Welcome to Port au Prince, Haiti where the airport is so crowded that visitors are not let inside.
Outside the airport, in the park area, the people amuse themselves with music and computers while waiting.
If you don't have someone to pick you up, jump on a “tap tap”, the local method of public transit.
Or, you can choose to take a fancier 'tap tap'.
A PaP (Port au Prince) street on the way to our hotel.
If you missed the 'tap tap' catch a ride on top of a truck.
Arrival at the Vista Lodge. It is too late in the day to make the 4 hour trek to Verette, since it is unsafe to tavel in the dark.
A nice dip in the pool to refresh before dinner.
The restaurant was fairly good for both dinner and breakfast.
Here is our home for this evening. A small but reasonable accommodation frequently used by NGO staff and volunteers.
A view of PaP from the hotel.
Some UN workers were staying here too. United Nations has a big presence here.
On our way through PaP toward Vernette.
Another 'tap tap' along the roadway. It is also common to see many people walking.
Some of the countryside going north from PaP.
The area has mountains and in places, lots of water.
We're going through a tropical area where banannas grow.
Many of the villages have dirt streets and little sanitation.
The ladies walk down to the river to do the laundry.
Rice is also grown in this area of Haiti. It is much more fertile than we expected to see.
Coming into a village along the way. Many people walking to and from the village.
More of the countryside.
A new meaning to the term 'white out'. It is very dry and dusty once you hit the pot-holed and dirt roads.
Thanks to the Brazilians, we've hit a 10 mile stretch of pavement.
It is customary to see women carrying loads on their head like this.
For those who can afford it, you can get a pack mule. Note the rice drying under where the mule is walking.
A community water well, near Hopital Albert Schweitzer (HAS)
We are getting closer to the HAS, which will be our home for the next few days. It is an NGO which provides services to the local communities in the area. They have no funding other than donations and an endowment from the US Mellon family.
One of the ladies headed from the village.
Welcome to the Hopital Albert Schwietzer campus, developed from an old bananna plantation.
The Community Development group of HAS has worked closely with Canadian Rotarians for several years with much success. This has resulted in a great working relationship and development of many friendships.
Welcome to our home for the next few days, hosted by HAS with thanks.
Our first meal at the HAS home we are staying in. This is provided for volunteers who come to help here.
Our first meeting with Dawn Johnson, Director of Community Development at HAS and a great Rotarian.
Reviewing many of the outstanding project issues and reporting to Rotary Foundation on grants.
Dawn coordinates a staff of Haitian workers who drill the wells and install the water systems.
A bio sand filter is common in this part of the world to ensure clean drinking water.
This is the Community Health centre which provides pro-active health education and assistance to community residents.
A visit to the hospital which has 100 beds and services an area of 300,000 population.
Discussions with Director General, Dr. Suresh on current and future projects.
This is the general ward area. It was very crowded and one lady was observed sleeping on the floor.
When she saw me with my camera, this lady asked me to take a picture of her and her newborn baby.
In the malnutrition ward, many children suffer. Mothers are encouraged to stay at the hospital with them to provide care and receive training on food and nutrition for their family.
The hospital charges a token fee representing 10% of their actual costs for medical treatments. A higher fee structure is charged for patients coming from outside the local district, since this centre has a high reputation and attracts many from a distance.
This was a bathing area near the administration office in the courtyard. When I started taking photos, no one was there and this lady just walked up, looked at me and started undressing.
No modesty here!
A visit with James, the Mechanical Engineer. They are excited to have just received a new technical device and are in the process of setting it up.
ATVs are used to minimize vehicle and gasoline expenses. Unfortunately, they break down often and sometimes a grave yard develops with spare parts being robbed.
Rotarians will help sponsor the purchase of a newer truck like this one.
Latrines are also an important part of preserving the source of clean water.
Because of this need, we'll submit a Matching Grant application of $70,000 for 300 latrines.
Rain water harvesting is also an important source of water where there is cistern storage available.
On the HAS campus primitive work is provided to the neighboring poor people.
There are few machines used here because of the cheap labour and necessity to provide jobs.
Animals wander about scavanging for food.
It is not uncommon to see pigs, which are often tied to a tree by their owners.
We're headed out into the countryside to visit some water projects. Here are some rice fields.
Farmers working in their fields.
We're at the first well, which included fiancial sponsorship from Ryan's Well organization in Ottawa, Canada.
One of the community mothers takes great delight in pumping the water with Roy.
This is the pathway to the village. Everyone is friendly and appreciative.
Even the youngest, come to carry water from the well.
They say the owners know where their goats are, but I don't know how?
This little girl liked the small doll that I gave her. A number of these were made and dontaed by Tina from Brampton.
A happy lady doing her daily laundry on her front porch.
I think this lady dropped one of her chickens.
This lady's husband was a HAS worker who got sick with HIV AIDS. We stopped in for a brief visit of encouragement and left 4 Tina dolls for the children, who were not home at the time. Mom was really thankful and excited that these would be wonderful Christmas gifts for her children.
During a dinner party, hosted by Dr Suresh and CAO Debbie, Roy presented a large bag of drugs from Dr Ken Taylor and the Not-Just-Tourists group. Dr Suresh took great delight in going through the medications, indicating to us with much excitement and appreciation how many lives would be saved, because of this donation.
OK, I'm getting tired now and it's bed time. A new experience sleeping in a malaria net and very fitting, since I've been helping with a children's malaria net program in Tanzania.
In the morning, we see the 'school bus' picking up the children. This is not a common sight.
These girls really liked the hand crafted dolls donated by Tina in Bramalea.
The children's smiles always warms my heart. They seem so happy with a simple life.
Our vehicle broke down, so we had some time to visit the village market.
Walking through this primitive area.
The ladies walk to market with items for sale in bundles on their head. At the end of the day, they return home.
Hmm, this bread looks good! People seem very friendly.
The shoemaker . . with only one leg.
Another example of ladies at work.
This is well number 4, near the village market. There are some problems getting electricity to run the 6“ pump.
Now, on the way to Saint Marc, about 45 minutes away.
Here is another 'tap tap'.
A recent well installed at a medical clinic, enroute to Saint Marc. The director, dressed in white, is the RC President next year.
Inside the clinic it is very primitive, but clean.
The pharmacy at the medical clinic has only a few medications in stock.
A visit to the small laboratory where blood tests are done.
Getting near to Saint Marc, this is where flash floods created a major disaster in 2004.
Cars, 18 wheeler trucks, houses and people were all washed down the river and out to sea.
Road repairs with errosion and flood controls are gradually being put in place.
Vehicles and people were dumped by the raging flood waters out into the sea, here at Saint Marc.
Coming into the town of Saint Marc.
Do you think he will make it?
These girls where excited to have their picture taken along the roadway.
Rotarians greet us upon arrival in Saint Marc.
Checking out a well in the town.
This well included a wash rack area for women to do the laundry.
Reynold & Dawn (HAS) with Soelge (local Rtn) and Jennifer (USAID Manager).
Headed toward the school.
Rotary supports this school and also a water well in the area nearby.
The children are always neat and tidy, usually wearing a smile too.
These girls were playing around with me, when taking their picture.
This gal wants to be a professional model when she grows up.
Streets of this little neighborhood.
In this situation, a resident committee charges about 6 cents per pail and uses the funds for maintenance and operation costs.
Carrying water home from the well.
More examples of ladies at work, carrying the water home.
Time for a Rotary meeting to review progress and future project needs.
Presintation of a Paul Harris Fellow by Roy and DG Bob to Club President.
The end of another exciting day, back at HAS with a well drilling rig donated by RC Ancaster and Rotary Foundation.
