Blog

So...what's been happening since your Hero Holiday?

written on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 16:24
Ever wonder what other past volunteers are doing once they go home? Many of our teams leave their Hero Holidays armed and ready to change their worlds. If you have ever been on a Hero Holiday you know that you leave with many new friendships with others who get you and understand the crazy things you just accomplished together. They get you, they understand the emotions you have felt and have shared their dreams to make our world a better place for those stuck in the cycle of poverty.

One of those days...

written on Wed, 11/14/2012 - 09:03
I’m fairly certain everyone has had one of those days. You know those days that nothing goes right, that everything seems to be working in such a way to purposely make your life harder and more stressful. I had one of those days a little while ago, and trust me; it was really on of those days. Our team left a school at about 2:30 and after about a four-hour drive, through a snowstorm, we stopped for dinner.
road snow
band boys

Rainforest respite

written on Tue, 11/06/2012 - 10:02
After an emotionally charged morning spent at the Sosua garbage dump, an afternoon in the Dominican rainforest offered a well-deserved break, as well as a great opportunity for some team bonding.

A day in their shoes

written on Tue, 11/06/2012 - 09:13
This week, we spent a few hours at the La Union garbage dump, living “a day in their shoes”. On this day, pairs of WestJetters are partnered with someone who works in the dump, and we assist them as they collect what we would consider trash – what some back home may not even take a minute to recycle.

Building a house into a home

written on Fri, 11/02/2012 - 23:29
We did a tour of the community and houses in Aguas Negra that we would be rebuilding with Live Different. We practically had to hold back the WestJetters from grabbing shovels, hammers and chisels on the spot and jumping in to help – that is just the way WestJetters are.

I may not have a penny, but I have faith

written on Thu, 11/01/2012 - 21:28
Where to begin? What an amazing and humbling day. We started the day off with a trip to a local church, community centre, and school. We listened to the pastor speak about his dream to better the community and speak about his vision, a vision not many people would dare to try to bring to reality. We saw hands-on what he was able to bring to this community and how one person can truly make a difference.

Homecoming

written on Wed, 10/31/2012 - 17:39
As WestJetters we are very familiar with homecomings. Most of us witness them on a daily basis as our guests return home after time spent away. I suspect that many of us have also experienced countless homecomings of our own as we adventure out on travels near and far.
wheelbarrow
JVM
WJ

Homemade happiness

written on Sun, 10/28/2012 - 19:00

As we marched from our food filled, warm bed holding, hot water pumping, electricity surging home to our new barren yard and wooden structure, I was thinking that Shack Week was going to be fun. I have been camping many times before: you set up your tent, stoke up a fire and await nature's great amazements. This experience was more like surviving than camping, and by the end of it all, although I hate to admit it, I would come to miss those luxuries that our past dwelling possessed. Many Mexican families endure the long laborious days of the fields and come home to a great lack of those luxuries. Last week my fellow classmates and I were one of those families.


One man's trash is another man's treasure

written on Sun, 10/28/2012 - 14:49
What we once saw as dirty garbage on the side of a Mexican highway we now see as a possible home. Dirty garbage bags and old mops, items we would have never dreamt to touch with our bare hands prior to last week, now held our roof in place. Cardboard boxes once filled with someone’s garbage, an item our mind previously didn’t even register sitting on the sides of the road, were now our floor; the only thing between us and the dirty ground beneath. It’s amazing how our instinct to survive will force you to do these things, use these items you would have never touched before. Shack week has opened our eyes to the world around us in a very new way.

Haiti School Opening: How You Can Help!

written on Thu, 10/25/2012 - 16:42
I remember so many first days of school, (come on they are not that far back for me to remember!) I remember the week before sharpening all my pencils, writing my name on all my binders, and picking out the outfit I would wear on my first day back. That day after Labour Day generally had a light crispness to it with the promise of fall about to begin and an excitement. My mom even use to sing the Christmas carol "It's the most wonderful time of year"! But the thing I remember most is being excited to see all my friends again after a long but fun summer and to start playing school sports. Being educated was a given, something I really did take for granted. You often do not see the value in it until you meet someone who does have the same privileges.
retaining wall
pickaxe
schoolgirls
uniforms

Wow, so that's what work is!

written on Thu, 10/18/2012 - 00:18
The Academy students in Mexico go through a very challenging yet very rewarding week called 'Shack Week.' This is where they build themselves a 'shack' to live in, and work alongside the Mexicans in jobs such as field work, rock picking, and clamming. The students have just completed two days of hard work in the local tomato fields. Have a look at what they have to say about their experience.

Pic of the Week - Mexican Neighbour

written on Wed, 10/17/2012 - 18:41

We met this beautiful woman on the Carson Graham Mexico trip this past spring. She showed up to help us clean the yard of her neighbour's house as we were preparing to build them a new house! Such a selfless action, and we'll never forget her!


Pic of the Week - Haiti School is Open!

written on Thu, 10/11/2012 - 10:36
Our school in Haiti is now open for the year! 177 little ones are all ready in their uniforms excited for the opportunity to receive a good education!
haiti school

Great Big Tiny Miracles...

written on Tue, 10/09/2012 - 15:59
On October 1st, 2012, we entered the home and life of Kiryat. This little girl, just over a month old, had a big problem. Kiryat had a malignant tumor on the underside of her liver that grew more fatal everyday it went untreated. Her family: mother, father, and grandfather had set a date for an operation in Tijuana, Mexico to have the tumor removed but had not yet gathered the 50,000 pesos (nearly $4,000 US) needed for the procedure.

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