http://www.allatsea.net/article/October_2011/Cruising_Sailors_are_Making_a_Difference_in_Haiti

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God has forgotten Haiti & Haiti has forgotten La Gonave”, says Nadal Damour, president of the AAE.  These missions were established to help children in need, primarily through education and the installation of renewable energy systems to power the computer and English school.  The island of La Gonâve Haiti has suffered from a dramatic rise in their population by refugees brought about by The magnitude 7.0 earthquake (where an estimated 220,000 people lost their lives) La Gonâve has been largely forgotten by Haiti’s mainland, and is not in the media nor does it have any power, it now relies heavily on foreign aid.  The crew delivered supplies (2010 and now in 2011) that included  a large quantity of shoes that were a gift from 10 year old Ally Woodard, An  Ambassador of the non-profit arts organization, Art Miles Mural Project, via their Shoes of Hope humanitarian and art drive, at her local Florida school. The gift of shoes for the children greatly helped in the containment of the spread of Cholera in the highlands during the last rainy season and we hope that with the new cases being found to date the newest batch of clean shoes will keep the children’s feet protected. This is along with the current programe on the island that is been taught by the delegates of the A.A.E to educate people that cleaness is the first step against the spread of this terrible disease and correct filtration and the addition of Chlorine to the well water found on the island

The Laguna Beach-based Endangered Planet Foundation www.endangeredplanetfoundation.org  & Sailors without Borders www.sailorswithoutborders.com  departed from Miami, Florida on April 2, 2011.  Sailing missions are carried out on their custom 56’ “Bruce Roberts” S/V “Tranquility” accompanied by a professional crew of 7.  Includes owners Captain Cameron & Leighia Murray, who also own and operate their Renewable Energy Business for yachts “Trans Marine Pro” www.transmarinepro.com  from their vessel “Tranquility”.  Other members of the crew, which were handpicked and all with some degree of sailing background included “Ted Johnson” – a computer tech, BJ Hawk – a massage therapist, Ali Scheier – Deckhand and Translator, also Bonnie Bibas & her son Holden who were on a one way voyage to teach permaculture for sustainable foods and Adobe Houses that were in partnership with an NGO called “The love for Haiti project”.

After the successful mission in 2010, this year’s mission focused on sustainability.  S/V “Tranquility’s” 7 tons of cargo included planning out and installing a 1.6kw Solar Array, donated computers, and school supplies for over 500 children, shoes and clothing, & materials for building Adobe Houses.  The solar array design and installation was carried out by Capt. Cameron Murray who along with his wife Leighia, took a hiatus from their business Trans Marine Pro, to help the innocent children of the AAE and La Gonave.  With children of their own, it is very apparent that any foundation all has to start with the education of our children who will be our leaders in the generations to come.  Leighia, who is a teacher and yoga instructor, spent hours with the children holding art classes, starting growing and organizing the garden beds with the help of fellow SWB volunteer BJ and the local Haitian children that wanted to be a part of learning about agricultural practices and taking the shovels out of our hands to proceed with more determination to see the seedlings grow.  once the Solar Array, computers, & internet connection (donated by AAE – Australia), were up and running Leighia and fellow A.A.E staff were able to provideon-line educational programs to the delight of the children playing math blaster and having a connection to the outside world through the internet.

Our little friends of La Gonave

During the 6 weeks that SWB was in Haiti Cameron Murray the lead renewable energy specialist installed the 1.6kw solar array on top the A.A.E town building (which their recently purchased) Cameron worked alongside the locals teaching them how to install and look after this amazing new system that is now powering their school 24 hours a day and allows them to hold night classes when there is usually no power on the island therefore limiting their business to make the money needed to be able to build the second school in the high lands. Camerons commitment to teaching about the technology even with the language barrier installed a sense of pride in the young men that can be seen on their faces as they talk about bringing the knowledge and work ethic up to their peers and to continue to empower and power the local island community. Our other volunteer’s were hard at work from trying to get a satellite signal which keep Ted sitting in a hot room for hours on end reading out sat signal strength to the great amusement of the youngsters that would relay his message to the local high up on the ladder trying to position the sat dish, all that could be heard from the window was 23, 21, 17 17 17 33 24 and we were trying to get up to 70, this took many days that turned into weeks and finally the last week were we there the dish locked on but Teds voice seem to still be calling numbers through the window.

