Hello Everyone,
I finally heard from Auguste this afternoon. With the storm, the phones and internet have been down. There's no electricity in Cap-Haitien. I don't know how or where he sent the email from. No damage, just rain from Noel. However Sen Rafayel is more isolated as the river is very high making it impossible now for any vehicles to go up or down.
Remember the bridge was washed out the week before last Christmas, making it necessary to traverse the river. In spite of the massive UN presence no one has replaced the bridge to allow vehicle traffic to resume.
Rosenie and Sherline have been diagnosed with Typhoid fever. Marlene finally got to the hospital at Milot for a consultation on the lump on her breast (she's been trying since last summer). She has a date of Nov. 21 for surgery. Modeline's date was changed 4 times in the Winter / Spring so we understand from experience that a date change is possible. Dieugrand travelled with her and will do the same for the surgery date. What surgery exactly? I have no idea.
I arrive back November 20, so I will ask Auguste to try to find a taxi driver who will take them and wait and deliver them home. Milot is about 30 miles away on roads that are in very bad shape. Public transit is available but not after surgery. If surgery takes place that day, we will bring her back to the house to recoup. If Rosenie is sufficiently recovered, I will ask her to come help. She can use the job. Timing is everything.
We will have visitors coming December 4-8, two of whom will stay at our place and will travel with us for home visits.
ale - kenbe pa
Sharon
PS If you are on Facebook, join our new group : Starthrowers in Haiti.
Canadian Charity Working to Promote Social Justice & Education
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Updates Food, Medical, Students in Haiti
Hello Everyone,
A rather lengthy update. I am sorry it's been so long.
Food Program:
I will leave Toronto on November 18, and stop in Fort Lauderdale to purchase and ship supplies for the house, then go to Cap-Haitien on November 20. I am going back a few weeks earlier than in previous years as the number of students arriving each weekend for food and medical referrals are increasing each week, and the staff is running out of supplies and money.
When we stopped food distribution on July 1 (due to lack of funds), we had 25 students coming weekly for food sacks. At that time, we only had 80 students being sponsored, and half of those were up the mountain in Sen Rafayel.
Currently, we have 138 students registered. The first week 31 came for food, the following week, 40 came, and last week, 50. We will evaluate our financial situation at Christmas as to whether we are able to continue. The folks at Starthrower America have a shipment due to arrive via CASCO this month (October), so there will be rice and oil. When it arrives, we will have a bit of a breather, since then we will only be needing funds for beans and the sacks.
As you know, I prefer to purchase everything in Haiti in order to support the local growers and merchants, but when it is a matter of continuing the program or not, we will go with Charity for a while to keep the program going.
Student Updates:
Micheline passed entrance exam) for Medical Technology. She began this 4 year program on October 5th. She needs a sponsor: The cost will be about $3,500 US a year as she must travel back and forth to Vertieres daily by tap tap, as well as need money to eat. There is no cafeteria, nor dormitory, at the school.
Deles and Vincent are enjoying the agronomy program at the University of Limbe. Deles has a sponsor for this 4 year program, Vincent is need of support. The cost here is about $2,400 US/ per year (If I remember correctly)
Marlene and Elorge each have a sponsor. They are applying to University in the Dominican Republic, where they hope to travel to in March to study intensive Spanish for 3 months, then write entrance exams. I have spoken with the 2 sponsors for Marlene and Elorge and they are agreeable to them attending medical school out of the country. (Marlene's sonogram for the pelvic growth resulted in no specific diagnosis and we have not been able to get a mammogram yet)
Elorge and Frantzy are again preparing "pyes-yo" (the papers necessary for application to medical school). They were not accepted at Notre Dame in Port-au-Prince, and, as 'poor' students, they were not treated nicely by the university there, For their new applications, they need to have medicals again, and to get new copies of all certificates. They must obtain originals again, as the copies of those sent to Notre Dame are not acceptable and Notre Dame does not return application material. This is both expensive and time consuming to start again. They also need passport and visa this time, which means they have to go to Port-au-Prince again.
