VOLUNTEER IN HAITI

You get up for the day and wave to the kiddos you’ll be teaching in just a couple of hours. They’re already wanting to play with you, but it’s time for breakfast. Today, your group sits down to pancakes topped with bananas and nuts. Your meals are all provided, cooked in the kitchen of the orphanage (there’s a big table where your whole ILP group can eat together). The ILP experience is all about the culture of the country you’re volunteering in, which definitely includes the food. Lunch and dinner will be classic Haitian staples …. Not quite familiar with Haitian food? Plan on meals with plantains, macaroni salad, bread, rice, beans, and lots of pasta. You’ll also sometimes see chicken, fish, hot dogs, and some of that tropical fruit you’ll love about living in the Caribbean. 

After breakfast is all cleaned up, it’s time to teach. There’s a break for lunch then you’ll teach your afternoon classes. After lessons, all the kids are so excited to play with you. A few people in your group walk down the dirt road to grab a soda at the little convenience store, walking hand in hand with some neighborhood kids. Since teaching is only a portion of your day, you’re set up with quite a bit of free time. Maybe more free time than you are used to. That means time for playing group games with your fellow volunteers and lots of time playing with the kids you live with. Plan on pulling out your speakers most nights for a dance party before bed! Out of all of our programs, Haiti is where you’ll get to spend the most time with your kids.

Your experience here is humanitarian. Plan on keeping cool with fans, no A/C, dealing with power that goes in and out, and water pressure that’s more like a trickle than a steady stream, all in a country that’s been struggling economically for years. You’ll see trash in the streets and dirt roads with huge potholes that cause for some bumpy rides around the country. But most of all, you’ll meet people who are incredibly happy and so welcoming despite these challenges. People come outside just to wave at you. Little kids, who aren’t dressed in much and dirty from playing all day, are so happy to see you. It’s a life changing experience for you to be so close to the people you are helping. 

When it comes to weekends off and vacation time, your Local Coordinator will really help you out. Haiti isn’t a country where it’s easy to just jump on a bus and go out exploring, so you’ll need some help getting around. Because of the economic, environmental, and political struggles Haiti has suffered, travel is a bit unique in this ILP country. ILP volunteers have favorite vacation spots in certain approved sections of the country, and love vacationing in the nearby Dominican Republic. If you’re looking for a semester full of traveling, there are other countries that would be a better fit for you. But if you love the experience of spending so much time with your students, you might want to plan on coming to Haiti a second time!

Working with kids is always a challenge. You’ll be surrounded by kids who didn’t grow up in a structured home, and love to play pranks. They would rather have dance parties during class instead of your English lessons (who can blame them?). That same energy that makes hanging out all together so fun just makes for some challenges in the classroom. The kids here are sassy and so easy to love, and quickly earn their way straight to your heart. 

Why is the program fee higher here? Unlike the Exchange Program, the orphans and families of the children you work with will not be helping to subsidize your costs. All the children you are working with come from very limited means. The service you provide is completely free for them. Thank you for wanting to provide the best care for these kids by volunteering in this humanitarian program!

Interested in other ways you’re needed? Compare ILP’s Humanitarian Programs here.