degree Haitian weather (poor Natasha). Poor Rod too, his guitar also lost in the commotion. Fortunately, within 24-48 hours both luggage were returned to its very grateful owners. We arrive at our Haiti residence; we meet Raymond (our host), Clare (the cook), Carlene (Raymond’s daughter) and the girls. A huge feast awaited us upon arrival, what a sight for tired and hungry travellers
WHCC ORPHANAGE
Our experience
We visit the orphanage – Meeting the kids was of course the trip highlight! We met with some beautiful boys and girls pictured here. They were so well-behaved and simply wanted to feel loved. We came bearing gifts but the kids really just wanted to be in our company. Not being able to speak Creole or French with the children was our biggest limitation but we were not hindered, we engaged in other ways, from drawing to colouring, painting, crafts, singing, sports, even reading. We took the kids on mini trips to the beach and to get freshly picked coconuts. One of the most memorable moments was hearing them sing and dance. They always sang as a group and knew many songs. They were super talented. One of my favourite performances was the kids singing and dancing to “I love you Jesus deep down in my heart” while Rod strummed his guitar. The time with them was too short. Many in our group were returning volunteers; they had met many of the kids before and had built relationships so we’re reuniting with their little friends.
The newest member: Jean Kedler
Jean Kedler was the newest member of the orphanage. The 16 month old Jean Kedler came to the home with typical signs of malnourishment. He was lethargic with a serious demeanour. Fortunately we had Dr. Okafor on hand to give him a thorough examination putting him on a high protein formula and vitamins. He will now have the opportunity to be cared for, loved and have his spiritual, health and educational needs met. All the children attend schools nearby and some of the older ones have the opportunity to attend an English speaking school as a result of funding to WHCC. In Haiti, education is not free. Children in very poor families do not have the ability to pay for school often resulting in a continuous cycle of poverty.
The role model: Jerry
The children at WHCC have the opportunity to break this cycle. One such case is apparent in the very bright “Jerry”, a 14 year old learning to speak English. Jerry was even reading the very popular children’s tale “The Cat in the Hat” book aloud in almost perfect English. He is a straight “A” student who wants to go to university. He will get the chance to do so in Canada (if he chooses), with the help of WHCC. A very bright future awaits him. Jerry was also a great kid, well-mannered, kind, loving to his brother and sisters. In fact all the children had those qualities. One of the most noticeable characteristic of the group was the care and kindness they showed each other, they behaved like siblings.
Haiti, the land of hope!
With determination and a fundamental desire to help those in need, WHCC aspire to build an orphanage on two acres of land, ideally located at the base of the mountains with an ocean view in the distance. This land is currently fenced and being cleared for the infrastructure that will support the new orphanage and house up to 75 children once complete. A playground, church, school and accommodations for future volunteers are also part of the site planning.
HELPING THE POOR
Doctors Without Borders? Oh no its Dr. Okafor and Nurse Rose!
One of the WHCC philosophies is kindness to all. All team members, under the direction of Dr. Okafor and Nurse Rose conducted a medical clinic in a rural community. This was the first time some people in the community probably ever met a doctor. With a variety of ailments and many cases of water-borne fungal infections, particularly in children, the team did their best to help as many people as they could, given available donated supplies. Many Haitians use the rivers and drains for cooking, washing, bathing, and drinking. Water-borne illnesses are an inevitable reality in Haiti, particularly for the poor.
The medical team also had the opportunity to give the children of the WHCC orphanage a complete physical and eye test. All the children thankfully were in good health. Jean Kedler, the WHCC newest member whose nutrition lacked protein as per the reddish/blonde hue to his hair colour, would be well on his way to better health (within a month or two) now with access to proper nutrition.
The Tent cities
Some things happen for a reason! On route to the orphanage one day our van had some battery troubles, we had to stop until a replacement could be found. It happened that our van stopped in front of a “tent city”. Tent cities are makeshift camps for displaced people. These camps are not equipped with electricity, water, and sanitation or law enforcement. Some of our team members took the opportunity to meet and some of the residents. We returned the next day to distribute whatever food and clothing we had left. After speaking to a few more residents of the tent city and learning about the issues they live with, such as flooding and infestations, Dr. Okafor described the living conditions best, “this is the bottom of existence”. Hope is not lost in Haiti despite many instances of hardships like these. We met a beautiful woman whose digital extremities were crippled by a disease that could have easily been cured with proper and immediate medical attention. With a will to live and two toddlers to care for, her spirit and drive gave us hope. She and her family lived in a tiny hut with a single bed which the family of four share. They would often huddle together on in one corner during rainfall to avoid rain water through the very leaky roof. A pot of food was simmering in the outdoor kitchen, probably the start of typical meal in Haiti (sauce, rice, beans and plantains). It’s very typical not to have meat protein in the daily diet of the poor; they simply cannot afford that luxury every day.
BEAUTIFUL HAITI
Kaliko Resort and Port-au-Prince
Amidst the poverty and destitution, in our visit to Kaliko we saw a different side of Haiti, the island paradise side, with live Haitian music, scrumptious food and of course, an amazing beach. Haiti is on the same island as the Dominican Republic whose GPD is largely attributed to tourism. Why can’t Haiti be the same? The country is blessed with many of the same beautiful beaches and landscapes. A major developer in a Haitian documentary said “Perhaps one day people will visit Haiti without missionary or church groups and actually vacation there”. Port-au-Prince, the busy capital of Haiti with its narrow streets, markets, street vendors showcasing art work of the island’s beautiful landscape, culture and people all nestled within the mountainous landscape. It’s a beautiful country under the cover of poverty!
TIPS FOR FUTURE VOLUNTEERS
Some things really stood out for me such as listening and watching the kids sing and dance. A visit to Haiti would not be complete without visiting Port-au-Prince, a resort like Kaliko and enjoying a few of my Haitian favorites, Haitian sauce with rice and plantains, coleslaw, sour-sop drinks, spicy hot peanut butter and spaghetti for breakfast. A ride on the “TAP TAP” is also quiet the experience if you don’t mind a bumpy ride. Living like a Haitian has its challenges and it gave us an opportunity to experience life without continuous access to running water, electricity, flushing toilets and co-habiting with mosquitoes. It was a small price to pay to contribute in some small way to a great cause!
Author
Natasha
