Forged from strong community bonds.
FREQUENT VISITS CREATE CONNECTIONS
In an average year, a US group was hosted every 1-2 weeks, September through June. Groups visited with a partner church community or focused on a Parish-wide program. After arriving in Port-au-Prince, groups chartered a small plane or private speedboat or took a public ferry or rustic sailboat to cross the Bay of Gonâve from the Haitian mainland. Getting to La Gonâve was part of the adventure.
Immersive Partnerships
Once on the island, groups paid a per-diem to the Parish to cover lodging, meals, transportation and safe drinking water. Some groups stayed in dormitories with plumbing and electricity within the campus of St. Francois. Some groups camped, using latrines and sleeping bags, in rural school classrooms. All participants experienced the amazing culture of Haiti- it’s food, lifestyle and warm relationships. All participants bore witness to the daily struggles and chronic lack of resources and opportunities for Hatians in a variety of situations. Travelers were transformed by the experience, some for the rest of their lives.
Adapting Amid Challenges
The last visit by US partners to La Gonâve was February 2020. Political chaos and violence in Port-au-Prince actually pre-dated the global 2020 Covid-19 pandemic that further prevented US groups from traveling. Haitian partners continue to advise that it is unsafe to travel into Haiti.
We are now challenged to use creativity and resourcefulness to re-imagine our connections with each other- both in Haiti and in the US. Please see our Connect With Us page on this website to see what’s next.