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Discussion about entry: Cross Border Homestays- Dominican Republic & Haiti
This is discussion about Cross Border Homestays- Dominican Republic & Haiti.
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Dear Elizabeth,
I found this to be a good idea. Show the "developed" world how "under developed" or "less developed" nation "cope" up with living, how they think, what they think, what they need etc.
I think if it can be made a reality, a good message could be spread.
Thanks,
Monjul
That's a good word, Monjul, thanks! Yes, few of us have any appreciation of how much time and effort goes into the daily chores of life "off the grid" - when a family has to fetch water and build fires to cook. Not do we understand the power of the heat of the midday sun!
I came to this after years of camping and sailing and then living in Haiti without electricity or running water. I would go to bed at dark - after watching the birds settle in and the bats come out. Sometimes I would rise at midnight which is "high noon" for the night critters, light my one lamp and read to just before dawn. To this day, I can never take a long shower and taking a bath is like going to a spa!
There is nothing so beautiful as the night sky when there are no electric lights on the ground. Few people from the "developed" world have ever seen it.
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Elizabeth Eames Roebling
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Hi Elizabeth,
I am a huge fan of homestays, when they are done right they can be a rewarding experience for everyone involved. My only advice is to really think through who your target market is and make sure that while you push their comfort zone you don't get travelers too out-of-their-depth. It is important that they have an authentic experience, but there needs to be enough comfort and safety that they can enjoy that experience without stress or worry overshadowing it. I think having a full-time coordinator is key.
I also think you can have a plan on how you think this will impact the local community. Rather than pay individual families, maybe consider adding wells, or a bathroom block or things that can help the community improve their living conditions...it works both ways because these things also help make the experience more enjoyable for the guests. Good luck!
Andrea
Thanks for your comments- and those points are well taken. We have thought about the issue of setting it up as a community enterprise so that the arrival of a visitor is a benefit to a group rather than a source of jealousy. Fortunately, PLAN is working in that area on both sides of the border and can help us work with groups of neighbors. Since "we" are used to private rooms - which would be essential- and these are rare in this region, visitors would naturally go to the biggest and best homes first. So we do want to have a way for the benefits to "trickle down". In Haiti there is a great microfinance bank, Fonkose, which can help set up a fund.
We have thought of at least one portable solar panel and batteries to give light and perhaps a fan for the visitor. And we are also mindful that sanitation is going to be a high priority since we certainly do not want any of the visitors to become ill. Locals are immune to many of the local "bugs" but foreigners- not so.
We want to set it up so that visitors are seen as a welcome addition to the entire area, and not a source of conflict.
I do like the word "homestay" - had forgotten it but that is a perfect word for it.
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Elizabeth Eames Roebling
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
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Elizabeth Eames Roebling
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
We are pleased to report that we have received our first reservation for the Cross Border Homestay program (whether or not it is operational,he said!) from the director of the Institute for Global Leadership.
http://www.global-leadership.com/
He reported that he will be forwarding the idea to all their students, the majority of whom are in Africa, in the hopes that can replicate it .
Many thanks to Changemakers for providing the networking!
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Elizabeth Eames Roebling
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
i am a teacher in new york planning a class on borders and am very interested in a home stay in the region. how would i get more information on this?
Some fresh idea for the border: Building a new type of tourism that displays happiness in the mere of poverty, often time behind this sad situation. The sense of family, love and pride still exists among many of those families, teaching use the essence of life.
Pat- thanks so much = this is the real core of the issue. People who have not been to Haiti expect everyone to be walking around in misery -- which is certainly not the case in Belledare which is reasonably rich and happy. I will post a couple of pictures on my entry and we will start equipping the team with videos to do YouTUBE reports...
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Elizabeth Eames Roebling
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic