First, the good news: things are still peaceful and funning fairly normally in the Cap Haitien area. Fuel supply is short because of the dire situation in Port-au-Prince, but schools are open, vendors are vending, and no gang violence is occurring. International air service has also returned to Cap airport!
Strange did you say? There may be anarchy in the capital—with brutal gang violence, political uncertainty, and food and fuel shortages—but Cap is up and running, as has been the case for decades. In its own way, Haiti’s north has maintained something of a separate empire going back to the reign of Emperor Henri Christophe.

​As we like to say, things are different in Cap. Gang activity has been thwarted in the city that says “it is not going to happen here!” Police in Cap are tough, and the city is led by its first woman mayor, Yvrose Pierre, an important force in the city for some time.

Are the many boxes of supplies that we ship arriving at Maranatha and the Tovar Clinic? YES! Service has remained uninterrupted. The Maranatha Project and Haiti Foundation have successfully shipped some 240 boxes by Haiti Shipping Cargo over the past several months, including over 600 critically important birthing kits for safer at-home birthing, the most common practice by far in the countryside.
Do the thousands of dollars we wire several times monthly arrive at the Haitian bank? YES! All funds have been received by our Haitian managers, as always, meaning 100% of your donations are going where they are needed most!

Solar power continues to have an enormous and positive impact at Maranatha, which is fully electrified. In the process, several local workers have gained solar installation and maintenance skills, and because of that, the local Bethesda Church now has a solar system of its own. Progress indeed!
Hang on, here’s a good one: our (your!) Foundation continues to employ over 200 women and men. Here are the numbers: the Maranatha schools, orphanage, and elder village employ 147 teachers and staff; the Marquee community school employs 32; the Quart-Milot School has 15; and the Beaujoint School has 10. It’s a beautiful thing! Bon Bagay!

Your gifts are making all of this and more possible, and it’s amazing. Mesi!

We have just returned from the April medical team visit to our clinic serving the area around Maranatha called Grison-Garde! (www.thehaitimission.org). What?! What did you say? You went to Haiti?

Wi! Haiti is in many ways two countries. The south in the Port-au-Prince area is rife with crime and unrest (and our teams never go there), but the north—the Cap Haitien area (pictured above)—is traditionally peaceful and has remained so despite all the recent troubles in the south. Despite fuel at $10 per gallon and rampant inflation, the city carries on with its usual vitality. All was peaceful and welcoming both in Cap and in the Maranatha community.

The schools, orphanage, and other facilities at Maranatha look great with solar power 24/7, computer lab with internet fully attended, happy hens abounding, the fine brass band striking it up, bourgeoning gardens, and a whole lot more ... all with love and all made possible by your gifts. 

Pecnel has returned! Marantha’s star student of the past: top of secondary school class, graduate of tailoring school, and graduate with honors in civil engineering from the University in Cap Haitien is back at Maranatha. The sad news is that his chances for employment as a civil engineer in Haiti are slim. That’s how it is in a country with true unemployment at least 75%!
           
On the other hand, Maranatha now has a fully qualified facilities manager. Having spent his early life as an orphan at Maranatha, Pecnel is esteemed by all for his energy and intellect and most of all because he is a good guy too!

Sad to say, our old friend “RoRo,” one of the original homeless old folks admitted to the Cottages for the Elderly, has passed away. He was the gardener extraordinaire whose “jaden” of flowers, vegetables, and fruit was so lovely. RoRo was very old and had suffered a stroke. We miss his smile and hug.
 
Seventeen older homeless folks still live in the cottages of the elder project in nearby Marokee. Many children from that deeply impoverished community visit the cottages frequently which adds a bit of vitality! The elders are well fed and clothed and are living out their difficult Haitian lives in special comfort … a blessing, supported by you!

We’ll take this chance to follow up on the lives of several young adults who grew up at Maranatha, some from the very beginning back in 2001, starting with lovely Lovelie (our wonder nurse, above). She just completed a much-needed redo of the orphanage rooms). The 12 girls and 10 boys were “full of themselves” as always.

Below are a few more young folks who were raised and educated at Maranatha and are now pursuing professions of their. Thanks and best wishes to all y'all, and thanks for helping keep hope alive! 

​Yes, it has been a very sad year for Haiti, but this foundation’s work continues. This time it isn’t earthquakes or floods, but a demonstration of what happens when a government fails and collapses. The anger and violence in the Port-au-Prince area has continued, creating a fuel crisis that has brought all areas of Haiti’s infrastructure to a standstill. This situation must improve in time; such crises have always abated in the past. We know that the spirit and dignity of Haitians will prevail.

The hunger in the countryside is profound. Both Ford Haitian Foundation and our partner the Haiti Mission Foundation are sponsoring food distributions as our budgets allow, though we are currently beyond budget. Our Haitian directors select the families most in need in the community for these gifts of food. Below are a few recipients of a recent distribution. Additional images can be found on our Facebook page.

​So what’s the good news? There is some: Maranatha is in good shape! Fortunately, the community of Grison-Garde is tucked away in the north and has always remained peaceful. Your donations for their support have consistently arrived on time despite the turmoil. Likewise for our shipments of medications, birthing kits, and other much-needed supplies, not to mention salaries for our large Haitian staff.

Schools are temporarily closed in Haiti by decree of the Education Ministry but learning goes on, as it must. Adult education classes proceed: the professional school continues to offer tailoring, carpentry, welding, and now electrical/solar maintenance training. All classes are filled to the brim. In addition, weekend classes in safe food preparation and hygiene are well attended. 

CHOLERA, very sad to say, is epidemic again in many parts of Haiti—primarily in the Port-au-Prince area. When clean water is in short supply due to chaos, this ugly bacterial water-borne illness may reappear. There have been thousands of cases and many deaths. Vigorous education projects and above all, wells, are critical for stemming such disasters. Our foundation has drilled many dozens of wells in the Grison-Garde community over the years. No cases are reported in our community! See photo below of local "anti-cholera activists" gathering at a well provided by YOUR donations.

Life goes on, and we will end on a happy note with a photo of all the orphans who live at the Maranatha compound gathered in a classroom for a handicraft Sunday project. Many years of loving care have been the hallmark of the orphanage at Maranatha. This photo shows our young adults sharing their common bond of dignity and spirit. These are the rewards for this foundation and for YOU for your gifts over the years—pure and simple.
 
Thank you for your continued support, and we hope 2023 brings better conditions for dear old Haiti!

FULL SPEED AHEAD AT MARANATHA!
Floods, earthquakes, assassination, protests, gang violence, severe fuel and food shortages, Covid…What’s a country to do? Sad to say, there is currently no solution anticipated for Haiti’s general population, but there is good news!

Institute Maranatha is doing very well. Recall that Maranatha (aka: Centre Orphelinat Maranatha La Victoire Grison-Garde) is in northern Haiti, far from the epicenter of discontent that is Port-au-Prince. Grison Garde is rural and traditionally peaceful. The project that you support is owned entirely by that community—it belongs to them alone and continues to be a source of great pride, as well it should be. Let us pray that their good fortune can continue.

For starters, the entire project is now solar powered 24/7, installed and maintained by Haitians (photo) trained by our electrical guru here in the US. He can connect with the team over Zoom to resolve issues. It works!

Additionally:

• More than 1,200 students continue to attend school daily (including the two girls in the photo), plus 800 more supported by our Haitian Foundation in nearby elementary schools.
• The children receive a daily meal, which is better than ever now that full-time propane (photo) is available for cooking. This is because they no longer need fuel for the generator thanks to solar power, which in turn means "so long" to the heat and fumes of charcoal cooking. The cooks are happy!
• The vocational school (photo) supplies benches and desks for schools we support as well as Maranatha. The tailoring class has produced hundreds of face masks and school uniforms. Thousands of dollars are thus saved and income is generated.
• Meanwhile, A 20-year facility makeover is underway. It is difficult to believe that Maranatha is 20 years old…and it is beginning to show. Painting, cement repair, woodwork refinishing and just plain tidying up are our biggest budget demands now. Thousands of children and young adults have come here to live and learn over the past two decades and have taken a welcomed toll. It's a blessing and a challenge.
• The Foundation's other community projects continue, as well, including the installation of new community wells (photo), the elder village (photo), and the all-important chicken project (photo). The hens crank out dozens of eggs per day, providing essential nutrition for children and elderly.

A parting word about Covid and Haiti. While Haiti certainly feels the economic impacts of the global pandemic, the impact on public health is relatively minor (especially compared to other challenges the country faces). The virus is present, but only 5 percent of the Haitian population is over 65 years of age (the group with highest death rate), and 45 percent are under 15 years (the group with the lowest death rate). Vaccination is limited and is just now becoming available.
​
From everyone at the R.N. Ford Foundation and our dear friends and partners in Grison Garde, Haiti, we wish you a fine holiday season and a blessed New Year. And, as always, we can't thank you enough for your faithful support.

We have come so far for so long and we know it will go on. Thank you!

​ INSTITUTE MARANATHA NEWSLETTER-- SPRING 2021
A COMMUNITY OWNED PROJECT SPONSORED BY THE FORD HAITIAN FOUNDATION
“Piti piti zwazo fe’ nich” (little by little the bird builds its nest)
 
After 15 long months of COVID absence, we can give you a live update on your, our, their Maranatha project! We have just returned from traveling with our medical team (www.thehaitimission.org) and were happy to find the Cap Haitien region totally peaceful and welcoming as always. The Port-A-Prince area, far to the south, is experiencing considerable serious unrest, but we do not go there and never really have. Our projects are entirely in the north of the country.
 
COVID is of course present throughout Haiti, but there are far fewer high-risk groups, hence a much lower impact than in the U.S. Why? Sad to say, less than 5% of Haitians ever reach the age of 65 years, the highest risk group (close to 18% here), and almost 50% are in the low-risk group under 18 years (24% here). Obesity, another risk factor, is unusual in rural Haiti, and there are few smokers.
 
Our medical team was fully immunized and required masking for all patients and employees at our clinic. “Social distancing” (as much if not slightly more than 6 whole inches, the practical maximum in the clinic) was maintained. Reality does not allow much more than that for 600 of the neediest patients waiting in the Haitian sun.
 
In fact, things went beautifully, and we were very, very glad to be back in that land of dignity and spirit. As some of us have come to understand, in many ways, Haiti and Haitians have more to offer us than vice versa, and so we count ourselves blessed for the opportunity to return.  
 
The clinic is a few minutes’ walk from the Maranatha project, which enables us to travel back and forth as needed. If you have Google mapped Grison-Garde just south of Cap Haitien, you can view the Tovar clinic and Institute Maranatha with its 7 buildings.
             
Maranatha has thrived beyond our best hopes over the past few years. We couldn’t help but wonder if it is because we Americans were absent for a while (smile). See below for just a few examples of the fruits of your generosity:
 
“The Best School Vacation Weekends” (their English title)—are classes in food preparation emphasizing safe handling as well variety and presentation. We noticed that only young women attended. (photo) Also classes in cosmetology, just for fun and education (photo).
There has been a doubling of the number of students enrolled in tailoring and carpentry programs with sales of products increasing.
Welding instruction is being offered in the professional school. There is a first class welding set up donated years ago and a qualified instructor has been added to the professional school staff. Welding is an important and employable skill in Haiti.
Solar electricity continues to be available 24 hours a day for all areas of the Maranatha complex. Basic maintenance is now largely in the hands of Haitian electricians and community assistants. The wonder of “Zoom” has made guidance and oversight by our American expert (thank you, Ron Jenkins) possible whenever needed. It is working!!
Charcoal and wood cooking in Maranatha’s kitchen have been cut back by making propane a reality at last. We have tried over the years to accomplish this but expense has always ended efforts—not this time—we have a donor directing funds for propane (photo)
 
Not a penny of your gifts will ever be wasted. You are the only source of our funding for these  amazing people and the future of their dreams.

No surprise: 2020 has not been a laugh a minute in Haiti either, but as we mentioned in our last newsletter, the COVID death rate has been lower than in the U.S. Almost 50% of the population is less than 18 years of age and (sad to say) there are far fewer folks who survive to become “elderly,” which may account for the lower rate.

Schools at all levels are open in the north and catching up on lost lessons. That includes Institute Marantha’s primary and secondary classes, the professional school, adult education classes, plus the  Maroquee School, Beaujoint School and Carmilot Primary (all of which your gifts sponsor). Have a look at some of Maranatha’s 1,250 primary and secondary students!

Maranatha is all about education, but there are a lot of other things going on that bring some interesting contrasts. Consider this: the oxen plowing the new garden (below left) represent an ancient farming method that is still common in Haiti; meanwhile, just a few yards away, students like this young woman are hooked into the internet and learning 21st-Century skills!

So much of the fascination and spirit of the Haitian culture is the coming together of these “layers” of life, especially in rural areas. Surely adequate safe hygiene seems preferable and desired, but who is to say that electrical lighting somehow improves upon night’s darkness when followed by the dawn? These things are “pa senp”…not simple but complicated.

The crops of a garden such as Maranatha’s are varied and traditional, most might be found in a family’s subsistence plot: beans, peas, melon, spinach, plantain, bananas, manioc, tomatoes and carrots. Citrus trees of many types, coconut palms, breadfruit and mangoes may line the fences. Rice, the major source of calories is not in the common garden because of its great water requirements (sad to say, most of Haiti’s rice is imported from the U.S. not grown in Haiti) The Maranatha Institute agronomist is overseeing their new and expansive garden.

