Haiti 2009

West Catholic High School will be sending a team of 17 students and adults to the remote community of Seguin Haiti in April 2009.  They will depart Grand Rapids on April 2nd and return on April 10, 2009 flying with American Airlines.

Mission Highlights

The nine day mission trip will keep the students busy with varies projects such as:

Building latrines.

The team will assist some families to construct a new latrine.  This project currently has 35 new latrines with plans for several hundred in the future.  This program is subsidized because the Haitians in most cases cannot afford the food needed for a meal per day.  Poor sanitation is responsible for many needless deaths of children and babies in Haiti.

Checking water filters in peoples homes.

Currently there are 400 families benefiting from water purifiers in their homes.  These filters provide purified water for approximately 3200 people.  It is hoped that in five years all families will have a water filter.  This program has already helped these people to become healthier.  Part of the water filter program is to monitor the program by checking the filters four times per year.  Last spot check of the families with filters showed that over 90% were using the filters correctly.

 
Provide Vermox to the people to battle internal parasites.

Vermox is a de-worming medication that is giving to the people several times per year.  Most Haitians have lived with internal parasites for most of their lives.  The parasites along with other factors causes the average life span in Haiti to be 49 years for men and 52 years for women.  Many children and babies die because of these parasites, polluted drinking water, poor nutrition, and lack of proper sanitation.

Follow this link to a youtube.com movie.

This clip was not made in Seguin but it explains the need for Vermox in Haiti.  Every tablet of Vermox given out in Seguin will improve the health of many and but it will also save lives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TEaVjoBUuo&feature=related

Teach Seguin children about art.

Children see art in Haiti but rarely enjoy creating it for lack of materials.  You may have the opportunity to work with the children in creating many new original pieces of art.

Conduct a bible school program for the children of Seguin.

There may be an opportunity along with art to interact with the children and adults in Seguin to conduct a bible class or bible school.

Visit and assist at Mother Theresa's home for the sick and dying.  

Mother Theresa's hospital is a sad but a joyous place where you will have the opportunity to work with the Sisters of Charity in loving and holding babies.

Visit with Teresa Murphy PA who has talked at West several times.

Teresa has talked at West several times.  She is originally from Wisconsin and has lived in Haiti for six years operating a medical clinic in Seguin.  She has now moved to a new clinic but is excited that we will come for a visit.  While Teresa was in Seguin she treated over 15 thousand people for every medical condition one could imagine and also conducted a weekly dental clinic.

Visit Historic sites in Port au Prince.