Frantzy is in need of a sponsor, though. (Why Frantzy wants to be a doctor: His younger brother, Ernst, was one of our students. We sent him to the school for the deaf (Lekol des enfants sourdes). He contracted an ear infection almost 3 years ago. His parents, Carmene (our cook-housekeeper; she is his mother) and Frank borrowed money, and took him to the hospital for a consult, but found they could not afford the antibiotics or surgery recommended. Ernst died 3 days after that. He was 13 years old. Frantzy hopes that, by becoming a doctor, he can prevent more unnecessary deaths like his brother's.) We are going to try to register Frantzy in Cuba as well. So far, I have not received a reply to my query on his behalf.
Jhennie is also applying to study Medical Technology in the DR as she has friends there who can provide a safe space.
Medical Update:
Auguste tells me that Osner (who is about 18 inches taller that Auguste) came to the house very ill with fever. He had passed out outside our gate (portail). Auguste put him on our bicycle and took him to the clinic. Osner has malaria. We use everything to transport our ailing students -- the wheelbarrow, taxis, the bicycle. The vehicle I so often talk about is not a luxury but a necessity for so many reasons. Every time we use the wheelbarrow or bicycle to take someone to the hosp or clinic, we are putting everyone at risk. Perhaps we'll find one under the tree for Christmas.
One of our new girls, Guilene, in Cap-Haitien, came for medical consult. She is anemic with kidney stones (ti roch nan pipi) and genital/urinary tract infection. Remember most of these consults are with nurse practitioners as doctors are few in number.
Auguste has been so busy with medical referrals coming to the house that he has not yet registered for the English and computer courses he is going to take.
Thank you!
The reality of Haiti, according to UNICEF, is this : 50% OF THOSE ELIGIBLE BEGIN PRIMARY SCHOOL; OF THOSE WHO BEGIN, less than 2% complete high school. Starthrower is striving to break the seemingly endless cycle of absolute poverty by supporting those who can and will change their country. Thank you to those of you who have so faithfully support these young people. If you are looking at site for the first time, please join us. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Together we can change the world.
Blessings and thanks to all who support these amazing young people. If everyone who supports them tells one more person, we will be able to do even more. Special thanks to all the visitors who came to see us this past summer, We learn from every one of them, and hopefully, they learn from us. When people can see what we are doing in Haiti, and how their donations are spent, I am sure they come away with a new appreciation of the work we are doing, and the work still to be done.
Special thanks to the Grade 5 and 6 Girls Club at Golf Road Junior Public School in Scarborough, Ontario. Their fundraising efforts have made it possible to send a Haitian student, Sankara, to school in Sen Rafayel for the full year.
On a personal note:
Some have asked about my wrist. I am not having it re-broken. Current pain is mostly from the compression resulting from misalignment. Apparently that would remain the same. I now have a uniquely crooked wrist.
Before I close, Deles and Vincent both asked if it was possible for us to ask for a laptop for each of them. So on their behalf, I put out the request.
Kenbe red
Sharon
A rather lengthy update. I am sorry it's been so long.
Food Program:
I will leave Toronto on November 18, and stop in Fort Lauderdale to purchase and ship supplies for the house, then go to Cap-Haitien on November 20. I am going back a few weeks earlier than in previous years as the number of students arriving each weekend for food and medical referrals are increasing each week, and the staff is running out of supplies and money.
When we stopped food distribution on July 1 (due to lack of funds), we had 25 students coming weekly for food sacks. At that time, we only had 80 students being sponsored, and half of those were up the mountain in Sen Rafayel.
Currently, we have 138 students registered. The first week 31 came for food, the following week, 40 came, and last week, 50. We will evaluate our financial situation at Christmas as to whether we are able to continue. The folks at Starthrower America have a shipment due to arrive via CASCO this month (October), so there will be rice and oil. When it arrives, we will have a bit of a breather, since then we will only be needing funds for beans and the sacks.
As you know, I prefer to purchase everything in Haiti in order to support the local growers and merchants, but when it is a matter of continuing the program or not, we will go with Charity for a while to keep the program going.
Student Updates:
Micheline passed entrance exam) for Medical Technology. She began this 4 year program on October 5th. She needs a sponsor: The cost will be about $3,500 US a year as she must travel back and forth to Vertieres daily by tap tap, as well as need money to eat. There is no cafeteria, nor dormitory, at the school.
