Haven founder Leslie Buckley with children from one of the communities the charity is helping in Haiti

Grainne Cunningham – 31 May 2013

VOLUNTEERS with the charity Haven are spending 10 days in Haiti, working with the local community to help ease the burden on the poverty-stricken island’s population.

Some are helping to install a pavement up a steep hill from the local market and port, Madam Bernards, while others are preparing computer rooms in three local schools and restoring community areas.

The Haven volunteer group will return to Ireland on June 4 after spending 10 days volunteering on Ile Vache. Haven is an Irish non-governmental, non-political, non-religious organisation, founded by Leslie Buckley nearly 10 years ago after the conditions he saw in Haiti appalled him.

Leslie and his wife Carmel now spend a considerable amount of time initiating and supporting programmes to help build sustainable communities, and providing training and employment opportunities for the local people.

“What I witnessed in Haiti changed my outlook in life. I was originally there for business reasons and . . . I had never witnessed the poverty, deprivation and pure despair that I saw in Haiti. Something more had to be done,” said Leslie.

Irish Independent