Do you want to give back? Still in need of your community service hours?
Want to have fun volunteering and exploring Cuba with other Canadian high school students?

OUR WORK
Our 2008 March Break project is centred at the CUJAE University in Havana. Here we will delve into work, painting, gardening, cleaning and working with the local school children at the elementary school. Our weekends and evenings are filled exploring Havana and absorbing Cuba's vibrant culture.

ACTIVITIES AND OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS

• An in-depth tour of Havana
• A trip to the mountains to work with underprivileged children, followed by a lunch amongst the trees and a swim in one of the most incredible freshwater rivers in Cuba
• A Cuban cooking class
• Evenings in Old Havana
• Evenings at a Cuban community club for teenagers where we dance and enjoy some of the best Reggaeton bands.
• Beach days at Santa Maria Beach

THE DAILY PROGRAM
9:00 am to 12:00 pm	Working in the community
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm	Lunch followed by rest and relaxation
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm	Afternoon work session
7:00 pm	Dinner at the hotel
9:00 pm to 11:00 pm	Organized evening activities

ACCOMMODATION
We will be staying at the CUJAE university, which is located near old Havana.
It features double and triple rooms with private bathrooms. Facilities include: restaurant, cafeteria, snack bar and laundry.
From here we travel each day to different parts of the city where our programs are located.

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
Five Star Night Out - Havana Style:
This Five-Star cultural evening out in Havana celebrates great food, music, art, and all that a vibrant Havana night has to offer. After our day volunteering, it’s time to relax and enjoy the Five-Star treatment. Our first stop is to Old Havana for an “art and colour” experience at the Museum of Fine Arts and the Capitol historic area of Old Havana. Next, we will make our way over to the Bay of Havana for the famous Firing of the Canons ceremony at the Old Spanish San Carlos fortress. We will then dine at the Tryp Habana Libre Penthouse Restaurant where we will enjoy a delicious full course meal and take in some of the best views of Cuba overlooking the Malecon, the Havana ocean coast boulevard. Our evening will conclude with either a live Regatton show, or we will go out and get into the rhythm of the music at the local upscale teenage dance club.

Salsa Dancing:
Outside in the open air at dusk, our own private instructor will give us lessons on how to do the most famous dance in Cuba – the Salsa!

Cuban Cooking Class:
At the finest cooking school in Cuba, learn how to prepare local cuisine … and then enjoy it at this Cuban Cooking Class!

Fun in the Sun: Playas del Este & Tropicoco All-Inclusive:
Come out and enjoy a hot day at the beach and an overnight stay in a resort hotel on the beach as we celebrate our final day and night together. Our overnight beach excursion leaves at 9:00 a.m. and we will travel to our all-inclusive resort. There will be lots of time for swimming, tanning, and exploring the beautiful white sand beach.

Full Day and Overnight Excursion
For more information on Optional Excursions, please contact Alexandra.

LANGUAGE TRAINING
Our work provides an excellent opportunity to learn the Spanish language. Each day we will hold informal classes to help our volunteers reach their language goals

FEES:
$1995 for 1 week or $2395 for 2 weeks plus applicable taxes
 

FEE INCLUDES NOT INCLUDED • Round trip airfare from Toronto • Three meals daily • Accommodation • Local transportation to the projects • Materials • Support services • Air taxes and service charges • Visa fees • Items of a personal nature

FLIGHT
Depart: From Toronto 20:45 and arrive in Havana 03:40
Return: From Havana 13:45 and arrive in Toronto 19:25
 

STAFF TEAM:
Week 1: Tim Duncan, Jaason Geerts, and Joni Miller.
Week 2: Tim Duncan, Caitlin Blain

Project Coordinator TIM DUNCAN is well trained in the area of international development and leadership, having taken many Ontario Leadership Courses. Tim has been a teacher and coach for many years and has taught Leadership on our International Summers programs for several summers.

Project Leader CAITLIN BLAIN is a fourth-year student at OCAD and the recipient of several scholarships. She spent a semester studying at the Universidad de Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina and is fluently triligual. Caitlin also worked on the Blyth Cozumel program last summer.

Project Leader JONI MILLER has been teaching Spanish and Global Perspectives for more than 10 years and has a Master’s degree in International Education. She has led community service trips to many different countries, including Cuba, and is fluently trilingual (English, Spanish, French).