DR: A day at the dump.

When you think of a dump, your initial thought is a place where your garbage is disposed of, not a place where it’s the only way of earning a living. Almost all the workers are Haitian refugees who are stateless, living in the Dominican Republic. The “workers” make less than a dollar a day by collecting plastic bottles, tin cans and scrap metal. Each bag that the workers fill is worth approx. 5 pesos, which converts into approx. 17cents Canadian.  For us, the Hero Holiday students, we were able to step into the shoes of these workers and getting covered in who knows what. At times the smell was so over whelming we wanted to barf, but after spending three hours in the dump the smell became “normal”. Living in Canadian society, most of us grew up with a need of accomplishment and success, It’s amazing how the dump brought forth these needs. Our goal was to fill over sized bags provided by the workers. Surprisingly, it was rather difficult to find plastic bottles. After walking on mountains of garbage, there it was, “poking out of rotting banana peels- our first plastic bottle! The amount of success that overwhelmed our bodies from finding one little bottle was amazing.From this dump experience I have come to the realization that our society takes things for granted way to much. I know that every time I look at a plastic bottle again, my mind will fill with the memories of the dump. Also, I plan to take some action after seeing and experiencing this accomplishment. I really want to encourage people to see the same realization as myself.Rebecca Price- Student Leader.

Just Clowning around at the Orpahage visit…

Dominican Republic – Orphanage Day- by Allyson J Grant a participant on Hero Holiday July 2008Joy and inspiration. These are the two words that I emphasized with our group today, our “Spirit Clowns”, as we readied ourselves for entering the orphanage.Apart from a few new brave souls, we as a group have worked together in the past creating compassion and leadership in school-related events. However, we were slightly tentative about the emotional impact that this particular site would have on us. Knowing that all the children were mentally or physically disabled and that we had to be cognizant of the language barrier. We decided that we would enter “in clownito” (as my mentor had dubbed it), or in other words out of clown, to assess the situation, the needs of the children, and to get ourselves accustomed to what for the most of them was an entirely new element.I was not one of the first of our troupe off the buss and into the first room, but as I approached the door a handful of red eyes and wet faces were emerging overwhelmed and overcome with a resounding question about the sights: why? As we made our way through the various rooms of the new facility, the reactions became vast-some of us were carrying children in our arms, others were grasping for breath and comprehension, and all reactions were okay. Were they going to be able to- or WANT to- create the “spark of light” that is integral to this form of clown work? What would it take to go from feeling consumed with sorrow to giving the gift of love?We helped with the lunch feedings, and gathered to reconfirm the details: we were there to provide our spirit. Spirit clowning in this environment was new to us all, but the sound of giggles, the squeals of glee and the toothy grins were not. The unmistakable impact of our work fueled us right from the moment the children saw us re-enter donned in Red noses. We danced with some, sang with some, were gregarious and physical, or were tender and subtle with some, but we smiled with all.The red nose works as a remarkable tool-it allows the wearer to step into a realm of profound intimacy, connection and child-like wonder that we so often do not allow ourselves; but it also allows the viewer to accept love and laughter on a new level.Spirit clowns retreated at their own pace after we had been at it for quite a while, either being satisfied that they had given what they wanted, or were emotionally or physically exhausted and needed to re-charge. And all reasons were okay.As we collected, noses-off and sweat-laden in the sunlit and breezy room at the top of the stairs, we called out in unison, Buenos tardes. Amigos! “to the room of full of smiling faces, I descended wondering who received the biggest gift of joy and inspiration.**Spirit Clowning is a branch of Jest for Joy that promotes Education/Outreach opportunities in Red Nose. Spirit Clowns are non-professional performers who are facilitated by a professional clown-doctor to promote joy and inspiration through Red Nose work. Leadership students from JN Burnett Secondary School have had workshopping in the art of Spirit Clowning over the past 2 years, which was co-created with Kristi Molnar.Allyson J Grant is the Artistic Director of the newly developed organization Jest for Joy. Jest for Joy is a clown-doctoring program which focuses on prompting wellness of patients through wit, physical theatre and song. Clown doctors are not merely entertainers; they are professional performers are highly trained, and are an integral part of the health care team. For more information, please visit www. Jestforjoy.caFor more stories of the students of J.N. Burnett please visit their blog at www.burnettkids.blogspot.com

Participant Highlights – Seycove Secondary in Mexico

When asked the question… What was the highlight of your day?Dan (parent) – The highlight of my day was picking the family up in the bus and taking them to the work site. It was a shock to see who was sleeping outside on the mattress behind the house. It was great to see their excitement as we pulled up. When we were working, one of the men was working alongside us. He noticed the boards that were off and needed to be re-nailed. He had pride in the work we were doing together. Taylor (student) – The most surprising part was finding the deer slayer (the bug that eats the scorpion) in the new outhouse when we arrived on the site. A highlight would be seeing the homes that the family live in as well as the one down the street that was made out of clothes, tarps and other materials. Robbie (student) – Seeing the accomplishment of the house walls going up and the seeing the structure take shape. Putting the roof on and me and Emily kicking butt on the saws. It was a lot of fun today, and everyone worked really well together, there was a lot that got done.

