Trip Packet

Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas remain in ruins. Part of our trip will entail helping Haitian families find new housing options. We will work with a mission in the Blanchard area near Port-au-Prince’s airport. Here students will spend a few days working to reinforce new homes in a way Habitat for Humanity works.

Orphans, especially those who suffer from mental and physical challenges, are shunned by large numbers of the Haitian population. We will spend time interacting, holding, and caring for those orphaned children. Specifically, we will work with an orphanage In the small community of Fermate in mountains above Port-au-Prince.

Haiti is saturated with numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Overtime they have contributed to the failed-state of Haitian politics. We will spend significant time on our trip visiting several NGOs and learning how they work to solve major problems, how they related to one another and how they help and hurt the nation. We will visit Doctors Without Borders, Mother Teresa’s Hospital for the Destitute and Dying, Grace Children’s Hospital, Yele Haiti and more.

Finally we will work with one particular agency which is dedicated to restoring Haiti’s natural resources, stopping their deforestation, providing long-term solutions to overpopulation, unclean water supply and the effects of pollution. This will take us to Leogane, the epicenter of the earthquake. (This applies only to trips 2&3).

Each participant will need to complete the Participant Data Form which includes an area for your physician to sign. Instructions to your medical doctor are included about travel to Haiti. Your shots should be up-to-date.

If you take prescription medications, bring enough to last the entire trip. Trips to Haiti can be moderately stressful and sometimes more so. If you have a mental illness or a physical disability please let our staff know before your trip. If you have any special needs while in Haiti (medical condition, food allergies, or other special requirements) please let us know before your trip, and be sure to bring anything you will need with you.

Everyone should bring their own mini medical kit in their carry-on. Your kit should have chloroquine, any prescription medicines you are taking, Band-Aids, first-aid ointment, diarrhea medication, ibuprofen, insect-bite medication (it should contain DEET if possible), and a prescription antibiotic such as Cipro.

Our tickets will be purchased from Charlotte to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Connections are likely to be in Miami, but may also be at JFK. It may be necessary to make air arrangements in small groups, but you will at least have two or three others in your travel party. Once in Haiti the team will assemble. Specific details of arriving and navigating the Port-au-Prince airport will be given at the pre-trip briefing. If a student would rather meet the team in Miami, arrangements might be possible, so please let us know. Also if you have frequent flyer miles you would like to use, please let us know this as well.

Once in Haiti we will rely on the ground transportation connected with our partner missions. There is no need to worry about navigating Port-au-Prince and to and from the places we go. The traffic and road conditions in Haiti are very different that the U.S., and therefore no participant will be allowed to drive once in Haiti.

We will have the opportunity to stay in multiple places in Haiti which allows for greater exposure and experiences. While working relief, students will stay in a dorm style facility built for mission teams. While working at the orphanage, students will split guest rooms adjacent to the mission in the mountain town of Fermate, easily 15 degrees cooler than Port-au-Prince. While visiting the various NGOs students will stay at a beautiful guesthouse with a pool. Team 2 and 3 will stay in a very nice guest house tucked away. Each site is fortified.

Most meals will be provided by our ministry partners. They have been carefully trained to prepare safe and nutritious meals for our guests. We will also make every reasonable effort to accommodate some special dietary needs. However we may not be able to accommodate all special dietary needs requested because of the conditions in Haiti.

All participants traveling to Haiti must have a passport. You will not be allowed into Haiti without one. If you are applying for a new passport, please allow 4 to 8 weeks for this process. All travelers should bring a photocopy of the first two pages of their passport in their carry-on luggage.

Haiti entry and exit taxes will be covered by the trip cost. Instructions on how to complete the Haitian entry forms will be given to each participant. Re-entry fees by the U.S. Customs will only be applied if you make purchases in Haiti that are not duty-free.

When we post a trip cost, it includes: airfare, trip insurance, ground transportation, lodging & food, language Interpretation, entry & exit visas, and mission supplies/expenses. Expenses not covered include: food at airports during travel, telephone surcharges, checked bags, money exchanges, gifts, and items purchased

Do not bring a large amount of cash with you as this could endanger the rest of the team. Most Haitian merchants accept the U.S. Dollar as exchange rates fluctuate and their own currency lacks stability. There is no need to exchange money as these merchants will give change in the Haitian gourde. U.S. credit cards and travelers checks are for the most part useless in Haiti.

We will take care of certain tips and gratuities for all included meals and activities such as tips for porters, housekeepers, drivers, activity providers, local experts, and dining room staff for included meals.

To reserve space on the trip, a non-refundable $100 deposit is due when you register. If final payment has not been received by the posted date we reserve the right to cancel the reservation. However, your required trip insurance will protect you for certain cancellations.