People sometimes ask us about the hen/egg business. It is an interesting adventure. Over the past year eggs have been distributed, usually without cost, throughout the community.  The original gang of 150 hens has gradually lessened, but are still producing 75 to 90 eggs per day. Hens that have passed their laying years become solid nutrition in the orphanage. And new hens are on the way!

Fun facts: The Institute has a young man who grew up in the orphanage now finishing law school! Also, two orphans have graduated in civil engineering, two are nurses and a dozen more are in college. Many of the graduated secondary students have gone on to technical training, as well. Some become carpenters. Others still have plenty of time to decide their paths...

All of our funds continue to arrive safely, wired from our US bank directly to Maranatha’s account in Cap Haitien. Not a dollar has ever been lost, ensuring that 100% of your gifts arrive safely (thank you).

Our best and most sincere wishes from everyone at Institute Maranatha and the Ford Haitian Foundation. May the year 2021 bring you and your loved ones peace and comfort.

​NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2020
INSTITUTE MARANATHA & FORD HAITIAN FOUNDATION

COVID update—Haiti, of course, continues to experience this novel virus, but its impact has been hard to measure.  As in many countries, they lack sufficient testing and tracking facility. Consider these facts:

• There are no nursing homes for the elderly in northern Haiti (as you know, a significant portion of US deaths occur in this group) and no more than 4% of the population is over 65, considered the most vulnerable group. (versus 18% in the US)
• Children under 18 years (the population with the lowest death rate) number near 46% in Haiti versus 22% in the US. Although infected, much less serious disease will occur in children. These facts alone suggest COVID’s death rate impact may be less significant in Haiti.
• The ravages of Haiti’s 2010 cholera epidemic brought a new and solid lesson to the country--talk about irony. People learned that through education epidemics could be lessened or controlled. See the photo of the kids donning their face masks!
• The fact that very little advanced health care exists in rural northern Haiti may have little impact, there being no specific proven remedies yet. Community COVID programs continue to be conducted at Institute Maranatha and have been well attended (photo)
• Smoking is rare in rural Haiti. One can go days and not see a smoker-- that may translate into a lower rate of COVID pulmonary complications. Sad to say, that fact may be neutralized by the health problems of women who spend their lives inhaling charcoal and wood smoke as they cook.   
• Propane cook tops are installed in the kitchen at Maranatha, but the ongoing expense has limited its use in the past. Now there’s a good GoFundMe project…the cooks would love it!

 
Depressed economies have closed many schools.  Ford Haitian Foundation will continue to offer full support for all our projects….right? See the photo of the school kids learning about and receiving masks and enjoying classes again. “Zoom” classes? Just a joke.

Interesting thing about water wells, the critical component of good health in rural Haiti, is that they break down: chains break, pistons stick, handles come off, etc. (Incidentally, well handles and posts make excellent play equipment for kids.) We have drilled dozens upon dozens of wells over the years, but in addition, 52 are not functioning now (most of which are not wells we’ve drilled). These wells are within the large district in which Grison-Garde is included. We will find the funds for repair; this thing called “maintenance” (left over after good intentions) is critical and so often overlooked. Our drilling company in Cap Haitien will fix ‘em all as funds become available. 

Food distributions in the area served by Maranatha and The Haiti Mission have continued, serving the most needy of all ages. We aim to provide weekly distributions as funds allow.  The chickens are thriving, producing up to 8 dozen eggs a day for the orphans, elderly and community in general. 

​Solar electrification is proceeding nicely, with onsite work performed by Haitian electricians and  workers.  Direction from the US has been through the wonders of modern electronics. We mention again that this dream of complete electrification of Maranatha has been funded separately by a single donor.

"I Have Their Blood and They Have Mine"

Those are the written words of our Lovelie Joseph, raised from early childhood at the orphanage and now a skilled nurse taking care of all the Maranatha schools, old folks project and orphanage. Her words sound poetic because they are poetic. She has also said that working with our medical teams and those visiting the school “will still burn in my heart” after you leave. She speaks with the spirit of Haiti, unmistakably real. Her words are spoken clearly and strongly and from her deepest heart: Haiti. 

A sweet reward for all of us — for the community of Grison Garde, for the elders who founded Institute Maranatha, for this Foundation and above all, for our donors (you) who have made this tale of Lovelie’s life possible.
 
