Today, Josh and Mercedes did a tour of the island to get a better understanding of where future programs could be implemented and to get a better picture of how the island really is from East to West End. Enrique drove us in his truck. The trek started at the Pirate’s Den, wound through West End, and Flowers Bay, then through Coxen Hole, across the island to Oak Ridge and finally through Punta Gorda. We were able to gather information about local hotels and resorts where future groups could stay, hardware, lumber and paint stores on the island, supermarkets and restaurants and other communities where help could be brought.
There are four communities with severe poverty and vast need that we identified. Not that there aren’t a myriad more to be helped, but these four were the ones we saw.
Flowers Bay sits at the South West side of the island, not faar from Keyhole Bay and just West of Coxen Hole. There is an orphanage there which we thought would be a great place to analyze education needs. There are clearly several community issues there that could take easily more than a five year program to help.
Coxen Hole is another community, ironically placed right between both the Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line docks. Millions of tourists have moved through this community year in and year out, but the community is clearly suffering from poverty and need. Again, a five year program could make a difference there.
Oak Ridge is a fishing community about three quarters of the way down the island on the South side. This community is so impoverished that it made the colonia look like Beverly Hills. There were many houses on stilts, some that were leaning and looked like they may fall into the water at any moment. Still, jutting from the landside were wealthy homes with bay views and nice cars parked out front, resting on the hills not a stone’s throw from the impoverished below.
Finally, Punta Gorda is a community of native islanders descended from the black slaves and the native Indians of the island. They speak their own language, practice their own religion, and have kept their cultural values in tact through the changing environment on the island.
While Mercedes and Josh were out gathering data on the island, Mcwane and Shannon met with an islander and she allowed us to communicate with the people of the colonia. They all headed to the colonia to complete surveys on house#18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24. Later that evening the host made us dinner.
great job!! when we were there in jan we went to the "not popular" areas to pass out food...behind anthony's key is another critical area, poor, drug dealers...just a thought. thanks guys!!
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