- Who We Are
- What We Do
- What You Can Do
- Resources
UUSC-UUA JustWorks Trip to Haiti, April/May 2012
Erik Mohn (left) making ties to be used in the structure of the community center.
The afternoons will be spent in dialogue with local MPP members. You will have the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing rural Haiti after the earthquake and how MPP is addressing those challenges. On past trips, afternoon activities included the following:
- Sitting in on a training for community activists about popular-education methods
- Discussing the rights and roles of women in rural Haiti with members of Fanm MPP (the Women of MPP)
- Touring a tree nursery and tire gardens created by MPP teenagers and young adults
- Engaging in dialogue with Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, MPP's visionary founder, about his goal for an entirely organic, sustainable Haiti
- Playing an energetic pickup soccer game with village children and college-aged agronomy students
- Getting trained in trauma-resiliency skills by Haitians who were trained by the Trauma Resiliency Institute, a UUSC partner
- Touring a local home
In the evenings, you will reflect upon your work and learning experiences. Group reflection and dialogue is an integral part of the trip, and participants should be willing to speak and listen in a small-group setting. Past topics of discussion have included privilege and power, methods of forming effective cross-cultural and cross-class alliances, the roots of poverty, and the history of Haiti. Discussions will be informed by our pre-trip readings and the life experiences each volunteer brings to the learning community.
Volunteers will live at MPP's National Peasant Training Center in Papaye, Haiti. We are housed in a two-story, earth-brick dormitory with running water (including cold-water showers) and electricity. All of the bedrooms have two twin beds and doors that lock. Mosquito nets are provided for the beds. Meals are served family style in the main dining hall. The food is prepared with purified water; it is safe for volunteers to eat all that is served, including delicious organic produce and free-range meats.
The group will likely be sharing the National Peasant Training Center with other Haitian groups there to receive trainings or attend conferences. This presents an excellent opportunity to engage in informal dialogue and cultural exchange. The compound itself is quite safe, and volunteers will be able to explore the grounds on their own.
MPP is one of Haiti's oldest and largest peasant organizations. After the earthquake, MPP worked with UUSC to construct a new village for Port-au-Prince residents displaced by the January 2010 earthquake. The new settlement, called an "eco-village," seeks to be completely sustainable. Residents of the eco-village are growing enough food not only to feed their families but also to sell for income. Before being mentored by current MPP members, none of the eco-village residents knew how to farm. On this trip, you will work on the eco-village or on similar ongoing sustainability projects.
Cost
The cost of this trip is $1,200. Please see "Participation fee" below for information about reduced rates.
Itinerary
Saturday: Arrive in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The first night is spent at a Port-au-Prince hotel.
Sunday: Drive to MPP's National Peasant Training Center in the Central Plateau; receive an introduction and orientation in the afternoon.
Monday-Friday: Work on sustainability projects in the morning (e.g., tire gardens or light construction at the eco-village); take part in cultural or educational programs in the afternoon. Engage in group reflection during evenings.
Saturday: Depart in early morning from MPP; return to Port-au-Prince to travel home.
Trip Leaders
Evan Seitz, UUSC Associate for Experiential Learning and Youth Services
Wendy Flick, UUSC Haiti Emergency Response Manager
Scholarship Availability:
UUSC has limited scholarship money available to help defray participation fees. No funding is available for airfare or other personal supplies. Scholarships are awarded based on demonstrated interest in justice work and an explanation of financial need.
To inquire about scholarships, or to discuss other ways to fundraise, please contact us at csj@uusc.org. If you are in need of scholarship assistance, please contact us after submitting your application.
For ages:
18 and over. Teenagers who are 16 or 17 may participate with permission from UUSC and if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. We encourage young adults and college-age participants to apply.
Participation fee:
All adults (except as described below) $1,200; Fellowshipped ministers, religious education professionals, and lay leaders engaged in justice work, $900 (25 percent scholarship); Seminarians, youth(16-17), and young adults (18-35) with demonstrated interest in advancing justice, $600 (50 percent scholarship). We are able to offer the trip at this price due to generous support by the Veatch Program of the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, in Manhasset, N.Y.
Please note:
It is recommended that participants receive vaccinations at least four to six weeks before the trip. If you are considering this trip, consult with a travel clinic for the most up-to-date list of recommended vaccinations. Check with your health-insurance provider to see if travel vaccinations are covered, as the cost for vaccinations without coverage can be as high as $1,000.
Application Deadline:
February 5
Application Description:
Applications for this trip are no longer being accepted as the deadline has already passed. If you have questions, please e-mail csj@uusc.org.
For information contact:
Sam Jones in UUSC's College of Social Justice at csj@uusc.org or 617-301-4326.