Deles and Vincent are enjoying the agronomy program at the University of Limbe. Deles has a sponsor for this 4 year program, Vincent is need of support. The cost here is about $2,400 US/ per year (If I remember correctly)
Marlene and Elorge each have a sponsor. They are applying to University in the Dominican Republic, where they hope to travel to in March to study intensive Spanish for 3 months, then write entrance exams. I have spoken with the 2 sponsors for Marlene and Elorge and they are agreeable to them attending medical school out of the country. (Marlene's sonogram for the pelvic growth resulted in no specific diagnosis and we have not been able to get a mammogram yet)
Elorge and Frantzy are again preparing "pyes-yo" (the papers necessary for application to medical school). They were not accepted at Notre Dame in Port-au-Prince, and, as 'poor' students, they were not treated nicely by the university there, For their new applications, they need to have medicals again, and to get new copies of all certificates. They must obtain originals again, as the copies of those sent to Notre Dame are not acceptable and Notre Dame does not return application material. This is both expensive and time consuming to start again. They also need passport and visa this time, which means they have to go to Port-au-Prince again.
Frantzy is in need of a sponsor, though. (Why Frantzy wants to be a doctor: His younger brother, Ernst, was one of our students. We sent him to the school for the deaf (Lekol des enfants sourdes). He contracted an ear infection almost 3 years ago. His parents, Carmene (our cook-housekeeper; she is his mother) and Frank borrowed money, and took him to the hospital for a consult, but found they could not afford the antibiotics or surgery recommended. Ernst died 3 days after that. He was 13 years old. Frantzy hopes that, by becoming a doctor, he can prevent more unnecessary deaths like his brother's.) We are going to try to register Frantzy in Cuba as well. So far, I have not received a reply to my query on his behalf.
Jhennie is also applying to study Medical Technology in the DR as she has friends there who can provide a safe space.
Medical Update:
Auguste tells me that Osner (who is about 18 inches taller that Auguste) came to the house very ill with fever. He had passed out outside our gate (portail). Auguste put him on our bicycle and took him to the clinic. Osner has malaria. We use everything to transport our ailing students -- the wheelbarrow, taxis, the bicycle. The vehicle I so often talk about is not a luxury but a necessity for so many reasons. Every time we use the wheelbarrow or bicycle to take someone to the hosp or clinic, we are putting everyone at risk. Perhaps we'll find one under the tree for Christmas.
One of our new girls, Guilene, in Cap-Haitien, came for medical consult. She is anemic with kidney stones (ti roch nan pipi) and genital/urinary tract infection. Remember most of these consults are with nurse practitioners as doctors are few in number.
Auguste has been so busy with medical referrals coming to the house that he has not yet registered for the English and computer courses he is going to take.
Thank you!
The reality of Haiti, according to UNICEF, is this : 50% OF THOSE ELIGIBLE BEGIN PRIMARY SCHOOL; OF THOSE WHO BEGIN, less than 2% complete high school. Starthrower is striving to break the seemingly endless cycle of absolute poverty by supporting those who can and will change their country. Thank you to those of you who have so faithfully support these young people. If you are looking at site for the first time, please join us. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Together we can change the world.
Blessings and thanks to all who support these amazing young people. If everyone who supports them tells one more person, we will be able to do even more. Special thanks to all the visitors who came to see us this past summer, We learn from every one of them, and hopefully, they learn from us. When people can see what we are doing in Haiti, and how their donations are spent, I am sure they come away with a new appreciation of the work we are doing, and the work still to be done.
Special thanks to the Grade 5 and 6 Girls Club at Golf Road Junior Public School in Scarborough, Ontario. Their fundraising efforts have made it possible to send a Haitian student, Sankara, to school in Sen Rafayel for the full year.
On a personal note:
Some have asked about my wrist. I am not having it re-broken. Current pain is mostly from the compression resulting from misalignment. Apparently that would remain the same. I now have a uniquely crooked wrist.
Before I close, Deles and Vincent both asked if it was possible for us to ask for a laptop for each of them. So on their behalf, I put out the request.
