In light of the Haitian earthquake Youghal natives, John O Riordan, Bobby Lee and Davie Murphy, are jetting off to Haiti to build houses with Cork born charity Haven on April 25th.We need to raise €4000 each  to pave the way, we have some fundraising events coming up and would appreciate the help.

Attached some info on Haven and the dates of our events to date.
Leslie & Carmel Buckley founded Haven in late 2008. Leslie is a successful businessman and co-founder of the Digicel mobile phone company. His business interests brought him to Haiti for the first time in 2004 and he was really horrified by the level of poverty on this island in the Caribbean. He decided to do something to help and set up Haven with an initial donation of one million euros to cover adminiteration costs.

Haven is building homes and communities in Haiti in two ways. Firstly, it is training, up-skilling and employing local Haitian people to build the homes all year round.
In this way, Haven is creating jobs in a country where unemployment stands at more than 50% and opportunities are few. Secondly, Haven is bringing large groups of volunteers to Haiti for an intensive Build it Week.

Haven’s first project is in Ouanaminthe (pron. wan-a-menth), in the northeast department of Haiti. It is a border town close to the Dominican Republic. There are approximately 50,000 people living in the town and another 50,000 on the outskirts. It is mainly rural and under-developed. The UN estimate that 94% of people are living below the official poverty line and unemployment is rife. Haven is building homes in the rural areas. We will build 200 new homes and upgrade 250 more in our first year of operations. Most of our beneficiaries live in makeshift mud huts, often with thatched roofs. They have no running water and most have no toilet facilities. The average income of our beneficiaries in Ouanaminthe is 523 gourdes – which is just over € 9. Those who are working are mainly involved in agriculture or informal trading.

In 2009, 260 volunteers from every county in Ireland took part in Haven’s first ever Build it Week. These pioneering volunteers built 41 houses, a new playground, an extra classroom for the local school and a basketball court. And all of this during the hottest week Haiti has seen for more than 37 years.

Conditions were tough – but that made it all the more rewarding for all of us involved. 41 Haitian families now have a proper roof over their heads for the first time because of all your hard work.

Each volunteer is required to raise a minimum of €4,000. Approximately €2,000 of this covers flights, accommodation, food and water for the duration of Build it Week. The remainder of the funds raised will go towards building materials for the houses that you will build during Build it Week.

Volunteers will live on site in basic accom- modation, and will take part in all activities that go into the running of the camp as well as the construction of the new homes: roofing, plumbing, painting, medical, catering, water distribution, etc. With your help, Haven will build 300 houses across Haiti this year.

Volunteers will live on site in basic accom- modation, and will take part in all activities that go into the running of the camp as well as the construction of the new homes: roofing, plumbing, painting, medical, catering, water distribution, etc. With your help, Haven will build 300 houses across Haiti this year.

In 2009, 260 volunteers from every county in Ireland took part in Haven’s first ever Build it Week. These pioneering volunteers built 41 houses, a new playground, an extra classroom for the local school and a basketball court. And all of this during the hottest week Haiti has seen for more than 37 years.

Conditions were tough – but that made it all the more rewarding for all of us involved. 41 Haitian families now have a proper roof over their heads for the first time because of all the hard work.

Here is a list of upcoming events to help us on our way

KILA concert Febuary the 5th in St Marys Collegiate Church tickets at Scotts 137 north main Street Youghal 8.30 start

COFFEE MORNING THE G.A.A Pavillion Saturday the 6th of Febuary

TABLE QUIZ Febuary the 11th The Quality Hotel Youghal 9pm start

TEXAS HOLDEM NIGHT Poker Night Friday Febuary 12th @ G.A.A Pavillion 8pm  start

COFFEE MORNING at the Redstore saturday Febuary the 13th along with music by Bobby Lee and friends

MUSIC AND INTERCULTURE NIGHT AT CUMMANN NA DAOINE Monday the 15th of Febuary Featuring Bobby lee and the Hot Spot music club guests start 7.30

QUIZ NIGHT Friday 26th Febuary @ the G.A.A  Pavillion at 8

tables pre booked contact

DECLAN O ROURKE concert Febuary the 27th st Marys collegiate Church Youghal tickets at Scotts 137 North main street

Youghal 8.30 start

YOUGHAL YOUTH TALENT SHOW At the Walter Raleigh Saturday March 13th featuring various groups from The Hot spot music club-The blackwater dance Academy and  Jack O Rourke and friends from Pobail scoil .

LUKA BLOOM March the 20th St Marys Collegiate Church Youghal tickets at Scotts 137 north main Street youghal 8.30 start

If you would like to run an event or host a coffie morning for the lads please contact   Bobby Lee on 087 9957102 – John O Riordan on 087 9141852 and  Davie Murphy on 087 7665563 for more info.

CHY 18494    Tel: +353 1 433 3930    www.havenpartnership.com

Haven is to provide sanitation facilities to more than 18,000 people left homeless by the Haiti earthquake.