Ali the youngest of the crew was put in charge of putting together the solar cookers that Joan Conover supplied us with her patterned solar cookers to utilize and introduce a cleaner way of cooking to the local Haitians. We had quite the time putting them together and tried a variety of different ways to capture the heat and prove that it could work. Again the kids were quite taken by what we were trying to do and everyone one had quite the giggle at the (Bla) white people trying to cook by the use of the natural sun. But by the use of some modifications and help of the locals that thought we could do it better we were elated to finally cook rice and everyone laughed again saying we were going to need bigger cookers to feed the A.A.E community. This will be our next mission with the help of Joan’s solar cookers to cook in larger volume.

Has the rice cooked yet?

Association Amis des Enfants – Haiti (Friends of the Children of Haiti Association – AAE) goal is to establish a public Internet café to provide income to pay for school teachers and food.  In Haiti, where many resources are scarce and fossil fuels expensive, sun and wind are ample and reliable; therefore, solar and wind power could be virtually limitless. Environmentally friendly technology makes sense in Haiti, a country that has already endured much negative environmental impact.

La Gonave Harbor Haiti

Crew member Ted waits for next bunch of suppiles

It was hot in Miami all week while we were loading the sailing vessel Tranquility for our secound returning trip to Haiti.

Thanks to Ali Destin for organizing her school to help with delivering of School suppiles and shoes of hope. We know the children of La Gonave are going to love their new colourful shoes. I’ll ask them to paint some pictures for you using their new art suppiles. What a amazing team!

Leighia Ali & BJ having fun counting the Shoes of Hope

We have 3 of the 6 crew on board for our up coming mission to Haiti. We have a great crew joining us this year, and are very excited to get under way at the end of the week to sail back down to Haiti. Everyone has been working hard to store the donated AID and get the ship ready for sea. We have loaded half the cargo hold with  55 gallons of linseed oil for the Earth building project, children’s clothing and toys, and computer equiptment. We will also be loading the pallet of solar panels towards the middle of the week. Ally Destin an Art Miles ambassador used her own money to purchase 350 flip flops and had them delivered to us in Miami, this young lady is 10years old and a model for the rest of us  to  remember whats important in life. “Be the change that you want to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi

Edith crew member for Sail AID to Haiti

Edith is from New Zealand and has joined up with Sailors without Borders to deliver sail AID to Haiti. Edith is a blue water sailor and a tremedous asset to the team. Her experience in the super yacht industry includes sailing around the world onboard SV Janet of Wyoming and many years on private and charter vessel’s starting with her own 60ft sailing vessel in the south pacific that her and her family live and sailed on for 2 years.

Ali crew member for Sail AID to Haiti

Ali sailed with us last year on our first Sail AID to Haiti mission. A competant and valued crew member we are happy to have her back to help with all the important operations of running a tight ship. Another blue water sailor Ali’s exprience includes working on tall ships and delivering of private yachts. A true humanterian and animal lover Ali is a founding member of Sailors without Borders.

Check out the new Video posted on utube by CmmStudios documenting our trip to Haiti last year and the cordinating delivery of Shoes of Hope organised by Art Miles and Endangered Planet Foundation for the children of Haiti. Last Year we delivered 2500 hand painted shoes painted by the children of the Bridgepoint education center in California. This year Art Miles Peace Ambassadore Ally Destin has organised a fundraising drive through her school in Florida, she has also used her own money to purchase 300 pairs of flip flops for us too deliver to the children. I am continually inspired by the dedication, love and support we have received by fellow humaniterians like Ally and others working with Sailors without Borders to make our next trip successful.

Thank you to all our sponsors that are supporting us for our return trip in early April. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA9aWR2Y9YA

Follow this link to the Palm Beach Post and read the article written on us by Lona OConner

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/west-palm-sailors-hauling-aid-to-haiti-133