Kenbe red
Sharon
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Things We Need -- Updated List
Hello Everyone,
We are madly trying to get everyone in school. Hope to finish inskripson this week then begin paying trimeste fees. Money has been distributed and the kids are responsible for finding a tailor or seamstress, as well as purchasing shoes (hard to find good black dress shoes -- one thing we could use -- new only sizes 6-12 incl. no heels for the girls).
Micheline cried all during work yesterday, so after feeding her and suggesting she lay down, she fell asleep for 2 hours. When she woke, she told us she has been put out of her ti kay and must find a new place by Friday. Housing is such a problem.
The state radio tells us that results for those who rewrote in August will be available today. Will let you know who did what.
More good news - Brunie G. in SR is 'bon' for Rheto so we now have 5 entering Philo in Sen Rafayel and one in Grande Riviere du Nord.
An updated list of items we need. The most urgently needed are in red. (If you'd like to donate any of these items, please send us an email first so we can avoid duplication.)
ALA pwochen
Sharon
We are madly trying to get everyone in school. Hope to finish inskripson this week then begin paying trimeste fees. Money has been distributed and the kids are responsible for finding a tailor or seamstress, as well as purchasing shoes (hard to find good black dress shoes -- one thing we could use -- new only sizes 6-12 incl. no heels for the girls).
Micheline cried all during work yesterday, so after feeding her and suggesting she lay down, she fell asleep for 2 hours. When she woke, she told us she has been put out of her ti kay and must find a new place by Friday. Housing is such a problem.
The state radio tells us that results for those who rewrote in August will be available today. Will let you know who did what.
More good news - Brunie G. in SR is 'bon' for Rheto so we now have 5 entering Philo in Sen Rafayel and one in Grande Riviere du Nord.
An updated list of items we need. The most urgently needed are in red. (If you'd like to donate any of these items, please send us an email first so we can avoid duplication.)
• Protein powder (ongoing - we use one 2-gallon container each month)When Auguste arrived for work as I was updating this list, he mentioned he would like a'machin pou koupe gazon an (a machine to cut the grass). We are still using scissors. A general roar of approval went up when he said this. A weed whacker (gas or electric) would probably work. A real lawn mower even better.
• Vitamin C and chewable Multi vitamins (ongoing)
• Backpacks (50 immediately and 150 for the new year)
• Shoes -- mens and womens new black dress shoes sizes 6-12 inclusive. No high heels.
• Socks and runners for the winter months (Sen Rafayel is about 20 degrees colder)
• Dramamine, Gravol
• Container for carrying gasoline
• Work gloves
• Tooth brushes* (adult)
• Pencil sharpeners, erasers, ball point pens (blue ink)
• Sunglasses, Baseball caps, sun hats, Cotton scarves, handkerchiefs
• Ibuprofen, Tylenol
• Tools -- sanding machine, electric saw, electric drill with multi heads - (to drill cement), measuring tape (heavy duty)
• Cat food (dry Purina One for Sensitive systems, tinned Friskies
• Cat carrying case for vet trips (cats keep the rats at bay)
ALA pwochen
Sharon
Back to School, New Starfish, New Starthrowers
Hello Everyone,
I received a phone call last night to tell me that the supplies from Pennsylvania came last week, but that they had just found our phone number to let us know. Jack will call on Monday morning and make arrangements to travel and go secure them. As usual, Mme Cindy has perfect timing. With school opening, whatever she sends will be used quickly. Thank you, Mme Cindy and State College Pennsylvania.
Carmene will be making our "Proba" (protein/peanut butter mix) just before I return from Canada at the end of November, and we need the protein powder. We will package and distribute it the first week of December. I hope to distribute Vitamin C at the same time, if we have enough. We distributed extra Vitamin C with the multi vitamins last winter and on the whole everyone seemed to stay healthier.
We are NOT working today, our first and only Saturday of repose since I got back. The week has been insane trying to prepare 100 plus young people for school. Some uniforms are not ready and some schools are not ready meaning those involved will get a later start. Many of the text books have been changed this year, so this week Julia, Jhennie and Micheline will continue working with Rosenie to search the marketplace. This is a hot, frustrating process. They usually buy a sandwich and a drink to keep up their energy.
