What we do!

I have had lots of questions about what exactly we are going to be doing on this trip to the Dominican Republic.  So, here's what I know so far (stolen sourced from the PHH website).
 

 
Project Helping Hands sends teams of volunteers to provide medical care and health education for people in developing nations. The key to these teams' success is the commitment they bring to impact people in a life-changing, even life-saving way. Beyond treating illness, disease, trauma and providing care, the teams educate locals and village health care providers with a goal of seeing them become self-sufficient.
 
In 2010 PHH sent more than 170 volunteers on thirteen mission trips providing medical care for nearly 18,000 people in five developing nations. In 2012 PHH expects to sponsor fourteen teams with a total of over 280 volunteers. PHH founder, Jeff Solheim a registered nurse, says the mission statement is simple: “Our goal is to provide quality health care where there is none and develop locally operated clinics in these locations. We also strive to provide an unforgettable personal growth opportunity for the volunteer.”
 
Our trip:
Dominican Republic (Tubagua, Munoz and Sosua Regions) 
July 2013

Tubagua will serve as home base for the team for the first week and we will travel out to the clinic locations each day and return to the same housing each evening. This team will provide both health care and health education services.  Areas to be served from the Tubagua location include Tubagua, the Yassica area (Including Yaroa Abajo and other remote communities)      
 
Beginning the second week of the trip the team will re-locate to Sun Camp .  From Sun camp we will be prividing services to the Hatian "Batey's".  There are three Batey's in Munoz where we will hold Health Care and Health Education Clinics serving a population of approximately 2,500 Hatians.    Their homes are very simple and the people very poor yet they are happy to have a place to live and work together as a united community.  They have very limited access to healthcare and most residents that the team saw in July of 2012 had not had a health exam in years, if ever!
 
The last two and a half days of clinics will be held at the "Monkey Jungle" health clinic where the team will also have the opportunity to enjoy the zipline, Monkey Jungle trails and other activities available at their facility.   The Monkey Jungle compound was built and operates to generate revenue to support their free medical clinic.  Their clinic is open on Saturdays to provide free medical and dental services to area residents.   We will be providing health care and health education services to students from nearby schools as well as the nearby communities which are primarily inhabited by Haitians that have limited health care access. 
 
Here are some pictures from the group that went on this very trip last July...

 

 

 

 

As a side note... I have three regular exams in my nursing school career.  Two after tomorrow. Yeehaw!

D&D Fundraiser

Thank you so much to the D&D in downtown Bend.  Our participants Jessie and Matt put together a fun evening at "The D," complete with raffle and lots of fun characters.  Eight members of our team were there, and great fun was had by all.  In total we raised about $800!  We also had offers from a few local businesses who want to help us raise money.  I'd call that a major success. 

THANK YOU

to everyone who came out.  I ended up with only my phone to take pictures, but here are a few from last night...

 Cornhole winner Jared with Lindsi

 Travis, who was very excited about his immediate "return on investment."

Here are eight of our participants (left to right)

Jason, our big winner Travis, me, Chantel, Matt, Eric, Jessie, Lindsi, and Kris

Looking forward...

Our trip to the Dominican Republic is just over five months away, and I am really starting to get excited.  Being the researcher that I am, I couldn't help but go snooping for as much info as I could find.  I found pictures of the group that went on this same trip last July (yes, I was procrastinating on my homework).  If you have time take a look.  They documented their adventure well, and it's fun to live vicariously through them.  Here's a sneak peak of what I have to look forward to.  As my sister would say "this view does not suck!"

At the end of the trip we get to go zip lining through "monkey jungle."  Woohoo! These guys are so great.  Their business operates in order to raise money for a medical clinic, which we will be staffing for part of the time we're there. 

 

Remember, tonight is our big fundraising kick-off party at the D&D in Bend.  Come down and say hi! You can learn more about our trip and about Project Helping Hands.

 

 

Getting Started

Tomorrow is the fundraising kick-off for my second medical mission.  Last summer I traveled as a nursing student to Dharamsala and Bir in Northern India with four of my classmates.  It took nearly a year to plan, raise funds, and seek out supplies for the trip.  It was an experience of a lifetime, and hopefully the first of many annual medical missions.  This year I am looking forward to an adventure to the Dominican Republic.

This blog will help me keep in touch with my friends and family while I am traveling this summer.  I'll also share fundraising efforts and the ups and downs of the planning process.  I will do my best to post regular updates. Thankfully, I am leaving the planning to the pros this time around.  This year there will be six new graduate RNs (including me), and six first-year nursing students joining an international team of seasoned doctors, nurse practitioners and RNs.  We are so excited for the opportunity to join Project Helping Hands in their July 2013 mission to the Dominican Republic. 
 
To find out more about our mission follow this link to the Project Helping Hands website.
 
You can donate by going to this link and be sure to choose Dominican Republic July 2013 and add my name. 
 
I need to raise $2150.00 plus medical supplies.  All donations over $20.00 are tax deductible!  We are searching for corporate or individual sponsors, and those willing to partner with our group to donate medical supplies, raffle items, or anyone willing to match individual donations.   

There are still a few raffle tickets left for the event Friday evening at the D&D downtown Bend.  Tickets are $2.00 each.  I'm told that in addition to the cornhole game, other items are being raffled off. 

Thanks for taking the time to check out this blog.  I'm looking forward sharing my many adventures with you!

Jen