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Courtesy Elevate Destinations

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Elevate Destinations, a responsible travel company, brings back its Elevate Haiti volunteer travel program for the third consecutive year. The July and August program works in partnership with a Haiti-based organization, Let Haiti Live, to assist rural Haitians in self-sufficiency.

Elevate Destinations runs eight- and 15-day trips for volunteers to Jacmel, Haiti between July 22-30 and July 22-Aug. 5. Registration is still available.

“Our trips are different from most volunteer travel,” said Andrea Atkinson, with Elevation Destinations. “We work in solidarity with Haitians to create cultural connections that provide long-term relationships and support. We don’t believe in top-down development.”

Participants work with Let Haiti Live’s two-week summer camp for a 40-member youth group focused on food security and other environmental projects in southeastern Haiti. Haitian youth from ages five to 25 receive education in economic, environmental and social self-sustainability.

Other activities center on English language skills and leadership development. During the trip, volunteers will also work to expand the group’s tree nursery and reforestation efforts in the community.

Volunteers with Elevate Destinations have raised $40,000 since 2010 for community projects in Haiti. The Elevate Haiti trips also won a National Geographic Traveler “Tour of a Lifetime 2011.”

For more information, visit www.elevatedestinations.com.