Hey Larry, While I admire your generosity and the willingness

Regarding 1st time traveler to Haiti solicits advice, Hey Larry,

While I admire your generosity and the willingness to help those Haitians in Plateau Central, but at the same time I consider your initiative to get recommendation/advice/suggestion from the bloggers is somewhat counter-productive and will serve no purpose whatsover.

First of all, majority of the bloggers are not currently living in Haiti.

Many of them have not been to Haiti in decades.

Others don't even know where Plateau Central is. Even those who live in Haiti would not be able to give you any accurate recommendations, advice and suggestions on Plateau Central.

Many foreigners and Haitians diaspora alike keep making the same mistakes over and over again believing that all Haitians, regardless where they live in Haiti, are all the same. They all live the same life style, they all think alike, they all see the world in the same lense, etc...

when in fact it is not.

From personal experience, if you want to help and make a difference in the lives of those Haitians living in Plateau Central, you need to go there with NO preconceive notion and no expectations whatsoever.

In my opinion, your should consider you first trip there as an "assessment" trip.

Once in Plateau Central, you should have a meeting with your contact people in a room together to and find out exactly from them how you and your group can help them, in what area they need help, etc...

and you tell them exactly about the resources that you and your group will be able to provide them.

First and foremost, you need to give them the lead and put them in charge of their own choosen.

You and your group need to step away from the "American way of doing things" mentality.

Always remember that Haiti is not United States meaning what's work in US will not necessarily work in Haiti.

Always keep in mind that these people have their own way of doing things.

Keep in mind also that these people know about their community much much better than Preval and the US ambassador in P-A-P do. They are the only ones who can tell you and your group more accurately what they need, what they want and how to get it done.

Last but not least, do not make any promises that you cannot deliver/keep and you have to be very patient.

Good luck!