Attitude toward missionaries

Funwhileserving · #1 01-12-2009, 01:31 PM

A group of 20 of us is coming for a mission trip to help in a Haitian refugee camp not far from the border. We would like to know what the attitude in country is to rich white people coming to help what could be considered illegal immigrants. We will be with a well organized and long stand missionary organization. Do the locals resent us helping the Hatians and not helping them? Is the government happy that we are there?

Chirimoya · #2 01-12-2009, 02:22 PM

A 'refugee camp'? While there are Haitians living in communities on the DR side of the border, I've never heard them referred to as 'refugee camps'.
There are plenty of organisations working in the area with both Dominicans and Haitians.

mountainannie · #3 01-12-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funwhileserving

A group of 20 of us is coming for a mission trip to help in a Haitian refugee camp not far from the border. We would like to know what the attitude in country is to rich white people coming to help what could be considered illegal immigrants. We will be with a well organized and long stand missionary organization. Do the locals resent us helping the Hatians and not helping them? Is the government happy that we are there?

No worries. There is a long standing tradition of guilt ridden white people flying down to do work in the hot sun which they would hire Haitian and Dominicans, many of them illegal, to do in their home in the States. There is a lot of money made from these trips. Now most "volunteers" are charged about $1000 a week to come and "help" the poor. Your being here allows the Dominicans more time to play Dominios and perhaps builds some nicer homes for the Haitians. If they are really nice, the Dominicans will take them away from the Haitians after you leave. The Dominican government is thrilled that you are here since this allows them to not have to deal with the issue. The US government is thrilled that you are here since this shows how generous and giving the American people are, while we continue our agricultural subsidies and dumping our rice on the island.... And you, of course, feel like you are really helping...

so it is a win win win...

right?

Guess you picked up how I feel about it... I particularly love the ones who come with the gold crosses in their ears.....

sweetdbt · #4 01-12-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainannie

No worries. There is a long standing tradition of guilt ridden white people flying down to do work in the hot sun which they would hire Haitian and Dominicans, many of them illegal, to do in their home in the States. There is a lot of money made from these trips. Now most "volunteers" are charged about $1000 a week to come and "help" the poor. Your being here allows the Dominicans more time to play Dominios and perhaps builds some nicer homes for the Haitians. If they are really nice, the Dominicans will take them away from the Haitians after you leave. The Dominican government is thrilled that you are here since this allows them to not have to deal with the issue. The US government is thrilled that you are here since this shows how generous and giving the American people are, while we continue our agricultural subsidies and dumping our rice on the island.... And you, of course, feel like you are really helping...

so it is a win win win...

right?

Guess you picked up how I feel about it... I particularly love the ones who come with the gold crosses in their ears.....

Still on that soapbox after all this time annie? Give it a break!!

cabaretewilliam · #5 01-12-2009, 02:39 PM

So cynical! You all come down and help all you can. Ignore the cynics and go and do your fellow man some good. I have seen teens come down, as well as adults, and they work hard and go back with a whole new understanding of the world. Tonight, 100's of millions around the world, have a roof, have clothing, have food, and education and medical care due to these people with crosses! They are not cynical (as you rich local gringos are) they are thankful! We have had teams stay at the Casa Blanca in Cabarete and we have seen them effected in many positive ways.

mountainannie · #6 01-12-2009, 02:45 PM

Ah, no, I applaud your good intentions, and your back breaking work,and sure, you could be at the mall or playing golf or doing lots of other things and so sure, sure, do IT..... Just realize that the money that you spend on air fare could send a Haitian kid to college for a year.... And that it indeed is work that they can do for themselves, is it not?

catcherintherye · #7 01-12-2009, 02:57 PM

Mountainannie has a right to her opinion. I hope. She has, in fact, seen much of the area in question, and probably knows as much about it as anyone, certainly more than the OP, who asked for exactly the kind of input that Annie is offering.

If anyone with as much experience as she has feels the need to present an alternative assessment, that is fine also, but just because some don't like the message Annie is relaying doesn't mean it isn't accurate.

Lambada · #8 01-12-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funwhileserving

A group of 20 of us is coming for a mission trip to help in a Haitian refugee camp not far from the border. We would like to know what the attitude in country is to rich white people coming to help what could be considered illegal immigrants. We will be with a well organized and long stand missionary organization. Do the locals resent us helping the Hatians and not helping them? Is the government happy that we are there?

Could you tell us how the well organised & long standing missionary organisation has briefed you so far, please? Like Chirmoya I have never heard bateyes or other communities referred to as 'refugee camps' and you wouldn't have used the term out of thin air, so I'm curious as to what your expectations are, based on what you have been told. I ask because there was a US or Canadian newspaper report about 18 months ago, where the young helpers were of the belief that the locals hadn't seen 'white folks' before...........

On the plus side I have seen young volunteers have a life altering experience as the result of their few weeks here which has meant a future career choice for them to enter one of the helping professions. Some of the gains for locals are much needed material gains (the teaching of building sturdy homes, how to implement a clean water supply etc) which I think everyone would support. Mountainannie is commenting on the politics of voluntary effort and yes she has a point. But by and large all voluntary effort is very much welcomed.

Chip · #9 01-12-2009, 05:27 PM

Missionaries are well received here in the DR and they usually come in droves to help Dominicans and Haitians. True you can get more bang for your buck doing a direct donation (eg such as giving directly to a poor Catholic Haitian or Dominican parish or a reputable protestant one) but making the trip can be useful too as this is usually something that stays on the mind of the traveller for many years. A good example is that many protestant churches have been built here and funded for many years and many of the churches send teams over every year.

good luck

jrhartley · #10 01-12-2009, 05:48 PM

would you like to share with us which organisation it is