For over twelve years Health for Haiti has partnered with a community in rural Haiti to promote holistic community development. While our commitment to our friends in Haiti has never waivered, it seems that everything surrounding our work has continued to shift and change. After dealing with first the pandemic and then with persistent political and civil chaos and violence in Haiti, we were forced to abandon our beloved SUNY Broome Health for Haiti class and trips.
Thanks to our amazing supporters, we successfully transitioned to a Health for Haiti that is independent of SUNY Broome. But as time has passed we also came to realize that after years of not being able to visit Grande Saline, conditions in Haiti are continuing to decline and it seems as if there is no possibility for safe travel in the near future. This makes it difficult to continue to grow support for our projects. And – although it does not compare to the situation in Haiti – there is economic uncertainty here in the US and it has been increasingly challenging to raise sufficient funds to continue our usual monthly support. The fact is, we no longer have sufficient funds to guarantee the monthly support we have provided in the past. Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to shift to project-based support.
In response to these challenges, we encouraged the community in Grande Saline to form a committee of community members and stakeholders to guide operations going forward. We are looking to this team to decide how to best use our remaining financial resources as we all look for ways for the community in Haiti to find new solutions for self-sufficiency. As we make the transition away from regular monthly support from Health for Haiti, we are relying on the committee in Haiti to make the decisions about how to best utilize our limited resources and creatively cover the ongoing monthly expenses.
We are so grateful for their hope, optimism, and willingness to make the best out of a difficult situation. We are all so proud of what we have accomplished over the past decade, and we believe that although the path might not be clear right now, the best is still ahead of us. Below we are sharing some updates directly from our partners in Grande Saline. These are critical initiatives that the community has identified as priorities and wanted to share with our donors and supporters. Sadly, although there is certainly good work continuing, we will be forced to say goodbye to some of our beloved projects, including the sewing school.
The community in Haiti is committed continuing to work on three priorities, including supporting the expanded garden project. Produce from the garden is not enough to support a full school lunch but will be an important component of trying to provide a hot meal to the 300 students who attend school in the community.
Below is a message our partners in Haiti:
“We would like to extend a message of appreciation and encouragement to all the farmers and everyone who continues to support the garden project. Today, we are very happy because we have started harvesting peppers from the garden. This is a clear sign that our hard work, patience, and collaboration are bringing good results.
Keep going and do not lose courage. Every effort you make is a step forward for the development of the community. Together, we can achieve even more. Thank you for your commitment, and may God continue to bless the work of your hands.”
Although conditions do not permit a school lunch every day, the community is working hard to provide lunch as often as possible and to rely on volunteers and selling some perishables to keep the garden going. They have devised a plan and are working to make it a reality. Thank you to our donors who have made this possible and who continue to support the garden project. Below are some pictures and messages from a recent school lunch day and a message from our project partners.
“Today is a day of joy and gratitude for the entire school community. Thanks to the school garden and the generous support of donors, the students received a warm meal that filled their hearts with happiness. It is not just food they received, but also love, care, and hope for a better future.
The school staff, teachers, and everyone involved in this project feel very proud. The students themselves do not have enough words to express how happy and grateful they are. Every smile on their faces is proof that our efforts are not in vain.
We extend our sincere thanks to all the donors and everyone who continues to support the school. Together, we are building a stronger future for these children. May God bless you all!”
We also are sharing a message from one of the students:
“My name is Chrisberline, and I am a student in the 5th grade. Today, I don’t even have enough words to express how happy and grateful I feel. My heart is full of joy as I can truly see and feel God’s blessings upon us.
This day is very special for me and for all the students. What we are experiencing today shows us that God is always watching over us and caring for our needs. We feel loved, supported, and encouraged.
I would like to say a big thank you to God for His grace and kindness. I also want to sincerely thank all the people who contributed and supported us. Because of you, we are able to live this beautiful moment. Your generosity and love mean so much to us.
