Wednesday 12.14.11

Yesterday we started some test surveys with a few families of the students from HAC.  Cultural sensitivity was a big issue as well me not knowing the language.  So, we re-grouped and came up with a new survey and a new plan that we're going to try today.

Last night after dinner and some exciting games of Go Fish, we headed to a local restaurant/bar/club for a going away party for 2 of the volunteers.  It's funny, even in Haiti, I can't walk into a bar and not think about work.

Haiti is so different, yet so similar to India.  Both offer a rich environment to learn in, but the priorities of the people and the government are completely different.  This experience of living amongst fellow volunteers, all of whom have the education and the desire to make a difference, has been incredibly inspiring.  There are people here from all over the US, some Haitian ancestry, some not; a young lady from Ireland that lives in Toronto; a family of 3 from Canada who are very involved with HAC.

Off to eat some lunch and then head out to do some more test surveys.  

Monday 12.12.11 & 12.13.11

Landed yesterday and was extremely tired from not having slept very much over the weekend before coming down.

Port-au-Prince was interesting, at least the areas that we saw on the way to HAC from the airport.  As expected, the roads were very bad once we left the airport.  Since there was a ton of traffic on the main roads, we took backroads through some of the neighborhoods.

Upon arriving at HAC, Laura gave us a quick tour and we met all the volunteers that are currently here as well as all the paid local and ex-pat staff.

The ladies that work here at HAC cooked an amazing dinner for us and afterwards Karim and I met with Laura and Sam to get an idea of what HAC does, who they are, what the goals are, how they differ from HAC USA, etc.

Tuesday began with the flag raising ceremony with the students and then a wonderful breakfast of porridge, fruit, and hard boiled egg sandwiches.  Afterwards we had a Haitian Creole lesson and then spent a few hours walking around the surrounding areas looking at all the hand pumps.  There are 6 hand pumps that provide water to several thousand people.  None of the locals have running water in this area.  Some travel to the hand pumps while others simply use the irrigation water that is flowing through the area.  The issues with water arise during the rainy season when the human and animal waste contaminates the water table, thus spreading disease and causing illness.

HAC has a 2000 gallon tank of chlorinated water that it sells to locals for 3 goud for 5 gallons or 1 goud for 1 gallon.  Unfortunately, most locals survive on between 1-2 goud per day.  Buying water is a luxury many locals cannot afford.  While here, I'll be speaking with some of the families of the students that attend school here at HAC to determine exactly what the situation is.  This information will then provide HAC the data it needs to apply for grants and funding.

Karim and I started the survey this evening and will finalize it tomorrow.  Many of the questions and spreadsheets that I used in India will be reused here in Haiti.

Pictures from HAC

Here are some pictures of the HAC compound.  Pictures are courtesy of HAC and Laura Papuga.

Sunday 12.11.11

Good evening folks!  


Many of you followed along with me this summer while I was in Jodhpur, India for the summer working with Unnati.  Those who didn't, and want more information on that project can find it here: 
http://unnati-nurez.blogspot.com/


This adventure will begin in a few hours, as my flight for Miami leaves at 6am from Atlanta.  The Haiti trip began as a conversation between my good friend Grace Lee and I a few months ago.  We were chatting about wanting to do something during the holiday season, but wanted it to be meaningful as well as be a vacation away from our normal lives.  Somehow Haiti came up and we both jumped at it since we've both wanted to visit there for quite a while.


Our friend Jerry Nemorin put us in touch with Samuel Darguin and Laura Papuga from The Haitian American Caucus (HAC) and the plans began to develop.  Originally, Grace, Tiffany, Sarah, Karim, and I were to go down on 12.12 and then we would all return at various times based on our schedules and other commitments.  Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond any of their controls, everyone bu karim and I have dropped off.  But, that doesn't mean we don't carry Grace, Tiffany, and Sarah in our hearts.


So, what are we going to do?  HAC has a compound about 40 minutes outside of Port-au-Prince in Croix-Des-Bouquet.  There HAC provides a variety of programs to help benefit and assist the local residents.  More information about HAC can be found here: http://www.hacus.org/index.html


Karim is going to focus on the micro-finance aspect of HAC's programming, help tutor the kids in English, run some sports clinics with the kids, and help with the construction of the school that is being built on the compound's grounds.


I'll be helping HAC by looking at the business model and the nonprofit model to help stream line some of their systems, teach basic boxing to the kids, help tutor the kids in English or in digital learning, help with the construction of the school, and hopefully conduct a water survey on a nearby well to determine why people continue to use the well rather than receiving their water from HAC.  


All in all, it will be a very packed and busy 10 days.  But, I'm looking forward to an exciting time, meeting new friends, and learning from HAC and the citizens of Haiti!


Before signing of I would like to take a moment to thank the following folks (in alphabetical order) for their help and contributions:


-Ambreen Vegdani: use of her giant suitcase to carry donations
-Amynah Jiwani: monetary contribution
-Benny McCarney: monetary contribution
-Ben Thorpe: monetary contribution
-Grace Lee: introducing me to Jerry 

-Courtney & Damien Mollere: monetary contribution

-Embraced: medical and first aid supplies (http://www.embracedatlanta.org)

-Eumir Guttierrez: laptop (http://www.facebook.com/DJEUKSLKFB)

-Jeff Brawand: laptop

-Jerry Nemorin: helping us set everything up with HAC

-Kristen Shelton: monetary contribution (http://www.ormewoodanimal.com)

-Laura Papuga: answering countless questions and emails and making sure we have a place to rest our heads and folks to pick us up tomorrow afternoon

-Mom & Dad: monetary contribution (Madhany Family Foundation)
-Samuel Darguin: setting us up and reserving us spots at HAC
-Sarah Connell: showing me by example to not be afraid of going somewhere totally new and foreign and immersing myself in the experience
-Tiffany Joseph: pushing me to be better

-Yujin Chon: school supplies

Last, and certainly not least, my staff and business partners for allowing me the freedom and peace of mind to go follow my dreams while they take care of business here at home!


It's going to be an exciting 10 days!  Hope you'll enjoy reading about it as much as I'm going to enjoy living it!


Nurez