Haiti is considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The population is over 9 million people. The unemployment rate is over 60%. There are an estimated 700,000 orphans in Haiti.
TEMPERATURE
Average temp is 77 to 93 F in the hottest month, July, and 68 to 88 F in the coldest month, January.
PORT-AU-PRINCE
Once you exit the airport area, you will be struck by the business and congestion of Port Au Prince. There will be people wanting to help carry your baggage so that they can be tipped. We will be met by some staff from GO Project and they will take care of this. Please follow their instructions. You will have a short drive from the international airport to the Jumecourt Inn at Croix des Bouquets (‘Inn’), located 15 miles east of Port-Au-Prince.
ACCOMODATIONS
Jumecourt Inn will usually be your accommodations the first and last nights of the trip. You will enjoy same-gender living arrangements. The Inn is quite nice for Haiti as it has running water, each room has its own bathroom, sleeping on a bed, and ceiling fans (A/C sometimes). The Inn has a nine-foot high wall, guarded gate, and 24-hour security. It’s also outside the population center of Port-Au-Prince. Most of your trip will be three hours north in Gonaives. Your accommodations in Gonaives are comparable to the Jumecourt Inn.
THE FOOD
You will enjoy rice and beans in different ways. Most of the food/meat is fried. Meat: Chicken, goat, turkey, fish. Be careful about eating raw vegetables outside of the Inn.
THE WATER
Do not drink tap water. Fill your water bottles for brushing your teeth. Carry your water bottle at all times.
THE PEOPLE
The people are very friendly. You will be staying at the Inn, where it is safe to walk around the complex area with another team member. The children will usually greet you with a kiss and the men with brotherly hugs.
IMMUNIZATIONS & MEDICATIONS
You should see a medical professional to make sure you have all appropriate immunizations and medications for this trip to Haiti. We recommend that you visit the county health department to ask for all of the necessary immunizations.
You will need updated shots:
- Tetanus
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Malaria medication (ask your doctor for a prescription for Chloroquine or Lariam)
For complete information go to the CDC web site – http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/haiti.aspx
TEAM LEADER
Each group will be assigned a team leader who will schedule pre- trip meetings or a conference call, keep you updated and help you prepare for your trip. They may also suggest more specific items for you to pack.
PASSPORT
You must have a valid passport. Please make sure that it is valid for a minimum of 7 months (from date of trip), as they will not let you leave the country or return if it expires in less than 6 months.
WHAT TO BRING (In Your Carry on Bag)
- Bible
- Snacks
- Reusable water bottles
- Spending Money (You may want to bring $100 for spending money for souvenirs)
- Medicines (Tylenol, Band-Aids, Benedryl, Pepto, anti-diarrheal, personal meds, etc)
- Clothes for Men – long pants or shorts and short-sleeved shirts, Sunday church (collared shirt with tie, no jeans, no need for a jacket), PJ’s (comfortable T-shirt and shorts)
- Clothes for Women – short-sleeved shirts and pants. Please only wear skirts or capri pants (In the Haitian culture it is offensive to wear shorts in public). Sunday church clothes (dress or long skirt), shirt that covers the shoulders, PJ’s (comfortable T-shirt and shorts)
- Shoes- shower shoes, dress shoes, sandals and tennis shoes (The terrain can be rough so you will want sturdy walking shoes)
- Toiletries – Bring your own towel, soap, shampoo & conditioner, toothbrush & toothpaste
- Bedding is provided (Bringing your own sleep sack is optional)
- Camera and memory cards, batteries, and charger
- Glasses/Contacts (even if usually only wear contacts bring prescription glasses)
- Jacket – light weight jacket and rain coat or poncho
- Flashlight
- Sunglasses/Hat/Sunscreen
- Bug Repellent (one with DEET is preferred)
- Hand sanitizer
Please remember if you are carrying any gels, liquids, etc. they must be 3.4 oz. or less and put into a quart-size zip lock bag; one quart-size zip lock bag per carry-on. When you get to the airport at the security check-in they will ask that you take out liquids for inspection.
CHECKED BAGS
Each person is allowed to check-in one 50 lb. bag at no cost in addition to their carry-on. A 2nd bag costs $30 to check. The bag(s) should be packed with items for the children. We ask that you pack one 50 lb. bag per person. Your trip leader will also let you know in advance if there are particular needs to meet with your check-in bag(s). To make bag retrieval at the PAP airport easier, please put a piece of duct tape on each checked bag and write “HOPE” on it. NOTE: WE WILL LET YOU KNOW PRIOR TO THE TRIP WHAT ITEMS ARE MOST NEEDED.
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TRIP FAQ