They come home by taxi, and then the new books are processed. Each page is checked for printing errors and missed pages, then photocopies of the missing pages are made. This means making another trip into la ville by tap tap or taxi, then searching for a place which has either electricity or a generator operating to run the photocopier, then returning home, and inserting the missing pages, where necessary. All books are covered with plastic, which we also buy in the market. After covering all the texts, we stamp with our special 'dam', check the list then print the name of the recipient in the upper right hand corner. Then the books are either inserted in waiting backpacks, or if backpacks have been delivered already, texts are wrapped in plastic bags and scotch tape, and labelled, ready for delivery. We also have to change 4 complete booklists as the state was late with some results. Four of our Grade 9ers need to be upgraded to 3eme.
Claudy and Louisena came down the mountain from Sen Rafayel yesterday to pick up the back packs for College Bon Berger. They also took first trimest fees for College Bon Berger and College VIncent Oge. We took on 3 new Starfish from Sen Rafayel. All have been sitting out for at least a year due to the death of one or both parents. All are in class Rheto. Uniform money was sent and books will be purchased, then back packs prepared and will be sent along with school funds on Thursday when Claudy comes back. He will bring a different partner as Louisena starts school Monday, Sept 17. Claudy starts Monday, Sept. 24.
Soeur Ginette also visited us on Friday. She brought the receipts and bill for consultations and meds dispensed at her little clinic in Sen Rafayel. The total for these 6 months was 34,000 gourdes ($6800 Haitian or $1000 USD). There were only 30 on her list last year. This year, there are more than 60. I will go through each fiche and record illnesses and recurrences.
We have a visitor arriving this week. Jeff will be with us for 5 days and Mme. Carmene has already prepared a menu for each day. It should be a nice quiet time for him as most of the craziness is behind us. This week, we will visit all Cap-Haitien schools and pay frais and first trimest fees. Next Saturday, we will visit the University in Limbe with Jeff to see how Deles and Vincent are settling in to their new lives. Thanks to all who have worked so hard to give these amazing young people 'possibilite'.
I would like to officially welcome Starthrower America and thank their board of directors for taking on such a huge challenge. Thank you, Mark, Lucie, Steve, Peggy, Jeff and Peter.
There are times in the midst of the chaos and seeming confusion when I stop and really look at what is happening here, like the jobs everyone does with such efficiency and joy. I listen to the conversations and the laughter, and remember the deep grief many carried with them when they first came. I think of the newly arrived Starfish, still overwhelmed with grief and fear and I am also overwhelmed at how blessed I am to be part of this amazing journey.
Kenbe red
Sharon
I received a phone call last night to tell me that the supplies from Pennsylvania came last week, but that they had just found our phone number to let us know. Jack will call on Monday morning and make arrangements to travel and go secure them. As usual, Mme Cindy has perfect timing. With school opening, whatever she sends will be used quickly. Thank you, Mme Cindy and State College Pennsylvania.
Carmene will be making our "Proba" (protein/peanut butter mix) just before I return from Canada at the end of November, and we need the protein powder. We will package and distribute it the first week of December. I hope to distribute Vitamin C at the same time, if we have enough. We distributed extra Vitamin C with the multi vitamins last winter and on the whole everyone seemed to stay healthier.
We are NOT working today, our first and only Saturday of repose since I got back. The week has been insane trying to prepare 100 plus young people for school. Some uniforms are not ready and some schools are not ready meaning those involved will get a later start. Many of the text books have been changed this year, so this week Julia, Jhennie and Micheline will continue working with Rosenie to search the marketplace. This is a hot, frustrating process. They usually buy a sandwich and a drink to keep up their energy.
They come home by taxi, and then the new books are processed. Each page is checked for printing errors and missed pages, then photocopies of the missing pages are made. This means making another trip into la ville by tap tap or taxi, then searching for a place which has either electricity or a generator operating to run the photocopier, then returning home, and inserting the missing pages, where necessary. All books are covered with plastic, which we also buy in the market. After covering all the texts, we stamp with our special 'dam', check the list then print the name of the recipient in the upper right hand corner. Then the books are either inserted in waiting backpacks, or if backpacks have been delivered already, texts are wrapped in plastic bags and scotch tape, and labelled, ready for delivery. We also have to change 4 complete booklists as the state was late with some results. Four of our Grade 9ers need to be upgraded to 3eme.
