Tranquility in Haiti: Loading Tranquility with Supplies for Haiti

Sailing to Haiti with Sailors Without Borders

We've become involved in an extraordinary project as crew on the sailboat Tranquility, which will leave for Haiti April 1 (this Friday!) to deliver several tons of food, children's clothing, school supplies, solar panels, laptop computers, seed for a permaculture project, and tools & ingredients for building SuperAdobe houses on one of Haiti's islands. We'll be traveling in tight quarters with all the cargo & 8 crew on a 53' boat filled with cargo for 5-7 days and nights!

Sailors Without Borders is run by Cam & Leihia Murray, who normally live on and run a small solar and wind generator business from their boat. They're on their second trip to Haiti. Last year, after the earthquake, they delivered a boatload of shoes, clothes, and emergency generators. They've organized & led the fundraising for this year's trip which, as Cam says, is about "sustainability".

With the help of discounts from manufacturers and a large cash donation, for example, they have purchased for installation on a Haitian school on the island a $30 K solar array which will power the school and a network of computers connected to the internet. (The island's electricity was cut off some time ago.)

We will actually install the panels, inverter and batteries, a small network of donated laptops, a router, and a donated satellite internet system while there. The school will have their first opportunity to benefit from the internet.

Haiti is still in need. It was already the poorest country in the Americas before the earthquake more than a year ago. Recovery has been slow. Ironically, it's in the Caribbean, a vacation paradise for those of us who can afford it. This is our opportunity to give back.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Loading Tranquility with Supplies for Haiti

Yesterday vans & trucks filled with donated food and school supplies appeared at the marina. The solar panels also arrived to the relief of all. The trip is coming together very nicely.