February 2012 Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (HandsForHaiti) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 02:32:00 +0000

Please click HERE to see our most recent newsletter from February 2012

Other Recent News: Cholera Relief Effort

Hands for Haiti recently invited Dr. Eugene Maklin to Tremesse to help educate the village on ways to prevent the spread of cholera, which has taken the lives of so many people in the Cap Haiten area. It has been especially deadly in the countryside where rains have recently washed waste into the rivers which are used for bathing and drinking water by many. Although Tremesse has a central well built by Hands for Haiti, the villagers typically will carry water from the well to their houses in 5 gallon buckets which can then become contaminated. Dr. Maklin handed out pamphlets and chlorine tablets to the villagers, which can be used to keep the well water pure while it is stored in the buckets. Hundreds of parents and students attended the event which was held in the old "temporary" school building.

Through My Eyes, Why the Children Are Important

noreply@blogger.com (HandsForHaiti) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:21:00 +0000

-by a recent visitor to Tremesse

Twenty-eight years ago, without realizing it, I won the lottery. No one came by to give me a check and I never purchased a ticket. I did nothing more than be born on American soil, to a wonderful family, in a land of opportunity. As I grew, with the help of family and friends, I went to school, got a degree and a great job. In many ways, I lived my own particular version of the American Dream, something men and women the world over dream of doing. Without a doubt, my life was realized with a certain sort of determination on my part, but also with the help of many amazing people without whom, I would not be where I am today. It is due to them that I am able to share with you an experience of the same; that is, an opportunity.

Only a few weeks ago, I was given the chance to spend a few days with Hands for Haiti, visiting their new school building just outside the northern city of Cap Haitien. It was something of a surprise trip, that I had neither prepared for mentally nor physically (in fact, I barely had time to get the required inoculations). In the short time I did have to get ready, I made a mental note not to form any prejudices about my experience but instead simply live in the moment, letting whatever feelings or emotions rise up within me, provoking me to a greater understanding and compassion.
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Through My Eyes (Continued)

noreply@blogger.com (HandsForHaiti) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:13:00 +0000

Upon first arriving in Cap Haitien, I felt very much overwhelmed. I didn’t understand the language, culture or landscape. I did my best to try to put things in perspective, making comparisons between my previous trips overseas and what I could see from the window of the van as we headed towards the school. I noticed the structure of the buildings, the strange way the women carried their belongings on their heads and the trucks, overflowing with passengers, some of whom clung to the side, holding onto rails. Some of the members of our group recounted stories of Haiti’s history as well as the work they had been doing over the past year, yet my mind wandered as I took in the sights.

As we entered the school grounds, I had my first glimpse of the new six room school building that had been recently completed. An unequaled concrete structure set among the trees, it waited for the day when its walls and floors might be filled with chalkboards and posters, books and desks. Only then might it rightly be called a schoolhouse. This was, in part, the reason for the trip and what we would soon be discussing, but not before a tour of the bamboo-stick wooden building that had served the students and teachers needs in the preceding year.

Above and beyond the building itself, what struck me most, and I think the rest in our crew, were the children. They treated us with such great respect, standing to greet us on their own initiative. I will never forget the wide open eyes and smiles of the children as I feebly mouthed “Bonjour” all the while tormented by my incapacity to communicate more. I wanted so much to speak with them and get to know all their names. Only a heart of stone would not have been moved. I couldn’t help but think of my many nephews and nieces, each born with the same dignity, but entirely different circumstances. Yet for all the compassion I may have felt, I was grieved by an even greater sense of helplessness. I knew that for as much as I might like to, I couldn’t take these children home with me to feed and teach them. What’s more, I knew it wouldn’t be right to uproot them away from their family and homes, as destitute and needy as they might be. No, something else had to be done and even though I didn’t know what or how, I was determined to do something.

As we continued our tour of the building (which, in itself really only lasted a few minutes, since the building was so small), I had the opportunity to speak with one of the teachers, a man named Gerard who, after having spent 5 years in the Dominican Republic, spoke fluent Spanish. Having spent some time living in a Spanish-speaking country myself, I took advantage of our common language to talk to him a little about the school, the kids, and the village. Gerard explained to me that when he was a kid, a group of nuns spent several weeks teaching English to the village children. Since then, he’s tried as best he could to further his education, learning the language in whatever way he was able. It was difficult though, since he had no resources or books. Regardless, he was happy to pass on to the children all of what he knew.

In Gerard, I saw something of myself; I saw someone who loved learning and who sincerely cared for others. I couldn’t help but be moved to offer to send him a few books so that he could continue to educate both himself and the children. It killed me to see the talents and God-given gifts of such an intelligent and kind man go to waste simply for lack of opportunity. In my small way, I was determined to help and, as the day rolled on, I did. Gerard and I were able to organize the teachers in an effort to enroll the students in a sponsorship program through Hands for Haiti. We spent the day speaking with the kids (with Gerard translating from Creole to Spanish), writing down their names and aspirations, as well as taking a photo of each child. In this way, we hoped to continue to fund the efforts of Ecole du Solidarite, teaching and feeding the children in the village of Tremesse. It was a long day, especially after the 4am flight, but one which I will never forget.

I will always be thankful that I was able to spend those few days in Haiti, and for the men, women and children I had the pleasure to meet. In particular, I will carry with me my time with Gerard, a man who has so much to offer and who does so with a smile on his face. In him, I saw someone that could have easily been a lawyer, doctor, engineer or anything he wanted were it not for the circumstances into which he was born. Yet even so, he took what he had and made the best with it, giving back the little he had been given and transforming it into something more. I am happy to say that I saw this same care and kindness in all of the individuals with which Hands for Haiti works, both stateside and abroad. What’s more, I saw within them a recognition that this was not their project alone, but one upon which they collaborated, in which they supported the efforts of impassioned and caring individuals like Gerard who know the true needs of their people in only a way someone who lives alongside them can know. This, I think, is what makes Hands for Haiti so unique and so successful in what they do. They truly recognize and respect the dignity of the men and women with whom they work and serve.

Hands For Haiti Recent News

February 2012 Newsletter

** Please click HERE to see our most recent newsletter from February 2012 **

Other Recent News: Cholera Relief Effort

Through My Eyes, Why the Children Are Important

Through My Eyes (Continued)

Please click HERE to see our most recent newsletter from February 2012