We'll have to confirm the dates and events over the next couple weeks as volunteers confirm and buy tickets, but here is a link to the tentatitive itinerary for the week.
Situated between the Caribean's grandest mountains and epic beaches and home to more artists, musicians and poets and dancers than perhaps any small U.S. city, Jacmel was once a hidden Secret Destination to the Stars. Mick Jagger, Miles Davis, and a host of other luminaries spent much time here. With tourism and the arts it's only real industries, what Jacmel needs most now, post earthquake is a first wave of tourist's like you, who are ready to roll up your sleeves, offer you're best and in turn, let the people of Jacmel prove the grandeur of Haiti and it's people that the newspapers and media have all but missed. Join us....for SPRINGBREAK, JACMEL!
Make Downpayment
of $150
Make full payment:
of 360.
-Package Price does not include
-Airfare
-Transportation to US airport and return
-Immunizations
-Passport
-Food if you choose to eat away from the Hotel
-Taxi service:
our hotel lines the main road where you can easily catch:
tap taps (seat lined pickup trucks) 25 cents US per ride or
moto taxi (on the back of a moped) 75cents to 1 dollar US
-Alcohol
-Art to take home with you.
Package Includes:
*Eight Nights Hotel : Hotel Jaclef, 2 per room, AC
*Breakfast and Dinner at the Hotel
*Entrance fees to Basin Bleu (waterfalls)
*Art Workshop with Jacmel's Artist Collectives
*Private Concert with Kompa star Mika Benjamin and jazz with the director of the National Symphony Orchestra
*Round trip transport between Port-au-Prince and Jacmel
*Choice of Volunteer Activities with trip leaders
Many, if they do not have them already, will choose to get a number of vaccinations. These can easily be obtained by setting up an appointment with the Health Department.
Call for an apointment. It's recommended you get your shots well before you're trip. It should run you about $40 for the visit plus the shots.
One of the greatest travesties is the fact that so many Haitian have died from dreadful disease. What makes it even worse, is the fact that this disease is so easily preventable and easily cured. You cannot get this disease from casual contact and it is not airborned. The only way you can get it is by drinking water contaminated with infected feces.
That being said, even though Cholera is not much of an issue in Jacmel, it would be best advised to only drink and brush your teeth with bottled water, and stay away from foods that have not been fully cooked.
If, for some reason, though unlikely, you contract cholera, the remedy will be highly available to our group and is pretty straightfoward: 300 mg of Doxyclyine and a few liters of Pedialyte to replace fluids. We will have these on hand.
Jacmel has a reputation for being one of if not the safest town in Haiti.
Jacmel has two hospitals
Public: Hôpital St Michel (2288-2151; Rue St-Philippe) For emergencies, but not brilliant.
Private: Pharmacie St-Cyr (48 Ave Barranquilla)
Green Building Instructor Chris Fillie as well as the folks from "Barrels of Hope" team up to lead earthbag building missions. The folks from Jacmel's Chamber or Commerce and the Catholic Diocese will be lining up Haitian builders to learn the process, also. We are also looking into the possibility of building an eco-playground.
laying the barbed wire down on the earthbag house.
In the mountains of Jacmel, it is one Dentist that services over 12,000 residents. City officials in Jacmel have promised to coordinate any help in this area.
Doctors, Nurses and support staff are in great need. Yanick Martin, the Director of the Ministere of Tourism will be coordinating medical staff. She says the greatest need is in the La Montagne region (the mountains), an area overlooked by the major NGO's.
After the earthquake hundreds of thousands of Haitians were injured. After the initial medical care, most found themselves with very few options for rehabilitative care. The Rose Marie Paul Foundation was Jacmels answer. Dr. Leon Paul founded this holistic clinic that offers psychotherapy, physical therapy, and massage. He says there is no end to the demand and welcomes any help from interested practicioners.
Jacmel is known for it's musical talent. If you play an instument or are a performer, join us. We have the city of Jacmel offering to find us a venue to use to put on a Sister City Concert. At any rate, if you can play at all, bring your guitar!
Think you'd like to help in another way? Let us know. We'll be happy to see if we can find a spot for you. We can even run it by leadership of Jacmel to see if they need your skills. Let us know!
Jacmel has two industries; Tourism and the arts. Much of this trip is about proving to the world that Haiti is more than just the doom and gloom in the media. There is beauty, there is hope, and there is progress. There will be incredible photo opportunities all around. In the architecture, the natural resources and in the friendships built between residents of our two cities.
Entrepreneurs in Haiti can recieve up to $10,000 if they have a feasable and comprehensive business plan. Jacmel's Chamber of Commerce has offered to provide the space to teach and to reach out to it's thousands of business people that are eager to learn these skills.
