February 2 -7, 2009
Upon arrival at the airport, we were met by a group from the Episcopal Diocese and escorted to an air conditioned lounge to wait while they cleared our customs forms and collected our luggage. We gave them our passports and luggage claims and $4.00 cart fees. Since we were carrying two shoe sizes boxes of prescription medications for Pere Val and Carmel, a new printer for St. Simeon, numerous school supplies and printer cartridges and about 10,000 vitamins, we were grateful not to have to answer any questions if our luggage was searched or pay an import tax. We waited about 45 minutes in air conditioned lounge with a TV and other dignitaries. Our bags were delivered to Pere Val and Carmel waiting for
Upon arrival at the airport, we were met by a group from the Episcopal Diocese and escorted to an air conditioned lounge to wait while they cleared our customs forms and collected our luggage. We gave them our passports and luggage claims and $4.00 cart fees. Since we were carrying two shoe sizes boxes of prescription medications for Pere Val and Carmel, a new printer for St. Simeon, numerous school supplies and printer cartridges and about 10,000 vitamins, we were grateful not to have to answer any questions if our luggage was searched or pay an import tax. We waited about 45 minutes in air conditioned lounge with a TV and other dignitaries. Our bags were delivered to Pere Val and Carmel waiting for
us at the curb by the front entrance with the ambulance; thus we avoided the usual
rush at the back exit from the airport.
On Tuesday 2/3/09, we visited the school at St. Simeon in Croix-des-Bouquet. There were 68 students in one first grade class we observed. This school serves pre-kindergarten to sixth grade, currently with 458 students enrolled. The Board of Education has requested that Pere Val expand to the ninth grade. Dr. Browning felt this would be advisable, if at all possible, to establish continuity for the students. They currently have an atmosphere of trust, love and learning, and would have a higher rate of students who continue their education. Carmel indicated that, if they went to the ninth grade, the government might provide
some assistance with books. Directly across the street from the St. Simeon complex is a school for nursing which is currently vacant. The Valdema's will investigate the possibility of leasing or purchasing this building for a school expansion. It is already set up for a nursing school, so it should have the necessary science labs and library. Perhaps they could rent the building as a temporary high school.
On Tuesday afternoon, we visited the nutrition program at St. Michael's in Thomazeau. The parents stayed longer to await our arrival. We were treated to a song to thank and welcome us. Then we were given a tour of the classes there. Currently there are 358 students. As with most of the schools, we observed eight to twelve students squeeze into one crude wooden bench. We then toured a second nutrition clinic held on the other side of Thomazeau, as the need there is so great.
On Wednesday 2/5/09, we went to Gorman to see the school there.
On Tuesday 2/3/09, we visited the school at St. Simeon in Croix-des-Bouquet. There were 68 students in one first grade class we observed. This school serves pre-kindergarten to sixth grade, currently with 458 students enrolled. The Board of Education has requested that Pere Val expand to the ninth grade. Dr. Browning felt this would be advisable, if at all possible, to establish continuity for the students. They currently have an atmosphere of trust, love and learning, and would have a higher rate of students who continue their education. Carmel indicated that, if they went to the ninth grade, the government might provide
some assistance with books. Directly across the street from the St. Simeon complex is a school for nursing which is currently vacant. The Valdema's will investigate the possibility of leasing or purchasing this building for a school expansion. It is already set up for a nursing school, so it should have the necessary science labs and library. Perhaps they could rent the building as a temporary high school.On Tuesday afternoon, we visited the nutrition program at St. Michael's in Thomazeau. The parents stayed longer to await our arrival. We were treated to a song to thank and welcome us. Then we were given a tour of the classes there. Currently there are 358 students. As with most of the schools, we observed eight to twelve students squeeze into one crude wooden bench. We then toured a second nutrition clinic held on the other side of Thomazeau, as the need there is so great.
On Wednesday 2/5/09, we went to Gorman to see the school there.
