This might be a far-fetched idea, but I'm thinking about going to Haiti for spring break. I would want to find a well know relief organization to travel with (like Red Cross or a church group), as I'm damn sure not going alone. Has anyone heard of groups planning to go down there? I don't have any specialized skills (like nursing or plumbing/electric), but it doesn't take a doctor to hand out water/food or help build some buildings.

Yes, I know it could be dangerous, and I'm going to keep a close eye on the situation down there before I make any final choices. If things are improving by mid-February, I would be inclined to go; however, if it seems like conditions are deteriorating (gang violence or widespread disease), I probably won't go.

1/20/2010 6:45:39 PM

i just spent awhile talking to someone who just got back, i don't think things are too dangerous to go. if i can get away i might go down for spring break. the usual places i stay in port-au-prince have been destroyed and i haven't heard anything back yet from someone who coordinates drivers and places to stay but there is probably somewhere if you don't need any amenities.

oo pale kreole? parlez-vous francais?

1/20/2010 8:28:43 PM

I would imagine Habitat for Humanity is sending people down.

1/20/2010 9:09:52 PM

^^ unfortunately, I am limited to English.

and I would need minimal amenities - a safe place to sleep and a place to bathe every other day or so would be sufficient. let me know if you are going down there.

[Edited on January 20, 2010 at 9:45 PM. Reason : ]

1/20/2010 9:40:51 PM

im not goin to that shithole

1/21/2010 5:57:07 PM

makes me think of the episode of boondocks about hurricane katrina--granddad's talking about his cousin's house in new orleans being flooded and says, "i've seen that house, that nigga ain't lost that damn much"...

1/21/2010 6:06:48 PM

If you have no specialized skills and would only be providing labor, you might be better of staying in the states fund raising, or donating the cost of your trip to some reputable organization. I'm almost certain that by spring break they will have copious amounts of local volunteer hard labor and the time spent training you as well as the money to keep you safe could be spent more productively elsewhere. I give you credit for wanting to help, but without skills, your money and time is probably better spent in some other capacity.

1/21/2010 6:22:40 PM

i disagree. money dries up when the news moves onto the next topic, if people go there they will establish a relationship that will keep them helping out for the rest of their lives.

1/21/2010 7:24:42 PM

I agree with 1985, if you do not possess any requisite skills necessary for relief and development, you may be better off waiting until a later date to go. The logistics and expense of getting you in country and working on a specific task will be quite complicated right now. I can't see a well known organization being up for it if you are only committing for a week.

In a few months time, you could be of great help. There will still be great need for help and you could get on an established project. This is especially important once Haiti falls off the front pages.

1/21/2010 8:29:12 PM

I'm somewhat inclined to disagree in the general sense, but am not sure of what organizations are able to take relief volunteers on board. However, there are many aspects of disaster relief that do not require skilled labor. Goods like clean water, medicine, medical supplies, and construction equipment are arriving daily now, and people are always needed to help unload and distribute them.

That said, spring break is still a long time away, so those types of needs will be less relevant at that point. Swinging a hammer never takes much skill, though. Organizations will have more time to plan for volunteer management and coordination of unskilled tasks, so even if they don't know now what they would do with you in a few months, they will soon. I'm sure there will be opportunities, so stay optimistic. But I would advise not to start asking around for another few weeks; right now workers are still in panic mode, so no one you call will have time to think about spring break and give you any meaningful response.

My wife works for International Medical Corps though (she's been one of the people in panic mode), so I can ask at some point what her advice to you would be. IMC was on the ground in Haiti on day one, so she'll have a good perspective on it.

1/22/2010 12:16:38 AM

I was wondering the same thing ... keep us posted if opportunities do come up over the next few months

1/22/2010 7:52:50 AM

http://www.convoyofhope.com/

1/22/2010 1:40:37 PM