We promise to continue working hard in school and to make you proud. Thank you again for everything you have done for us. May God bless you abundantly.”
The community has also identified the clean water project as a priority. This community has enjoyed access to clean, safe drinking water for over a decade. This project has had a tremendous positive impact on the the health of the community. Below is a message from our project partners in Haiti.
“In recent days, we have observed a significant change in the condition of the river water. The water has become very dirty, making it unsafe for direct use such as drinking, washing, or cooking. This situation can pose serious health risks if proper measures are not taken.
Despite this challenge, the community has a major advantage: a treated water system that serves everyone. Thanks to this system, residents no longer have to rely solely on the river water. They can access clean, treated water that is safe for daily use.
This treated water system is a true blessing for the community. It represents an important legacy that helps protect people’s health, especially that of children and the elderly who are more vulnerable.
We thank all the donors and partners who contributed to making this project a reality. Because of their support, many lives have improved, and the community is better equipped to face water-related challenges.”
The final priority identified by the community and committee in Grande Saline is the school. We have seen the school grow from about 25 student to 300, and the expansion of instruction to include classes from kindergarten to ninth grade. The school represents the heart and pride of the entire community, as is explained by school principle, Pastor Beloando:
“We are proud to present some of the students attending the school. They come from the community, each with their own dreams, talents, and hopes for the future.
For many of them, being part of this school is not just an obligation, but a dream come true. It is a place where they come to learn, grow, and develop their abilities so they can become valuable members of society.
In our community, almost every child carries this same dream in their heart: to be a student at this school, to receive a quality education, and to build a better future. The school has become a source of hope and a light that guides their path.
We are proud of our students, and we encourage them to keep working hard to achieve all their dreams.”
There is so much to celebrate, encourage, and support at the school. Your support of these young people is life-changing, and despite the challenges, with your help this school has grown into a center for excellence. In fact, our current class of ninth graders includes 34 students! Prior to this our larges class had 17.
Most of these students have been with us for years, but some are traveling from miles away to join us because of the stellar results our students have achieved on the national exams. We a top performing school. We are excited to bring you messages from two of these fine young students.
“My “name is Gorlens. It is a great pleasure for me to stand before you today. This is my first year at this school, and I feel very proud and happy to be part of it.
For a long time, I have dreamed of studying at this school because I have heard many good things about it. I really admire its discipline, the quality of education, and the way the teachers support students to succeed. That is why being here today feels like a dream come true for me.
My goal is to work hard, respect the school rules, listen carefully to my teachers, and collaborate well with my classmates. I want to learn many new things, develop my skills, and become a person who can make a positive contribution to society.
I know there will be challenges, but I am ready to face them with courage and determination. I will not give up easily, and I believe that with hard work, I can achieve my goals. I wish success for each and every one of us. Thank you very much.”
“My name is Anella. I am 12 years old, and it has always been my dream to come to this school. When I was younger, I was not able to attend because the distance was too far for me to walk every day. Even though it was difficult, I never stopped hoping that one day I would be here.
Today, my dream has finally come true. I feel so happy and proud to be a student at this school. Every day, I learn new things, meet new friends, and enjoy beautiful moments with my teachers and classmates.
Being here means a lot to me, and I am determined to work hard so I can build a better future for myself.”
As we move to a project-based model, we are still honoring all donor requests to apply their support to a project or initiative of their choosing. In terms of the first new project we will partner on, the community has identified a school bathroom as critical for health, safety, and dignity. That project will progress in three phases, and we look forward to sharing plans and progress (and asking for your support) as it gets underway.
Thank you for your attention and support and we hope that you will continue to partner with us and our friends in Haiti to help them maintain the community gardens, clean drinking water, and high quality education. We will face these difficult changes together and hold onto hope that our best days are still ahead of us! Follow our progress on Instagram (health4haiti) and please consider making a donation. We are grateful for your support!
Like this:
Loading…
