Trip Cost: $2,300

As many of you know, I have a heart for Jacmel. In the Summer of 2013 after being approached by a local area surgeon, the students from the University of Oregon put on a charette (a meeting in which all stakeholders in a project attempt to resolve conflicts and map solutions) to discuss the condition of the city of Jacmel and to come together to design a new clinic. After the charette, the students held a design competition in which 5 teams participated. My partner Grace and I won that design competition! 

It was later, after we had developed working drawings for the clinic, under the guidance of Waterleaf Architecture, that we found an opportunity to travel to Haiti with the Center for Public Interest Design on a scholarship! There we visited Titanyen and built shade structures for an orphanage. That's when I first got to see the heart of the people in Haiti. There are amazing people there trying to do so much good for their people in an environment that is less than ideal. This clinic that we designed will host local as well as visiting doctors to bring much needed care to the people of the rural city of Jacmel. You can see more about the project here: http://www.dbxchange.eu/node/1456

The design has been adapted to accommodate the fluctuating budget (that was completely fundraised!!)! And I got the chance to work with some wonderful professionals to see the project all the way through. Students from Oregon State University volunteered their time to go down and help put on the roof structure. The building is now built (!!!) and just awaiting some final mechanical equipment. (It's hard to make things happen in a place like Haiti, but they're doing it!) 

I now have the opportunity to go back to Haiti, to serve the people once more, and visit this building I helped conceive! My church in Portland is sending a group down on a mission trip to Jacmel. We will be working with Restoration Ministries who offer many programs including a school, a feeding program for the children, and a computer center. They also build houses for people in need. We will show up with hearts and hands ready to serve in whatever way they need help. And on Thursday we will visit the clinic and spend the day helping to serve them in whatever way they need us to. 

I cannot believe that all this has happened! It's all coming full circle! Who knew that a small design exercise could turn into a fully functional clinic that helps those in need! I guess that's the profession I signed up for. It's a delight to see it all come to fruition!

So will you please join me in helping to fund the trip of a lifetime.
It will truely be something I never forget.