Our Dominican Worksites

What! Hard work, hot days and sweat could equal fun??… To the students here with us in the Dominican Republic it does. Throughout the trip, our students travel to one of the four work sites and work their butts off and… for some weird reason they like it. I guess you would too if you got to see what a life changing difference your hard work could make in a developing community.Our first project, Arroyo Seco, is a school that Hero Holiday has worked on since 2006. Three years ago we stepped out of our trucks onto a field where local farmers kept their cows and pigs and now have built a two story school with an on site medical clinic (to be completed this August), a full fence, and play ground for it’s students. This July we are completing the inside and have already witnessed many paint wars and ceilings being put up. At the end of July this school will be fully painted and ready for classes to start!The second project is, Cangrejo, we started this school build last summer. A few days before the trip started the cement roof was put on the second floor. We have to wait 15 days for it to cure so in the mean time the students have started digging the washrooms. Yesterday, they laid the last cement in the bathroom footings and the walls should go up any day now. We are also moving dirt to even out an area for parking.

The third project is another school, we are working to put a fence around a school called Dominican Advance. Kent, our on staff Kiwi, works the students like crazy and is hoping to get the fence up and around the school. He seams to think that we may have this fence completed by the end of the week. Go Team!

Out last project which is dear to each on the staff and participant’s hearts is the house we are building for Bernard. Bernard has been helping with Hero Holiday since our first trip to the Dominican Republic. He is known for his BIG smile, hilarious personality and generous heart. The student’s are digging through hard dirt to make a trench for the footings and foundation of his home. Bernard is a Haitian and has had to over come many racial barriers while living in Dominican. Despite all of this he keeps a positive attitude and gives back to his community in helping to build schools, providing opportunities for struggling artists to sell their art and he also supports his brother who runs an orphanage in Haiti.There are two other activities (an orphanage visit and a half day of helping people working in a local dump) that the students participate in… stay tuned for more pictures and stories tomorrow.I will say, so far our trip has been a success, communities are receiving the help they need and student’s lives are being changed.~Nettie Brown

Work Day One and Photos – Seycove Secondary School in Mexico

There are two houses going up on the same piece of property. To our backs is hills of strawberry fields, speckled with the bandanna covered heads of the workers, with the sounds of the trucks going by. What can be heard over the generators and saws, that is. In front of us is the rodeo grounds. And thankfully so as well, because until the outhouse hole is dug to a good depth, the group is using those facilities. And please note, I use the word facilities loosely. By the end of yesterday all the roof panels were done, as well as two of the walls. By the end of today, the houses will be up. It is an incredible sense of accomplishment to see the houses going up. Gerard, our building contractor and local Newfie, is hard at work with the students making great progress.

Sunshine, Sweat and Smiles – Seycove Secondary in Mexico

On the first day here we loaded up the bus and headed south. We went to Benito Garcia, a village where Hero Holiday has been working in for over a year, to check out the schools our participants have built and talk about Social Justice issues. As we stood on the hard packed earth, with kids around, looking and smiling, we talked about statelessness. Together we learned about the challenges of no possessing a formal identity. We talked about the reality that face families in that area who do not have their papers, how it limits their freedoms and puts their children at higher risk. We talked about the people around us, who are living and breathing, loving and hurting, giving and growing… and how without their papers they do not technically exist. For lunch we hit up Sand Dollar Beach, a beautiful spot here on the Pacific with soft sand, sloping dunes, and yesterday it had great waves to boogie board on. After some hang out time in the sun shine we loaded up again and headed north back to town and to the graveyard. There we talked about children. The child death rate in the world. We talked about why it is that people living in poverty seem to continually have big families, and about the ones that ended up in front is us, marked by a cross and some colourful plastic flowers. One of our summer volunteer staff, Kelsey, is a veteran of Hero Holiday and shared her stories of kids that have made an impact on her. About Danica from the Dominican Republic whose short life and sad ending last summer is forever remembered in the hearts of our interns last summer. And about a small girl in Thailand, who lives today surviving horrors of a life of trafficking, and lives in hope. Each story, each topic, each view in front of us pulled at the minds and thoughts of the students and adults alike. Times of discomfort at the injustices in the world around are are so valuable. They keep us motivated, in touch and concerned. The day isn’t over yet. We headed to a local crafter market, and the students got a good taste of bargaining as well as an exposure to what it is like to be approached by kids selling their wares, using their charm to convince. We checked out the local coffee shop and ice cream stand. Not to worry, both are tried, tested and true for our Hero Holiday participants and very much enjoyed by the Hero Holiday staff and volunteers. No stomach worries there. The evening was a relaxing one, hanging out and getting together for the first days reflections on the trip. This is an awesome group, both the participants and leaders, observant, involved and definitely willing to get the most out of this experience as they can. It is going to be a great week!