Claudy and Louisena came down the mountain from Sen Rafayel yesterday to pick up the back packs for College Bon Berger. They also took first trimest fees for College Bon Berger and College VIncent Oge. We took on 3 new Starfish from Sen Rafayel. All have been sitting out for at least a year due to the death of one or both parents. All are in class Rheto. Uniform money was sent and books will be purchased, then back packs prepared and will be sent along with school funds on Thursday when Claudy comes back. He will bring a different partner as Louisena starts school Monday, Sept 17. Claudy starts Monday, Sept. 24.
Soeur Ginette also visited us on Friday. She brought the receipts and bill for consultations and meds dispensed at her little clinic in Sen Rafayel. The total for these 6 months was 34,000 gourdes ($6800 Haitian or $1000 USD). There were only 30 on her list last year. This year, there are more than 60. I will go through each fiche and record illnesses and recurrences.
We have a visitor arriving this week. Jeff will be with us for 5 days and Mme. Carmene has already prepared a menu for each day. It should be a nice quiet time for him as most of the craziness is behind us. This week, we will visit all Cap-Haitien schools and pay frais and first trimest fees. Next Saturday, we will visit the University in Limbe with Jeff to see how Deles and Vincent are settling in to their new lives. Thanks to all who have worked so hard to give these amazing young people 'possibilite'.
I would like to officially welcome Starthrower America and thank their board of directors for taking on such a huge challenge. Thank you, Mark, Lucie, Steve, Peggy, Jeff and Peter.
There are times in the midst of the chaos and seeming confusion when I stop and really look at what is happening here, like the jobs everyone does with such efficiency and joy. I listen to the conversations and the laughter, and remember the deep grief many carried with them when they first came. I think of the newly arrived Starfish, still overwhelmed with grief and fear and I am also overwhelmed at how blessed I am to be part of this amazing journey.
Kenbe red
Sharon
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Student News, Sen Rafayel Update, and Ice Cubes
Hello Everyone!
The staff just arrived en masse and with great noise. They were carrying Auguste in celebration of his "bon" Philo results. (He passed!) When I said they would have to do the same for Jhennie when she arrived after her hospital appointment (she was bon also), they replied No, because Jhennie is young, the right age for a student. Auguste, they said, is a ti gran moun (usually a person who has reached 100 years old. He is 30.)
Jhennie now must decide what she will do next as her Philo was bon. Unfortunately Frantzy was pa bon. He will rewrite in December. If his medical entrance exams were bon, they will hold a place for him to start in January (so we are told). Elorge, Marlene and Frantzy survived medical school entrance exams, although the boys had to purchase new clothes (dress shoes, pants, shirts) in order to be allowed in to write them.
Auguste is going to stay full time with Starthrower Foundation as Director of Education. He will liaise with all school administrations and students, and do intake, monitor their school progress and attendance, pay for medical, dental etc consultations, facilitate home visits, tutor all subjects, all levels. In addition, he will take courses in Enfomatik and English.
Rosenie will go to school (Rheto) evenings and work 3 days a week here managing (purchase, prep, distribution) all supplies, like text books, hygiene products, meds etc. We will hire one new staff member for food prep and distribution on weekends to help Dieugrand.
Deles and Vincent began classes at the University in Limbe on Monday. We will visit them with our next visitor, Jeff, when he arrives, as Jeff's brother is sponsoring one of the boys. Elorge, Marlene and Frantzy survived medical school entrance exams although the boys had to purchase new clothes (dress shoes, pants, shirts) in order to be allowed in.
In addition to his duties as house manager, Jack does all liaison with the bosses with whom we place students in trades. This mroning, he is meeting with Bos Emile at his garage in Pont Neuf. He will check the premises for supplies, other apprentices, talk with the Bos re his credentials. If he is satisfied, he will pay the bos for the year and all parties will sign a contract. Fabien, the student beginning to train as 'mekanisyen' will come back to the house with Jack for funds for work shoes and clothes as well as a back pack with hygiene products.
Our guest from NC left on Sunday. everyone misses her enthusiasm and smile. While Steve and Mark did not stay at the house, they did come bearing gifts. 4 wireless think pads. We are told 2 printers will follow so we have organized the house for usage once the school year is in full swing. Many of our students still have not started as uniforms are not ready.
