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Haitian Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Project (HHARP) Update |
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In March 2011 a delegation of 30 persons representing the Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach and Area will travel to the Dominican Republic to provide humanitarian assistance and relief to approximately 2,000 poor, malnourished Haitian refugees settled in make-shift camps and villages not far from the Haitian-DR border. The delegation is one of several groups organized and committed to provide near continuous on-site assistance as the rainy season subsides.
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The Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach's delegation includes a medical team, a dental team and an emergency goods distribution team. The group flies from Toronto to Puerto Plata, DR. on Thursday March 3, 2011 and returns one week later, on Thursday March 10.
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Our medical and dental teams will provide the Haitians basic medical and dental services. Both teams will bring supplies and medicines with them as none are available in the refugee settlements. Supplies and medicines will be acquired through donations-in-kind from regional suppliers and local medical/dental clinics. Purpose-built "medipaks" will be purchased with monies received through cash donations.
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Club organizers have coordinated with full-time relief workers in the DR to determine specific items that our delegation needs to procure and deliver. Our Distribution Team will deliver personal hygiene packs, protein powder food supplements, treated mosquito netting to protect from insect borne diseases, footwear (flip-flops) for the children, crank type flashlights (the shanty homes have no electricity), and rubber boots and gloves for the adults who scavenge local dump sites for food, materials and reusable items. Sports balls,skipping ropes, colouring books and crayons will be given out to the children. Distribution items will be acquired through cash and donations-in-kind campaigns directed at citizens in the South Georgian Bay area and Rotarians in District 7010.
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Our delegation will be hosted by Dominican Crossroads, a well established NGO experienced and passionately committed to serving Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic. Crossroads has a modern, safe and secure compound which our group will use as a base. Crossroads will provide comfortable accommodation, good meals, safe drinking water and all ground transportation. The compound is nestled in the rainforest and provides a beautiful setting for members to relax or swim and to prepare for upcoming activities. For more information about Dominican Crossroads and their compound visit www.dominicancrossroads.com.
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The Rotary Moto: Service Above Self |
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To date, 24 persons have elected to participate in this service opportunity of a lifetime. Our group will benefit greatly from the experience of Wasaga Beach resident Megan Ratnam who has joined us as special advisor. Megan has served, lived amongst and befriended the Haitian people in the area that our delegation is visiting. Our planners are already utilizing Megan's expertise. She will also guide our activities while we are in the Dominican Republic.
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There are six openings in our group for people who wish to experience the joy of hands-on service to others. Openings exist on all teams –Medical, Dental and Distribution. Rotarians or service-minded non-Rotarian adults and mature teens are invited to join our group. This offer expires on December 4, 2010. The cost to join our group is $1,200. This includes all related airfare expenses from Toronto to Puerto Plata and back, 7 nights accommodation at Crossroads, meals and ground transportation expenses while in the DR, plus all taxes and service charges.
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If you are interested in joining our delegation or seek more information about this project, please contact the Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach's service committee chairman and project leader, Steve Wallace, immediately at (705) 444-4012 or steve.wallace@rogers.com.
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If you are interested in supporting this very worthy project by donating distribution items, please contact Peter de Boer at (705) 322-3150 orpeter_sharon@live.ca.
If you wish to support this important humanitarian assistance and relief project by helping with the purchase of medical supplies, medicine and distribution items, please visit www.WasagaBeachRotary.ca. Your cash contribution is needed to help ease the pain and suffering of sick and impoverished Haitian refugees.
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Thank you!
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Links: |
Haitian Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Project (HHARP) Update
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Club Projects > Disaster Relief 
