Volunteers must be prepared to work independently, proactively engage themselves with students and the community, and be flexible. This camp will take place while Haitian schools are still in session. Volunteers will go to different schools and present to and interact with children and teachers. The focus should be exchange of cultural information, English language, water and hygine practices. Activities might include sharing of language and culture, sports, games, music, theater, art projects, animal husbandry, gardening, and a great deal more. The children are for the most part highly motivated and cooperative. You will be in classrooms and need to be able to communicate either in Creole or in French. Additional projects around CODEHA or the local school might include gardening, building hand washing stations or other improvements.
Accomodation & food:
You will be living with and like Haitians for this project Volunteers will have a few days at the CODEHA center at the beginning and in the middle of the project. During the weeks you will stay with families in the community you are volunteering. Beds are available at both locations. There is no running water and very limited electricity at these sites. Outhouses are the norm. Showers are available but that means an enclosed area with a pan of cold water to wash your self. There will be bugs (not deadly but possible bothersome and definitely interesting) and the elements may or may not cooperate. Food is simple and consists mainly of rice or corn and beans. Haitians typically eat two larger meals a day. There will be fruit and vegetables added to the meal depending on what is available in June. This is a unique opportunity to be fully immersed in the local way of life, past volunteers made very deep connections with their host families and communities
Location & leisure:
La Vallee de Jacmel is an area that comprises a number of settlements in the southeastern of Haiti, about 100 KM from Port au Prince. Agriculture is the main occupation of the Valleens. The climate is lovely and bright but not excessively hot during the day, and cool enough for a sheet or even a light blanket at night. The area is very remote, roads are rugged, walking is the norm, and access to outside information is limited for people in this area so their desire for international volunteers is very high. While volunteers are staying at CODEHA they can easily walk to Ridore, the central town in this area, where they will find some small shops, an international hotel, a market, can purchase cell phones and more. LEISURE ACTIVITIES: Most free time activities you will arrange in your own community. Children and adults are eager to do things with you. Soccer is very popular but different sports such as frisbee or badmitten are fun. Talking walks together, playing cards, dancing, and other games are very popular. On the middle weekend we may be able to arrange an excursion to Jacmel to the market or beach. Church on Sunday is an important experience. Pre Camp Option: We are offering a package for volunteers who want to arrive 2 days before the camp. The package is US dollar100 and includes accommodations and meals, a visit to the National Historical Museum, a trip to a market in Petionville, and watching the sunset over Port-au-Prince from the Observatoire de Boutilliers.
Requirements:
Additional VFP Haiti Application Form Required Volunteers for this project must speak some French or Creole and be motivated to present in schools. Please include some motivation on your application form. VFP does not provide insurance for this program and strongly advises volunteers to purchase travel insurance for their trip to Haiti. ADDITIONAL FEES: US dollar150 payable to VFP by May 16. Fees cover pick-up at the airport and transportation to and from Port au Prince (6 hours by car) as well as meals during the program.
« The outside world did not interfere, because it seemed so distant, and so we spent our spare time getting to know each other and learning about each other countries', languages and cultures. Everyone was completely relaxed. This simply would not have been possible on any other type of holiday. VAP enabled me to have a truly memorable experience. »