We have just returned from a week in Haiti doing medical stuff and perhaps more importantly—checking out the orphanage, but focusing on what’s going on in the primary and secondary schools. Good news and not-so-good news:
If you’ve been following these little newsletters, you’ll note that the uniforms no longer have cute pink uppers (tough on guy teens) and are now a more subdued blue and navy blue. All uniforms are made in the Rita-Christine vocational school, saving about $5,000 this year alone.
We have been asked repeatedly how we manage to have our funds safely (and completely) arrive in Haiti, a place where many contributions go to die and never reach the hands for which they are intended. Simple: we bank wire your gifts directly to the rural Haitians who have created and run their amazing project. No funds are touched by “middle-men” or more importantly the Haitian government. You can love Haitians and not love their government.
However (fanfare), there is significant improvement in city and rural roads through foreign aid programs. Although the countryside is still without electricity, it is now available to those who can pay in the city. The orphanage/school has both a diesel generator and solar power.
The cholera situation is interesting, but sad. There are many less cases (we saw only two patients last week), but for that reason the rural treatment centers are closing, making the mortality rate higher per case even as the incidence declines.
Living in Haiti can be difficult. Talk about the importance of education … our school kids have learned a great deal about basic hygiene and its importance. Pray for more wells, right?
Why Haiti? Because that’s where the Haitians are!!
(Originally published 4/2013)
- Good -- the place is filled with enthusiastic teachers and students. You know already that this school is basically free for them, including uniforms and a meal for the primary kids. Many would have no education otherwise.
- Not so good -- the classrooms are jammed partly because they got what they wished for: desks (made in the vocational school) for all the students in all rooms. Many potential students are turned away for this reason. It’s a matter of funding.
If you’ve been following these little newsletters, you’ll note that the uniforms no longer have cute pink uppers (tough on guy teens) and are now a more subdued blue and navy blue. All uniforms are made in the Rita-Christine vocational school, saving about $5,000 this year alone.
We have been asked repeatedly how we manage to have our funds safely (and completely) arrive in Haiti, a place where many contributions go to die and never reach the hands for which they are intended. Simple: we bank wire your gifts directly to the rural Haitians who have created and run their amazing project. No funds are touched by “middle-men” or more importantly the Haitian government. You can love Haitians and not love their government.
However (fanfare), there is significant improvement in city and rural roads through foreign aid programs. Although the countryside is still without electricity, it is now available to those who can pay in the city. The orphanage/school has both a diesel generator and solar power.
The cholera situation is interesting, but sad. There are many less cases (we saw only two patients last week), but for that reason the rural treatment centers are closing, making the mortality rate higher per case even as the incidence declines.
Living in Haiti can be difficult. Talk about the importance of education … our school kids have learned a great deal about basic hygiene and its importance. Pray for more wells, right?
Why Haiti? Because that’s where the Haitians are!!
(Originally published 4/2013)
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