are you ready for a LIfe changing experience?
We are so excited that you are interested in the possibility of traveling to Haiti with Zanmi Project. Our goal for every trip is to help as many people as we can in the communities we serve and to provide our travelers with a rewarding, eye-opening and fulfilling experience. Although you may feel like you are signing up for this trip to give back to other people, we assure you that the people of
Haiti will give you more than you might ever imagine.
Because our travelers’ experience is so important to us. please understand that on a Zanmi Project trip, you will be immersed into the culture of Haiti. We travel the way Haitians do, eat what they eat and spend a lot of time with locals. Zanmi Project truly believes that the best way to help others is to build relationships. We do not travel to Haiti to see the country and how it operates. We travel to Haiti to be part of it all. This is what makes a Zanmi Project trip so special.
While Zanmi Project is not affiliated with any religious organization, we have a strong faith and often partner with religious organizations in Haiti and we do attend church while in Haiti. We know that regardless of your faith, this trip will be a spiritual experience for you. We will always encourage you to share your faith where you see fit and want you know that it is not a requirement for traveling with us. Most importantly, we ask that you are respectful of others’ personal beliefs.
Due to the unique conditions in Haiti, the trip will require flexible, hardworking and healthy participants. For the sake of our team, you will have to remember to be calm, patient, kind and loving.
Haiti will give you more than you might ever imagine.
Because our travelers’ experience is so important to us. please understand that on a Zanmi Project trip, you will be immersed into the culture of Haiti. We travel the way Haitians do, eat what they eat and spend a lot of time with locals. Zanmi Project truly believes that the best way to help others is to build relationships. We do not travel to Haiti to see the country and how it operates. We travel to Haiti to be part of it all. This is what makes a Zanmi Project trip so special.
While Zanmi Project is not affiliated with any religious organization, we have a strong faith and often partner with religious organizations in Haiti and we do attend church while in Haiti. We know that regardless of your faith, this trip will be a spiritual experience for you. We will always encourage you to share your faith where you see fit and want you know that it is not a requirement for traveling with us. Most importantly, we ask that you are respectful of others’ personal beliefs.
Due to the unique conditions in Haiti, the trip will require flexible, hardworking and healthy participants. For the sake of our team, you will have to remember to be calm, patient, kind and loving.
About haiti
Haiti occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, 70 miles east of Cuba and about 550 miles from Miami, Florida. Slightly smaller than the size of Maryland, it has a population of 10,485,800. The bulk of these people live in the Port-au-Prince area.
– Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere
– Port-au-Prince is the capitol of Haiti. Densely populated, it is the center of the government and much of the employment for the country exists here.
– Government: Democratic, first free elections were held in the early 90's.
– Ethnic groups: Black 95%, mulatto and white 5%
– Average income: $370 per year. 50% of the population makes < $60 per year. 80% of the population lives in poverty, 54% in abject poverty.
– Population density: 670 per square mile overall (compared with 22 per square mile in US).
– Languages: French & Haitian Creole are both official. Creole predominates in society and French in business. English is taught.
– Religions: Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 28.5%, Voodoo 2.1%, Other 4.6%, None 10.2%. Many Haitians practice voodoo in addition to another religion. Voodoo is recognized as an official religion in the country.
– Average life expectancy: 63.8 years
– Illiteracy: 40% of people over the age of 15 cannot read and write
– Child labor: 21% of children ages 5-14
– Unemployment: more than two thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs
– Haitian children of school age: 3,100,000.
– Haitian children who attend school: 850,000 (approx. 40%)
– Agriculture: Crops include coffee, mangoes, cocoa, sugarcane, corn, beans, rice, sorghum.
– Portable water: 40% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
– Malnutrition: 75%
– Doctors: 650 in the entire country (1:12,000 vs. 1:650 in the US)
– Infants born each year: 230,000
– Weather: Haiti is a tropical nation located near the equator. Daytime temperatures range from the 80's in the winter to the upper 90's in the summer. In open areas, you will experience intense sun, particularly in the summer when the sun is virtually overhead. There are rainy seasons in the fall and spring. Mosquitoes are prevalent. Nighttime temperatures range from the 70's (winter) to the 80's (summer). It stays daytime warm until 8-9 PM.
– Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere
– Port-au-Prince is the capitol of Haiti. Densely populated, it is the center of the government and much of the employment for the country exists here.
– Government: Democratic, first free elections were held in the early 90's.
– Ethnic groups: Black 95%, mulatto and white 5%
– Average income: $370 per year. 50% of the population makes < $60 per year. 80% of the population lives in poverty, 54% in abject poverty.
– Population density: 670 per square mile overall (compared with 22 per square mile in US).
– Languages: French & Haitian Creole are both official. Creole predominates in society and French in business. English is taught.
– Religions: Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 28.5%, Voodoo 2.1%, Other 4.6%, None 10.2%. Many Haitians practice voodoo in addition to another religion. Voodoo is recognized as an official religion in the country.
– Average life expectancy: 63.8 years
– Illiteracy: 40% of people over the age of 15 cannot read and write
– Child labor: 21% of children ages 5-14
– Unemployment: more than two thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs
– Haitian children of school age: 3,100,000.
– Haitian children who attend school: 850,000 (approx. 40%)
– Agriculture: Crops include coffee, mangoes, cocoa, sugarcane, corn, beans, rice, sorghum.
– Portable water: 40% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
– Malnutrition: 75%
– Doctors: 650 in the entire country (1:12,000 vs. 1:650 in the US)
– Infants born each year: 230,000
– Weather: Haiti is a tropical nation located near the equator. Daytime temperatures range from the 80's in the winter to the upper 90's in the summer. In open areas, you will experience intense sun, particularly in the summer when the sun is virtually overhead. There are rainy seasons in the fall and spring. Mosquitoes are prevalent. Nighttime temperatures range from the 70's (winter) to the 80's (summer). It stays daytime warm until 8-9 PM.
TRaveling with Zanmi Project
The majority of Zanmi Project trips are in partnership with Magic Beans out of Dallas, Texas. Our organizations partner to support the children at New Hope Orphanage and to work on several other projects around Montrouis and Williamson, Haiti. We will typically meet Magic Beans groups at the airport and spend our week working with them. Our partner on the ground in Haiti is Kesnel (Paul) Toussaint. He is a very well-respected businessman, interpreter and missionary for his community.
Places We Visit
New Hope Orphanage:
Zanmi Project’s biggest project, New Hope houses 12 orphans in Williamson, Haiti. The couple that runs the orphanage also has 6 children of their own. In partnership with Magic Beans, Zanmi Project provides sponsorships for all 18 children and also supports the family with food, medical and other basic needs. During trips, we will spend 2-4 days with the children, will help with construction projects around the orphanange and will often take the kids for an outing to the beach.
Feeding Hope:
Feeding Hope is a feeding program that provides meals for about 200 children, elderly and disabled adults five days a week. We will spend time with the kids, help serve meals and even deliver meals to the elderly and disabled in their homes. Meals on Wheels...Haiti style!
Other places we visit/activities we may participate in:
During trips we may also attend church and help with projects at Nouvelle Vision Church, visit the children at other orphanages, visit with students in local schools, go to one of the local markets and take short excursions...such as moto rides, boat rides, or an afternoon of swimming and relaxing at a local resort.
Zanmi Project’s biggest project, New Hope houses 12 orphans in Williamson, Haiti. The couple that runs the orphanage also has 6 children of their own. In partnership with Magic Beans, Zanmi Project provides sponsorships for all 18 children and also supports the family with food, medical and other basic needs. During trips, we will spend 2-4 days with the children, will help with construction projects around the orphanange and will often take the kids for an outing to the beach.
Feeding Hope:
Feeding Hope is a feeding program that provides meals for about 200 children, elderly and disabled adults five days a week. We will spend time with the kids, help serve meals and even deliver meals to the elderly and disabled in their homes. Meals on Wheels...Haiti style!
Other places we visit/activities we may participate in:
During trips we may also attend church and help with projects at Nouvelle Vision Church, visit the children at other orphanages, visit with students in local schools, go to one of the local markets and take short excursions...such as moto rides, boat rides, or an afternoon of swimming and relaxing at a local resort.