In 2003, Lovelie (now Lovelle) Joseph entered the orphanage. We know that she liked living at the orphanage and that she loved school more than anything. She was a star student and qualified easily for nursing school after completing secondary school at Maranatha. Now, 15 years after joining the orphanage family, she has graduated with honors and will be employed full time with us beginning this January. By American standards, nursing graduates from a good four-year program in Haiti are highly skilled and are also trained to repair lacerations and deliver infants safely.
 
Lovelle will manage healthcare at Institute Maranatha, her childhood home, overseeing hygiene and nutrition and instructing at the schools. She will see that adequate health and nutritional support is maintained at the elder community and she will take care of injuries and illness at all of our facilities. Working four times a year with our visiting medical teams in the community will be another job for her. That is a big wow!
 
Lovelle told us that we shouldn’t worry about how much to pay her because “I owe you so much.” Dear Lovelie, it is all of us who owe YOU so much for helping us to know that we have been doing the right thing – all of us.
 
Lovelle’s English is coming along well and she has developed a very good American accent. She lives with friends in the nearby city of Cap Haitien.
 
Spared from the Earthquake
The earthquake in October resulted in the loss of life and considerable damage in the nearby city of Port-de-Paix. As in previous earthquakes and flooding, Maranatha escaped with no damage, due in part to good location and construction.
 
Super Sale
Huge congratulations to the Friends of the Ford Foundation of Albemarle (Va) for having the yard sale of the century! They raised almost $17K in one weekend (after many months of preparation), with 50 volunteers participating. Another wow!
 
The yard sale will be followed by a handicrafts sale later this month, featuring some of the artwork by our friend Sadrac, the artist whose flowers you have seen adorning the cottages at the Elder Village. Stay tuned to Facebook for more information — coming soon.
 
Laptops Delivered
College students, graduates of the Institute Maranatha, received top-grade refurbished laptops. There were 10 computers donated recently. Two recipients were orphans, just like Lovelle, moving along in the world thanks to your gifts. Computers are always welcome as donations. We carry them to Haiti ourselves on our medical team visits.
 
Be a Ford Foundation Fundraiser
Just in time for Giving Tuesday, the Ford Foundation will be a Facebook-approved charity soon. This means you can host your very own online fundraiser and share with friends, family and other connections. Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, if you have not selected the Robert Ford Haitian Orphanage and School Foundation as your Amazon Smile charity of choice, please do so!
 
Be sure to visit us on Facebook. As always, every penny we receive is disbursed without deduction directly to Institute Maranatha. Mesi!

Edikasyon pa achte kontantoman, men li edi!
— Education does not buy happiness, but it helps!

Headmaster Josue Bastien (pictured bottom left) has directed the amazing  development of Institute Maranatha since its inception in 2002. He has overseen its growth from just 200 primary students to over 1,250 primary and, of even more significance, 650 secondary or high school students. He oversees a staff of 17 primary, 55 secondary and 10 professional school teachers. Josue grew up in Grison-Garde near what is now his school and attended college in nearby Cap Haitien, the “capital” of the North. He considers Institute Maranatha to be “the greatest school in the North!”  He has helped create one of the highest rates of graduation in the area and the school is still free to all. Josue sincerely thanks you for making this success possible. He knows how difficult life is without education, knowledge and the wisdom that may follow. We add to that his true compassion for the children of his community.   

Midwife Training Program
The Matwon Training Program that we support continues to move forward. “Matwons” deliver about 75% of babies in homes throughout rural Haiti. These women (and some men) may have received little formal training in the past, but that is improving rapidly. Our foundation accepts and passes on funds for matwon training sessions at nearby New Hope hospital. This represents education at its most productive level. In addition, hundreds of “birthing kits” are being donated by various American groups. These clean birthing conditions offer increased hope for survival to both mother and her infant.

Other News
Surf and Turf: Tilapia and chickens may be in our future. An excellent school project, St. Marks in nearby Tremesse has developed a tilapia and chicken/egg farming project, which our directors are hoping to also establish at Maranatha. These self-sustaining investments are the way to the future. However, our current budget will fall far short of the funds needed for this effort. If there are possible sponsors out there, please let us know.

Computers Needed: Our college students have a great need for laptop computers. If you have one that you can donate (tax deductible), please contact us. We will deliver the laptops in person!

New Additions: The little girls in their nice “pillow case” type dresses (shown in the photo below) are recent additions to the small orphanage that the foundation continues to provide for the community. They are true orphans, lacking mothers or at-home fathers. Most have lived with relatives in the area. One senses their true happiness in the safe and predictable world their new home offers.

Institute Maranatha is thriving at every level ... our thanks to you!