Outreach to Las Galeras, Cabarete, and Puerto Plata August 2021

We are always humbled by what we experience while here. Even after living here 3 years, I am amazed by the resilience, and the tenacity of the Dominican people.

During our time in the Dominican Republic we enjoyed rest, quality time with locals and foreigners, and managed to do some outreach in the communities of Las Galeras, Cabarete, and Puerto Plata. We have located another partner in a community close to Cabarete (known as a kite surfing mecca). Fausto, a committed Christian man and his wife Maricela are outstanding community leaders giving so much of their time and resources to ensure the least of us is cared for. This includes elderly, widows, single moms , and the terminally ill. They are the kind of couple that you meet and instantly like and trust. The couple are eager to work with Hand in Hands as often as we are able. They want to be our hands on the ground here in the DR. There is much work to do from home to support future endeavours to give our fellow brothers and sisters a ‘hand up’. We invite you to join us in the task. A special thanks goes out to the many donors who stepped up on a moments notice to help us purchase desperately needed food hampers for two communities and an orphanage.

Calling All Team Members!!

Hand in Hands is officially expanding. We are excited to be in the planning phases of our team to Costa Rica in the Summer/Fall of 2021! In light of the pandemic, and closed borders to travel, we have had to postpone our 2020 trip by a year. But, we are still forging ahead excited for the opportunity.

Our trip includes;

  • Air, fees, and taxes from Calgary to San Jose Return.

  • Transfers to and from the hotel and all other excursions.

  • Meals, and housekeeping. *laundry extra as required

  • Materials

  • Lodging

  • Boutique Coffee Farm tour ~ Sircoff Coffee Farm.

  • Trip to La Paz Hotel and Resort (includes Templo , Magia Blanca, Encantada, Escondida, and La Paz falls) and an animal sanctuary.

  • Finally, our trip includes a 2 night, 3 day expedition to Manuel Antonio Park. Opportunities to visit parks, zip lines, and ocean sports during your free time. * meal fees to be determined for beach weekend (we are working on breakfast inclusion).

Our Next Team ‘StrongHands 2021’ will be posted soon. Stay tuned!

Location: Virtual , RSVP to TreasurerHIH@gmail.com closer to the date.

At our meeting, we will discuss fees, vaccines/health needs, what we will be doing there, and general preparation.

To answer questions or concerns you may have as of now, please email PresidentHIH@gmail.com or Director2HIH@gmail.com.

We need you, Yes you!

Join us on a trip, ask us about board and committee opportunities, partake in our local volunteerism, use your talents to craft items for our various kits we gift ( to newborns, patients, youth, and low income families). Tell your friends and family about us! There's no better way to make an impact than to become an active advocate yourself.

HIH 1st annual Highway Cleanup Initiative in partnership with the City of Calgary

On September 19th Hand in Hands members at large participated in our first annual City of Calgary highway clean up fundraiser. It was the perfect platform to respect physical distancing and get out as a group. Many kilometres were walked by an energetic group. There were about 16 of us walkers and drivers. We are supper thrilled at the support and the turn out. Looking forward to next years highway clean up. Thanks to Melissa for organizing and executing the planning and details.

Making the Moves

Making the Moves

Making the Moves

Hand in Hands is actively seeking expansion. We are in communication with a partner in Costa Rica who shares our vision and our purpose. Thanks to our first well attended round table meeting we are off to a good start! Thanks to all the brainstorming, and support to all those in attendance.

Team Primavera Teaching/Medical Outreach

At the clinic in Tamboril with our partner MINIPEVID and Dr Rivera (Far right-lab coat)

At the clinic in Tamboril with our partner MINIPEVID and Dr Rivera (Far right-lab coat)

Our team arrived in Puerto Plata and were transferred to Santiago with our driver Giovanny. The team was welcomed by our partner Dr Ruth Rivera and her husband Pastor Edwin the next day at her clinic site in Tamboril. It was a busy week of adult and child clinic with Dr. Rivera where 140 kids and adults visited our clinic. We also had the opportunity to speak at a school to nearly 300 youth! While there,  we distributed hundreds of Days for Girls kits and some hygiene kits. We also had the pleasure of spending an afternoon at the Licey public hospital doing inservices and teaching skills clinics on Airway, Breathing, and Circulation with an introduction to recognizing sepsis. We donated stethoscopes to each nurse and BP kits to the two head nurses. Our visit was well received and they are anxious to have us back. 

Licey Hospital- Staff inservice

Licey Hospital- Staff inservice

Days for Girls distribution and health talk to Polytech High School in Tamboril. 

Days for Girls distribution and health talk to Polytech High School in Tamboril. 

Young mens class- health talk with Gabriel, a resident MD working with Dr. Rivera.

Young mens class- health talk with Gabriel, a resident MD working with Dr. Rivera.

Our week ended with a visit up the mountain to Jarabacoa where we did a hospital visit delivering much needed new born baby and post partum kits as well as uniform scrubs for the nurses. We took the opportunity to spend time with Nany, our HIH intermediary, to deliver food hampers to our adopted community of Cristo Rey. A heavy rain and some flooding prevented our hike to Jimenoa falls but next time....

Vicky Bednall delivering a HIH food hamper to an elder in Cristo Rey.

Vicky Bednall delivering a HIH food hamper to an elder in Cristo Rey.

Our second week we headed up to Puerto Plata/Sosua region to work with our partner Kate with Youth Upliftment International. Kate does amazing work with the Haitian community. Her love for the culture , and the kids is very authentic. We invited Dr. Rivera to host the clinic with us while we served in the community of Bello Costero. In tandem with our medical clinic, we also had the opportunity to support the teachers with the 3-8 year olds on classroom projects and some Canadian artwork :)

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The kiddos just loved that Meghan!

Melissa and the gang.

Melissa and the gang.

Sarah helping in class.  

Sarah helping in class. 

 

A couple days winding down at Sosua by the Sea

A couple days winding down at Sosua by the Sea

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March 2017 Cal South Community Outreach Team

This past March Hand in Hands ventured to the Dominican Republic in partnership with Cal South We provided food hampers, baseball clinics and teacher support to our Kids Alive partner there. We reached the communities of Cristo Rey and Palo Blanco. The team had a positive experience and hopes to return yearly as ambassadors of Canada, Cal South, and Hand in Hands. 

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