How has your life changed in a year?

A few days ago, 51 WestJetters loaded in to a truck, water bottles and work gloves in hand. The look of anticipation was very clear on everyone’s face – the day we’d been waiting months for had arrived. We are in Nuevo Renacer to build homes for five families who have been living in conditions that none of us could survive in.

I have been blessed to have participated in two previous Hero Holiday trips – the first trip a mere 12 months ago. That first experience was life changing and I knew before it was even over I’d be back. Five months later I was meeting my next family. Today I am now on my third trip with fellow WestJetters, but this time as a team leader.

A year has passed; three trips, nine homes and five more in the making. Fourteen families that have a better sense of security and more opportunity. The community of Nuevo Renacer is starting to look different from when I first saw it. There are more homes that have been built, men and women are off looking for work and children have more things to do.

Every time I come here, the one thing that resonates with me the most is meeting the families we are building for. They welcome us like family, and you can see how grateful they are that we are here. But behind all the smiles and excitement, there lies a sense of disbelief in their eyes. It’s almost like they have lost their zest for life. What I have noticed after the homes are built is an incredible transformation.

As the walls start to go up, the glimmer comes back and demeanors slowly start to change.  The reality about their new homes is starting to set in. House dedication day is filled with excitement, accomplishment and the most wonderful feeling of love. But then, shortly after, we leave to come home.

What we don’t get to see is what has changed for these families. They have their souls back, exhibit a sense of confidence and have faith that anything is possible. They start to find work, they start to get an education, they have one less thing to worry about in life and they begin to focus on their dreams.

Our lives can change so quickly in a year. We all have a path in life and many of us go about our business not even realizing what has changed over the past year. In one year, shelter from the storm wasn’t the only thing that was built. A path from deepest darkness to the brightest light of the future can be paved.

Therese Gallagher, Planning and Delivery Manager, Inflight Operations

It rained hard last night

It rained hard last night, but luckily only for a short time. I was worried that the humidity today would be unbearable.

Then I started thinking about the young, single mother we visited yesterday. She seemed unconcerned that we were hanging wet laundry over top of her wooden dining table. When we suggested moving it, she shrugged her shoulders and said “when it rains the roof leaks and everything gets wet anyway.”

It rained hard last night, but luckily only for a short while. And I was worried about the humidity.

Christopher Van Vliet, First Officer

Without struggle, there is no progress

If you’ve ever vacationed in the Caribbean, or any Third-World country, you know that on the other side of your wristband-gated all-inclusive resort, life can be a struggle. Daily struggles are commonplace for a disproportionate number of local citizens and, among the residents, there’s another subsection of  individuals who struggle beyond what is imaginable for most.

Yesterday, the participants of WestJet’s Hero Holiday were introduced to the five families for whom we have the privilege of building homes. Their lives are an exercise in graceful perseverance; they are real-life examples of courage and determination. We were also introduced to Pastor Garcia – an individual whose inspirational story of involvement with the community of Arroyo Seco will make you want to go out and be your own agent of change.

As a previous WestJet Hero Holiday participant, I have returned to the Dominican Republic filled with anxiety and excitement. I am excited to see the families that we built homes for previously and want to reconnect with some of the friends that I have made. However, because I didn’t know how emotional a reintroduction to the communities would be for me, this excitement was mixed with anxiety.

I am happy to report that this anxiety was misplaced. Stepping back into The Dominican Republic has been a truly joyous occasion. The community has embraced us with as much warmth and affection as they did previously. The grace and kindness displayed here is something I never want to forget. As I look at the houses we have built before and the ones we are in the process of building, I feel an enormous amount of pride working for WestJet, the amazing company that brought us here.

So, to my fellow WestJetters who are dedicating time away from their families and who have made sacrifices to be here, you are all true heroes. To the WestJetters back home, it’s hard to describe how truly transformative this experience is, but anytime you have the opportunity to be involved in change that enhances humankind, I hope you will stand up and be counted.

When it comes to making the world a better place, your dreams and goals are never too big or too ambitious. 

Veron Marsh, Guest Service Ambassador, Vancouver

Let Your Voice Be Nude!

LiveDifferent would like to give a shout out to the up and coming apparel company, Nude Voice, for their support and for their great clothing!

Nudevoice.org is a clothing company that believes every piece of clothing should tell a story, and the story that they tell can be a voice for others around the world. Nude Voice is now giving consumers the option to give 10% of every purchase to LiveDifferent and we are honoured to be one of their charities of choice!

Check out Nudevoice.org and show your love and support for all that they are working to make happen!

The Change Within

Yesterday, 50 WestJetters came together, from across our network, to embark on an adventure to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. The plane from Toronto was abuzz with WestJetters in blue Hero Holiday t-shirts, nervous with excitement and anticipation about what the next 10 days would bring.

As a member of the Community Investment team, I have had the privilege of participating in each of WestJet’s three Hero Holiday trips. I’ve been able to see first-hand the remarkable change that takes place in Nuevo Renacer, the community my fellow WestJetters will visit today, many for the first time. I have seen 10 new homes built in 2012 by WestJetters – meaning that 10 more families are now safe, dry and able to move forward with the next chapter of their lives.

I’ve seen a beach where you couldn’t see the sand for all the garbage turn into a place where children in the community are able to play. I’ve seen children grow, go to school and start to pursue their dreams. I’ve seen new babies born into new homes, so they will never know what it is like to live with pools of dirty, contaminated water on the floor. I’ve seen roads paved to this community and a steady, safe electricity supply be connected.

All of this change couldn’t have been imagined five years ago, but is now a reality due to the compassion of groups like WestJet and other organizations that partner with LiveDifferent. After this Hero Holiday 2013 is completed, another five families will have received new homes and can continue the momentum of change.

Many WestJetters on this trip don’t know what lies before them, but I do. I know that the participants, like this community, will go through an exceptional amount of change on this trip. They will see things that shock and disappoint them, and make them question why things have to be the way they are. But they will also see moments of true happiness. Gratitude and love will flow from the families receiving homes and the community as a whole. These relationships will help them see their world in a different way and those WestJetters will continue to bring the movement of change to their communities when they return to Canada.

Many people sign up to take part in Hero Holiday so they can change the lives of the people of Nuevo Renacer. My hope is that WestJetters who take part in Hero Holiday will realize they also have changed.

Sarah Speedie, Community Investment Coordinator