Elevate Destinations Offers Volunteer Trips to Haiti

We want to help Elevate Destinations, a travel company offering customized adventures to travelers seeking to explore and impact the conditions of the places they visit, spread the word about some upcoming volunteer opportunities.

In response to the devastation caused by the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Elevate Destinations has created a new campaign: "Elevate Haiti: Volunteer Trips to Help Rise Above the Rubble." The trips focus on rebuilding two educational institutions for the younger generation that were destroyed by the Earthquake. As a participant, you will volunteer to build a computer lab for a free community school in Jacmel or, on different dates, rebuild part of a home for abandoned boys in Port-au-Prince. At the same time, you will work and live among Haitians, learning about a culture that will captivate and elevate you forever.

The Jacmel Community School Volunteer Build-out, taking place August 15 – 29, 2010 and November 21 – December 5, 2010, takes you to Jacmel, Haiti where approximately 70% of buildings were damaged- the majority located in the poorer neighborhoods.

St. Joseph Family’s Trinity House was in mid-construction of classrooms and a computer room for their free community school when the earthquake hit. During your 14 days in Jacmel, you will make this computer lab and classroom a reality.

You will spend intense days volunteering, and each evening you will spend relaxing, writing in your journal or playing with the Trinity House children. You can even join the children’s folkloric dance classes that take place Mondays, Wednesday and Saturdays.

Additional activities include a tour of downtown Jacmel, an outing to a series of natural waterfalls and basins in the hills above Jacmel, a beach day at a beautiful local beach, and an outing to Croix des Bouquets - a village outside of Port-au-Prince known for its artisanry, especially in metalwork.

The Port-au-Prince Boy’s Home Rebuild will take place August 15 – 23, 2010 or November 21- 29, 2010 and takes you to the capital city of Haiti.

St. Joseph’s Home For Boys was devastated by the earthquake, and currently the boys are occupying a house next door to the ruin that was once their home. During your 9 days in Port-au-Prince, you will begin to rebuild this home, take part in intense volunteering each day, and have the chance to spend the evening playing with the St. Joseph’s children.

Additional activities include journey to downtown Port-au-Prince to experience the extent of damage made by the quake with your own eyes, an outing to the nearby village of Croix des Bouquets, and an overnight hike in the mountainous region of Seguin.

By the end of each trip you will see the finished results of your volunteer efforts, support Haiti’s local economy and educational initiatives and experience Haiti to the fullest.

Volunteers have the choice of opting for a basic or an upgraded travel package. With the $500 basic package travelers stay at St. Joseph's Schools in tents or sleeping bags and dinner is on your own, and with the $1500 upgraded package travelers stay at a nearby hotel and dinner is provided. Neither package includes the cost for international airfare, and a 50% deposit is due 90 days prior to your departure date. Please visit the Elevate Destinations website for details about prices, how to get involved, and how to assess whether you are capable of the physical labor required.

Every Elevate Destinations trip benefits environmental preservation and community development, and 5% of each trip is donated to an NGO in the host destination.

For information or to register for a trip, please contact: info@elevatedestinations.com or call 617/661-0203.