In each country, accommodations include clean sleeping rooms with easy access to toilet and shower facilities. Some even have hot water! Many veteran Good News Project members have cherished memories of living together as an extended family – sharing prayer, recreation and meals – with lots of chicken and fish, and a seemingly endless variety of local vegetables, fruits and juices.
St. Lucia, Castries
The Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre in St. Lucia is a retreat house, with a chapel, dining room, recreation room, and sleeping rooms for about 2 dozen volunteers. The PC is several miles from the capital, but located within walking distance of the beach, and some volunteers make the trek daily (after the days’ work is finished) for rest and relaxation.
A general 2-week ‘trip’ includes many opportunities to help in the community (schools, nursing homes, learning centers, prison, etc) as well as small home construction (painting, building, final details). Transportation to the locations we serve is done via 2 passenger vans that Good News Project owns. We also hire local drivers. Catholic Masses are attended by those in the group that choose to participate. Other worship services may be available depending on the project schedules and interest of the group.
On the weekend between work weeks, you can choose to be a ‘tourist’. Visit the ‘world-famous’ Market, lunch at a local restaurant, sight-see, or take a sailboat day trip; all options that make this trip both fun and worthwhile.
Are you interested in reading a day to day journal written by a first time traveler to St Lucia (Castries)? Read all about it in the St Lucia New Traveler Journal (PDF).
St. Lucia, Soufriere
The Still Plantation & Beach House is beautifully located with black-sand beaches, crystalline Caribbean Sea, and the magnificent Pitons.
A mission trip to Soufriere offers the opportunity to build homes and work in schools, particularly working in the Fond St. Jacques area which was devastated by the hurricane of October 2010.
A short drive away there are several interesting sightseeing excursions available including Tet Paul Nature Trail with a small museum and many close-up views of the famous Pitons. The Soufriere Estate, built in 1765, has a botanical garden, Diamond Waterfall and an original sugar cane mill. The famous Sulfur Springs area has been rejuvenated and opened as a National Park in 2009.
Soufriere, the first town established by the French in 1746, is quieter than the bustling Castries area, but alive with friendly people and beautiful, natural scenery.
Helping others while opening your heart and your life to untold experiences can only result in a two week visit which will provide a lifetime of memories. Welcome to Soufriere!
Dominica, Vieille Case
We have had volunteer groups traveling to Northern Dominica for 25 years. Our hosts, John (Soldier Boy) and Sylvia Augustine at the Augustine Guest House, provide a clean place to stay, laundry service and warm West Indian meals for the two weeks our volunteers are there. The guest house is located in a small village, Vieille Case (pronounced “Vee a Coss”), making it easy for volunteers to get to know local people. From this location going to the beach involves a little travel and volunteers seem to find more pleasure in visiting the Emerald Falls and cooling off in the inland pools, or going to the Purple Turtle restaurant in Portsmouth for a change of pace. A walk down the hill will bring a volunteer to the Vieille Case primary school, a small village grocery, or the town hall, where locals may be playing dominoes with friends.
Good News Project owns a truck and uses that to get volunteers and supplies to and from project sites. House building has been the primary focus for this group. When time allows, volunteers go into the primary school just down the road and teach crafts.
Dominica, Castle Bruce
Good News Project volunteer groups of 7-8 people have been staying at Tappas Guest house for many years, spending their time building homes for the people in the Carib Territories. The Castle Bruce area is known as the poorest of the poor in the country of Dominica, and yet you will see some of the world’s most beautiful basketry come out of this Territory. A view of the ocean couldn’t be more beautiful from this location, but a substantial walk down the mountain is required to get to the nearest Delta. In this country of 365 rivers, Dominica is known for its “eco-tourism” and lush greenery.
Good News Project owns a truck used to get Castle Bruce volunteers and supplies around the island. The group usually focuses on getting two houses built and makes a point of presenting awards for a reading program in the Castle Bruce primary school.
St. Vincent
Good News Project volunteers will stay at St. John’s Presbytery Mesopotamia (Mespo) or at the Pastoral Center in Kingstown.
Mespo is a sleepy village in the mountains of St. Vincent. It has a central post office, a small clinic, grocery store, and a public and private school. This group may build 1 or 2 houses, depending on construction skill sets of our volunteers. We also have worked in the schools and with the Guadalupe Home for Girls. Within a 45 minute drive, volunteers can plan a day or two in the capital city of Kingstown. A hustle and bustle city which offers a central Market, beach access, and botanical gardens. Service opportunities in Kingstown include working in a local soup kitchen and minor repairs at the local homeless shelter.
We hire local drivers to move our volunteers to and from work sites during the two week stay.
To see the impact of our travelers to the islands, click below.