charitable # 862550886RR0001
Third World Awareness
Third World Awareness started in 1989 when a Toronto Catholic School drama teacher named John Calaghan put out a notice asking if any students would be interested in traveling to Kingston Jamaica to work with the poor. Fifty-four students signed up and after that first year the trips became a regular pilgrimage during the school's March Break. John Calaghan retired in 1998 and thought that the following trip in 1999 would be his last. This would not turn out to be true as several former students who were now in University asked him to keep the trips going. The travel time was changed from March to May in order to accommodate the students' University schedule. They soon afterward established the group as an official Charity naming it Third World Awareness.
A unique and exciting aspect about the group is that although it started in a Catholic School, the trips adhere to a non-denominational, non-politically correct philosophy. No one with a true desire to serve is rejected. Participants come from various religious backgrounds as well as non-religious backgrounds.
The majority of the past trips have been to Kingston, Jamaica and now we are focused on Haiti. It is our hope to return to Jamaica and we have maintained our relationships there. In 1992 the group went to Nicaragua.
Third World Awareness (TWA). TWA has been organizing trips to developing parts of the world for 16years. For the past eight years weve been traveling to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Our projects include the construction of a school in Cite Soleil, the worst slum in the Western Hemisphere, where we also provide employment for members of the community. Weve provided scholarships for children and paid teachers salaries. Weve also provided families with food and paid their rent. As well, our volunteers work with malnourished babies at Mother Theresas home and at the AIDS Hospice. There is an open air hospital that is run by the Brothers order in Cite Pele, where we provide care for victims of gun violence, those with AIDS, TB, malaria, cancer, and leprosy. For the past three years weve been involved with an orphanage in Croix de Bouquet, providing them with food, shelter, bunk beds and school supplies. We recently got into self sustainability projects by providing families with chickens so that they can sell the eggs to support their own families.
Third World Awareness is a completely 100% volunteer organization that supports the disadvantaged in Haiti. In fact, our volunteers actually pay for their own travel expenses to go to Haiti. Our executive members travel to Haiti themselves, and are hands on with the service we provide. TWA has been in Port-au-Prince for almost eight years now and will continue to be present there in the future. Even after the cameras are gone. We travel humbly and work together with the Haitian people. This work has become devotion, and TWA understands that even the simplest things can make a difference. Through helping others we help ourselves. This is what TWA is about. Once we become aware, we have no other option but to do what we can to help those without the basic necessities, much of which we take for granted.
You can be sure that all (100%) of your donations will get to those that need it the most, the Haitian people. We have not yet heard word from the school that we built in Cite Soleil. Hopefully it has not collapsed. Our focus will be to rebuild and to provide. As we increase communication with our friends and point people in Haiti, we will have a better understanding on how to act. The people with whom we have worked with in Port-au-Prince have benefited from our presence, as well, all participants from Canada have been nourished deeply by the Haitian people. Haiti has shown all of our volunteers love and TWA plans to continue to do the same in return.
We encourage those who want to donate, to please send a cheque payable to Third World Awareness and mail it to 71 Cherrywood Ave, Toronto, ON, M6C 2X4. We are a registered charity and are able to issue tax receipts to anyone that would like one. For more information, please check out our website at www.twawareness.org.
Thanks again for your support. God bless you all and God bless Haiti.
TWA brings young developing minds to developing countries. Hands stretched in both directions representing the desire to teach and learn at the same time. The trips are open to any young person 18 years and over. (Those younger than 18 are welcome to come with parents or guardians.)
Each person is encouraged to bring two bags filled to the maximum weight allowable (50 lbs approx.) These bags are filled with donated goods such as clothing, medical supplies, toys, school supplies etc. Some participants have mixed their own clothing in with the donations and left everything there, returning to Canada with only the clothes on their backs. A very liberating feeling.
Upon arrival everyone settles in to the accommodations. In Haiti we were welcomed to St. Joseph's Home for Boys with singing, embraces, and a glass of water. The next day is spent visiting several sites such as hospitals, homes for the sick and dying, orphanages, nutrition centres, schools etc. After dinner we meet and each person decides where he or she wishes to work for the duration of the trip. A commitment to that place is made for the duration of the trip no matter how difficult it may seem to go there. We visit each day to give massages, bathe, clip nails, listen and talk, assist in physiotherapy sessions and anything else that is needed. At the malnutrition clinic we assist in regular diaper changes, feeding, and offering human contact. French or Kreyol speaking volunteers are free and able to volunteer as support teachers in schools. Volunteers with specific skills may apply them where they are most needed.
Nightly meetings continue throughout the trip giving everyone a chance to share stories and feelings about the day. You do not have to speak if you do not want to and the discussions are not censored or moderated. It is a chance to express unedited and fearless opinions about your experience which are respected no matter how dramatic the exchanges may become. We have had some very emotional and dynamic discussions. No one is forced to, nor expected to fit a mold of pre-set beliefs. In return the group is asked to work as a group and co-exist as a community of individuals with an open mind, humour and compassion. To travel with a single, common cause and purpose which is to serve the poor and local community and learn from them.
Our group strives to stay in solidarity with the poor. We do not travel by private vehicle but instead use the local transportation system (if there is one) or walk. In Haiti we travel by 'Tap Tap' the local means of transport which is essentially modified pick up trucks. The only times we hire vehicles are when we are traveling as a whole group and/or traveling a good distance. With this solidarity comes an element of danger which must be accepted. We work in ghettos that are often controlled by gangs. Safety can never be guaranteed but what we do guarantee is that every reasonable precaution within our mandate is taken. In Haiti we hire local guides to take us to the areas and they inform us of any potential trouble. If an area is too 'hot' on a particular day then that group can opt for an alternative location. The objective is to always work with the local community and respect their wishes.
After breakfast the day begins with a spiritual or philosophical reading given by a different person each day. Then one hand is offered by each into the circle and the working day is greeted with a simple, resounding... YES!!!
71 Cherrywood Ave. Toronto, Ontario
Canada M6C 2X4
1-416-653-5445 - John Calaghan
1-647-295-7441 - Stephen LaFrenie
1-416-858-3987- Bridget Ogundipe