Safe Travels, Safe Arrivals – Seycove Secondary in Mexico

Day Three in Mexico for Seycove Secondary from Vancouver, BC. The Tijuana/San Diego border crossing was a breeze. We pulled the bus up to the busiest international border in the world, more vehicles pas through there each day than anywhere else, and Andrew, the driver, and I got out. Not sure who has ever been through the Tijuana border before. You pull up to it in a car and go into a lane, it is a rare day to have a three car wait, mostly because of the speed of processing. You pull through and get a light, green says ‘pase’ and off you go, some of the cars racing ahead, or you get a red light saying ‘revision’ and you pull over. Buses area bit different. Each time there seems to be a variety of options of hoops they could ask you to jump through. This time, we pulled up and got out of the bus. The border guard took us to the light, and Mr. Olsen (Rob) pressed the button. Green. ‘Pase’. No more questions. We were on our way. Safe travels and safe arrivals. Everyone unpacked and headed to the beach for some relaxing time in the afternoon, then back to the dorms for the first of many delicious Mexican meals prepared for us by our cook Amelia. After some cross cultural orientation, people headed off to bed. I haven’t gotten one comment yet about the roosters, perhaps someone had chicken stew and there aren’t as many around this time. A note of thanks goes out to Andrew and Dawn Bernardi, our bus drivers and co-leaders from Hope, BC. This is Dawn and Andrew’s second time to Mexico with Hero Holiday this year, and we are looking forward to having them here again in August. They are old hats at life around here in this part of the Baja, and their efforts are appreciated.

DR trip 08. Second day on the work site.

Today I went to the work site called Dominican Advanced. Its a school that has been built by missionaries that had a passed by not too long ago. It was a hot day but because we were up on a hill, there was a cool breeze that swept over our foreheads. There were many children up there spending time with us, both from Haiti and Dominican. They seemed to get along as through there hasn’t been hundreds of years of hatred and tension between them. After lunch we went for a walk down to the villages. The first village we came upon was a Dominican village. Everyone was very happy to see us and all the children joined our group as we explored the unknown. We then came to a set of stairs which led to the Haitian village. I thought it was quite ironic that the Haitian village was below the Dominican one. As we approached the bottom of the 152 roughly carved stairs, a vast beauty swept over me when I saw there little community all spending time together. As we carried on through the village I noticed students comfortably walking into inviting homes, having what they could of a conversation. It was incredible to see how far a little body language could go. On our way back to the stairway that led to a different world, I had a little girl beside me. She had my hand tight in hers and had made it clear to all that I was hers. After we climbed the stairs a lady walked up beside me and went to grab my hand. She barely had a grip on it before the little girl attached to my other side, smacked it away. At that moment I realized the lady trying to hold my hand was handicapped and was greatly rejected by those in her community. It broke my heart. In Canada people with disabilities are taken care of to the fullest. The fact that this lady had little love or hope to help her survive brought me down to a low. Shortly after the little girl had got distracted and ran off. I looked ahead and saw the lady a few paces ahead of me so I walked up beside her. Reaching for her hand, she looked my way, and reached for mine. She grasped tightly and smiled at me, making joyful noises that would normally make her community walk away, uncomfortable. We walked the rest of the way up to the village and when she saw all the children playing she groaned loudly with excitement and ran towards them. It took all my strength to hold my tears back and hope that the children wouldn’t reject her like the little girl had done. All I could do was smile so big my jaw hurt when she walked by, and all I could do was love her as she should be loved; as every person, young or old should be loved.Alethea Troves- Student Leader.

First day, out on the work sites

Today was our very first day with our new teams out on the work sites. We have 5 different teams and 5 different work site which include: Arroyo Seco- a school, Congreho- a school, Dominican Advance- building a fence around a school, Bernard’s House, and the garbage dump. Each of our teams went to a different work site and everyone worked super hard and had the time of their lives. There are little children at each site, so we all take turns playing with the kids, and working. It’s such an amazing time, the warm sun, the laughing children, and the satisfaction of knowing your doing something to help the people who really need it. Its such a great way to start off the trip!!After work everyone came back, went swimming, got some cold ice lemonade, and had a rest. Dinner was then served and debriefing of the days activities with our teams then started. Anyways… we’ve got a pool party going on now… so i better go, but ill let you all know how it went tomorrow.

WE’RE HERE!!!!

Well… we all arrived in The Dominican Republic safe!! The Western and Ontario Departures both got off to a great start. Both teams met up in New Yorks JFK airport, where everyone met some new faces, the Hero Holiday staff, and got ready for the last leg of our journey. On the plane most people slept, traveling really does take a lot out of you. But at 1:05pm, a whole 55 minutes early, our entire team was awake and excited to be landing in The Dominican Republic and starting their time here.After getting our rooms, roommates and luggage sorted out, we had some free time to go swimming or take a nap before dinner. After dinner Christal Earle, one of the founders of Hero Holiday, did a little orientation of Dominican life with us and we go split up into our groups for the week. These are the groups that we are going to be with at all the work sites, debriefing sessions, and excursions with, its all very exciting. All in all the first night was a blast!!