We have a lot of problems in Sen Rafayel. Poor Claudy and Louisena, the staff there. People in the village think we owe everyone in the village free education, and, as they see only our staff (we cannot travel there due to lack of vehicle) life is full of harrassment for the two of them. I have deliberately not placed Sen Rafayel first year high school students on the wait list as we may have to finish with the students we currently have, then concentrate on Cap-Haitien students. Perhaps when a vehicle arrives the situation will be reviewed.
The amount of electricity has been greatly reduced as the gas supply in Haiti has temporarily dried up, and we need gas to fire the generators. We are out of water, but I have asked Jack and DIeugrand not to pump it until the hydro goes off again. We have to turn off EDH to 'monte dlo-a' (pump water) which means the fridge won't work. I haven't the heart on this first day of hydro to turn it off. We actually have ice cubes today - 10 of them!!
Pita anko
Sharon
The staff just arrived en masse and with great noise. They were carrying Auguste in celebration of his "bon" Philo results. (He passed!) When I said they would have to do the same for Jhennie when she arrived after her hospital appointment (she was bon also), they replied No, because Jhennie is young, the right age for a student. Auguste, they said, is a ti gran moun (usually a person who has reached 100 years old. He is 30.)
Jhennie now must decide what she will do next as her Philo was bon. Unfortunately Frantzy was pa bon. He will rewrite in December. If his medical entrance exams were bon, they will hold a place for him to start in January (so we are told). Elorge, Marlene and Frantzy survived medical school entrance exams, although the boys had to purchase new clothes (dress shoes, pants, shirts) in order to be allowed in to write them.
Auguste is going to stay full time with Starthrower Foundation as Director of Education. He will liaise with all school administrations and students, and do intake, monitor their school progress and attendance, pay for medical, dental etc consultations, facilitate home visits, tutor all subjects, all levels. In addition, he will take courses in Enfomatik and English.
Rosenie will go to school (Rheto) evenings and work 3 days a week here managing (purchase, prep, distribution) all supplies, like text books, hygiene products, meds etc. We will hire one new staff member for food prep and distribution on weekends to help Dieugrand.
Deles and Vincent began classes at the University in Limbe on Monday. We will visit them with our next visitor, Jeff, when he arrives, as Jeff's brother is sponsoring one of the boys. Elorge, Marlene and Frantzy survived medical school entrance exams although the boys had to purchase new clothes (dress shoes, pants, shirts) in order to be allowed in.
In addition to his duties as house manager, Jack does all liaison with the bosses with whom we place students in trades. This mroning, he is meeting with Bos Emile at his garage in Pont Neuf. He will check the premises for supplies, other apprentices, talk with the Bos re his credentials. If he is satisfied, he will pay the bos for the year and all parties will sign a contract. Fabien, the student beginning to train as 'mekanisyen' will come back to the house with Jack for funds for work shoes and clothes as well as a back pack with hygiene products.
Our guest from NC left on Sunday. everyone misses her enthusiasm and smile. While Steve and Mark did not stay at the house, they did come bearing gifts. 4 wireless think pads. We are told 2 printers will follow so we have organized the house for usage once the school year is in full swing. Many of our students still have not started as uniforms are not ready.
We have a lot of problems in Sen Rafayel. Poor Claudy and Louisena, the staff there. People in the village think we owe everyone in the village free education, and, as they see only our staff (we cannot travel there due to lack of vehicle) life is full of harrassment for the two of them. I have deliberately not placed Sen Rafayel first year high school students on the wait list as we may have to finish with the students we currently have, then concentrate on Cap-Haitien students. Perhaps when a vehicle arrives the situation will be reviewed.
The amount of electricity has been greatly reduced as the gas supply in Haiti has temporarily dried up, and we need gas to fire the generators. We are out of water, but I have asked Jack and DIeugrand not to pump it until the hydro goes off again. We have to turn off EDH to 'monte dlo-a' (pump water) which means the fridge won't work. I haven't the heart on this first day of hydro to turn it off. We actually have ice cubes today - 10 of them!!
Pita anko
Sharon
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