Dominic Baxter's Blog

I’m now moving all new posts and updates to facebook. Please find me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/dominic.baxter

In October (23rd-30th); April 2011 I will be travelling to Haiti as part of a ‘build it week’ team with the Haven Partnership. The Haven Partnership is a very worthy cause and I would very much appreciate your support in helping me to raise valuable funds. I will be working in Gonaives, in northern Haiti about 160km (100miles) from Port Au Prince.

Full details can be found on their web site http://www.havenpartnership.com.

This is not a holiday for me by any means, I’ll be leaving the safety and security of my keyboard and telephone and hopefully will be taking on the role of a carpenter for the week. Accomodation for me and the other ‘build it week’ team members is very basic – a communal tent. As many of you know I am a keen camper, so that part won’t be too hard, my biggest hurdle will be the 5am starts. I expect a few sore thumbs in those pre-dawn hours.

My minimum target is €4500, (USD $6080, UKP £4060). Over 50% of this goes directly to building materials for one building structure that provides two homes; the remainder is for community amenities (latrines, playground, school, etc), my flight costs, my food, security personnel, amongst other things. In addition to €4500, I need to have tools, safety equipment, vaccinations etc, and I’m hoping that my local DIY store and Doctor will help me out on those..

You can donate by credit or debit card via the mycharity.ie website http://www.mycharity.ie/event/dominicbaxter

If you would prefer you can donate online via the Haven website also, or if you want to send me cheque or cash that is fine, please let me know and I will send you on address and/or details.

Haven Letter Authorisation Letter

Update on travel.

The response to the October trip to Haiti has been so outstanding that Haven Partnership have had to put on two seperate trips; one on 23rd-30th October, and one on the 31st October – 6th November. Over 600 volunteers are going over these two weeks with more still “on standby”. After discussing with Haven I have postponed my trip to April 2011, which is the next planned trip for volunteers.

Thank you all so much for donations so far. All monies raised to date are in the Haven donation account, either directly paid in by myself or via mycharity.ie website.

I am continuing to raise funds for the April trip, those 11 months till then will fly by so there is no rest.

http://www.havenpartnership.com/Article.php?Article=Build-It-Week-2010

Latest work completed; putting together flat pack table and chairs. Cutting and disposing of old trees.

I will be collecting for the fund in Blackpool shopping center, Cork on Thursday 5th and Saturday 7th August. Drop by and say hello if you around

My company has donated 3 LCD Monitors to me to sell with proceeds going to my fund.

See http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=245282 for details.

1 monitor sold – Thanks Justin, and for your donation too!

Some recent jobs now completed; Skirting boards installed; Fixing curtain tie backs, hanging a mirror, flower pot brackets, and constructing a flat pack bench; Fixed a jammed door, lock on a gate.

Thanks everyone!

Just a special thanks to Emily (aged for sponsoring me €20 from her Holy Commuinion gifts.

It must be the time of year, but the Handyman is getting busy; Just completed boxing in of cables for a wall mounted TV.  Also installed now lock on outside gate and mended a sticking uPVC front door.

In the coming weeks, also have another loft ladder installation to do, some built in corner shelves and cabinate to make, put up some skirting boards and fix some dado railing.

Thanks to you all for thinking of me when you have a job!!!

Second job under the Handyman for Haiti umbrella had me securing down some squeaky floorboards that were  waking a  baby everytime someone went into the room. Heres to baby’s good night sleep!.

Many thanks for the work!

First job under the “Handyman for Haiti” was a loft ladder installation. Some modifications to ladder needed to be made and a pully system installed as the hatch was vertical in a wall, rather than the traditional ceiling installation.
All went very well and customer very please with work!