The church of the Transfiguration site had been flooded and the water marks on the building show it was submerged in four to five feet of water. Carmel informed me that there was no school this fall for over a month due to the extreme flooding both in Gorman, Fond Parisean and Croix-des-Bouquet area. Several classes meet in the church building and additional classes meet in reed thatched shelters outside the church. The roof on these structures has many holes and they cannot have class in the rain. They serve 130 children at this location. There is no nutrition program in Gorman, because the area has many farms and the need is not evident. While we were there the water tower and the bathrooms were being constructed. We watched the workers mix the cement by hand and apply the blocks to the bathroom walls. The hole in the ground, that I believe is for the
septic, was filled with water. Each class sang a song to welcome us. The upper classes sung first in Creole, then in English and the fifth grade also sang for us in Spanish. The reception by the students was very touching. The principal brought a cooler from home with four sodas to serve us. We were all aware of the magnitude of this gesture of generosity. The population of this village is about 900.We then toured downtown Port-au-Prince, past the palace, public park, the UN installation, the American Embassy and the Episcopal Cathedral. Sue Brunson was able to see the office of the Dames Episcople at the diocesan compound. The Haitian E.C.W. logo has a candle to signify that the ladies are the light of the church in Haiti. We saw the native art work decorating the inside of the cathedral and were able to visit the gift shop. We then visited the high school that Pierrot and Natalie attended when they were in Port-au-Prince. We were able to pick up Dominick, one of Pere Val’s twins, and provide him and a friend transportation home from school. They usually ride the local tap-taps.
Our final day, Thursday, we went to St. Marc's School and Church at Lilavois, which is a suburb of Croix-des-Bouquet. 230 children attend school there. We also visited the nutrition program being conducted there. As with the other sites, the parents were very pleased to greet us and sang a song of welcome. There are two classrooms which also serve as the sanctuary for Sunday services. The female lay reader was present to greet and welcome us. This site has a hand pump in the front for water, which was provided by the church in Alabama. When we arrived at the compound of St. Simeon, Carmel was there with the Director of the Health Ministry. She was visiting to inspect Carmel's program for official approval for Lewspa Timoun (our nutrition center). She has been preparing for this approval for two years and the final step will be for training for her staff. The officials have become much stricter since the tragedy of the roof collapse in Petionville. Carmel converted the accounting office to a make shift office for the program. We were fooled too, to think it was her office. She did not want to receive Dr. Marhone in the rectory living room, but rather felt it more professional to have an office. Dr. Marhone graciously received us and listened to our praises for Lewspa Timoun program. She wanted a picture of us for her camera. This lovely lady has devoted her whole life to children's nutrition. We exchanged e-mail addresses.
The entire compound was undergoing painting and general sprucing up, in preparation for the feast of St. Simeon on Sunday. The painting was to cover the water damage from the hurricanes this past fall. The principal, Mr. Benvenue, was finally able to repair the mural on the kindergarten wall. He worked on the painting all three days we were there. They were expecting 500 guests to attend the festival including the Bishop and his family. We were sorry we did not realize that the feast of the Holy Family, Jesus’ presentation at the temple, was the feast of St. Simeon and had not planned to stay for the weekend, too.
We then traveled to Fond Parisian, St. Sacrament Church and School. This church building was devastated by the hurricanes. It has a new roof and repairs, through the generosity of a good friend, Frenchy of Mt. Pleasant. The school is still missing the roof in over half of the building. Enrollment there is 140 children. There is now competition for students from 'Love a Child' program located just down the road. They employ television advertising in the U.S. and are able to provide free education, uniforms, lunch and have an orphanage at this location. As with all his schools, Pere Val charges tuition to those who are able.
In the afternoon, we observed the weighing of the starving children and the distribution of akamil for the nutrition program held at St. Simeon's. Again, the parents welcomed us with a song, then participated in the training part of this program. They weigh each child in each visit and provide records and well baby immunizations. It was comforting to see some parents leave without bags of akamil, as their babies no longer needed it. The program provides for three or more months of nutritional supplements, as needed. Currently Carmel has over 1200 children enrolled in programs at Cruchu, Croix-des-Bouquet, Lilvalos, Thoman, and two at Thomazeau.
The final leg of our tour was a stop at the iron market in Croix-des-Bouquet. Our team, consisting of Dr. Paul Browning, Principal of Socastee High School, Sue Brunson, president-elect of the Episcopal Church Women of S.C., Rev. Bob Caswell and myself, felt we had a very fruitful trip.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary White
C.H.A.P. Executive Director
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