Haiti Post-Secondary, Summer Travel to Cap-Haitien a Possibility

Hi Everyone!
Finally, I am able to type again! Hard enough to explain in English what's been happening.

Just imagine how much harder to explain in Kreyol, to Auguste, our Director of Education in Haiti.

If anyone has been waiting for an email from me, here's what's been going on the past two weeks.

After being diagnosed a few weeks ago with multiple infections in the surgical wound, I spent the last two weeks quite incapacitated; first with an IV line in each hand, then with an improperly installed PICC line (see Wiki def.) in the bend of my right arm. The pain from the PICC was as miserable as the side effects of the IV meds!

Simple hygiene routines that you usually take for granted became chores: Flossing teeth is impossible, brushing slightly less so. As for washing your hair, well, forget that! Especially since my left wrist, broken and improperly set in Cap-Haitien a few years ago, wasn't exactly up to the job of taking over all chores.

On Friday, the PICC was finally removed, with much difficulty. (OUCH!) Thank goodness my amazing nurses Leslie and Jenna came as a team for the job. They are truly amazing. Thanks also Pam, Peter and Elise who did night duty with the IV bags. When this is all said and done, I will have so many new life experiences from which to draw nuggets of wisdom!

Speaking of new experiences, we have a list of young people who would dearly love to continue their education after struggling through seven years of high school. I have had a lot of time to reflect on the changing mandate of Starthrower Foundation. Originally, we hoped to help these Haitian youth graduate high school. But now, as they graduate, I can see that some of these young people still need help and support to get beyond secondary education.

Educated citizenry is vital to the growth of Haiti. So although sponsoring youth in post-secondary studies is new territory for us, we are all up to the challenge. Even something as simple as their moving from small villages to large cities is daunting, but I am confident our young people can handle this and other challenges. Our current university students had wanted to go to summer school but we had no funds left in the budget. They will start again in August.

Here are two young men who we feel can use this ongoing support. As post secondary is expensive ($4500 USD-$5000 USD/year, which includes room and board and travel twice a year to home base), we don't expect each student will have a single sponsor.

Perhaps a group of people, a community, a club or association can work together to sponsor them. Just let us know where you would like the support directed. We don't expect sponsors to commit beyond a year. No one understands better than I how quickly life circumstances can change.

Students in Post- Secondary

Plenitude Jean - Baptiste (14/09/84)
You may remember Plenitude (nickname Plenito) from mentions in earlier blog posts.

His dad had died just 2 days before he got his final results last year. He has one brother and one sister living, and neither has ever gone to school.

Plenito wants to study genie electronique (master electrician), which is a 5 year program offered at both state and private universities located in Port-au-Prince. He didn't go to school last year because we were unable to raise enough money to support him.

We are currently sending him to the PREFAC course in Cap-Haitiien to brush up his skills so he can rewrite the entrance exams he took last year. Although he was successful for the private university, he must take the entrance exams again.

Vincent Robert (22/03/84) is entering his third year of a 5 year program, studying agronomie (Agriculture). Vincent's sponsor was unable to continue after the first year and although we have supported him through the last year, we don't have enough in the budget to cover his continuing in the program.

Thanks to all of you with the creativity and skills to use other media and means (YouTube - Michael, Webcomic-Daniel, eBay- Maureen) to support Starthrower Foundation. If I've overlooked anyone, I apologize, and please remind me!

Sister Rosemary emailed me yesterday when she was at Lakay Fondasyon, our house in Haiti. She said that the internet and the phones at the convent are still not working, but that our 'little cyber cafe' at Lakay Fondasyon is chugging along.

She said that she had read the email that I had sent to Auguste, so she now knows why I have not been in touch. She also wrote that as well as the two students already mentioned above, three more -- Peterson, Alland and Wisly -- have all requested sponsors for post secondary. I will get details from Auguste and let you know. All we can do is ask on their behalf, but at least this is better than not trying at all.

Thank you for staying with us through this unpredictable time, and thank you for taking these young people into your hearts, and for your ongoing support.

I am missing being in Haiti very much, and I feel the need to go to Cap-Haitein for my mental/spiritual well being, so I am working hard to get fit for travel. I hope to go this summer, even if it's only a short visit just to see how everyone is doing, and to see Mme Cindy when she comes to visit and to reassure to the staff and students that I am indeed coming back at some point.

The picture at the top of the page is of Rosenie, Alex (intern) and me at Lakay Fondasyon last August.

Ala pwochen
Kenbe pa lage
Sharon

Greetings from Cap

Greetings from Cap

I arrived Tues. 20th about 3:30 pm. Auguste was there to meet me with a taxi and we were home in 20 minutes. This was the first time the house has been left open for staff. Shortly before leaving, I finally had the locks changed on the 3 front doors. This provided 3 keys for each lock. The antique lock we inherited had only one key and could not be duplicated.

So Mme Carmene worked 2 days a week and Mme Joceline 1 day a week keeping things clean. What a treat not spending the first 3 or 4 days trying to get rid of layers of dust, new families of mice. Unfortunately the ravets (cockroaches) felt the need to stay and greet me. Instead of layers of dust, I was greeted to sparkling windows, clean screens, fresh curtains and beds made and ready not only for me but for visitors as well.

Then 24 hours of straight rain. It is the rainy season and I didn't really need the reminder as the previous 3 weeks of steady rain plus cyclone Noel had left high water marks on the security wall and mold and mildew covering every surface. Then followed two days of glorious sun (about 85) - currently rain out of nowhere after a sunny morning in which Dieugrand, Rosenie and I worked on the grass and in the garden. They are now preparing sacks of rice and beans, small bottles of oil which will be distributed tomorrow (Sunday).

We have been so busy each day we have not had time to eat lunch, go into town to the bank, visit the nutrition centre and say hi. We have a steady stream of kids with illnesses. 5 with eye infections and there are no eye drops to be found. There are apparently so many infections after the storm that meds in stock are depleted.. We try to make them comfortable, but drops would really help. Eyes are very swollen, red, streaming and sometimes burning, sometimes hurt to touch.

We also have had 8 cases of malaria however 4 were diagnosed without blood tests. That is another problem when there is a shortage of doctors and only a nurse practitioner. Although they are very ill, I am sending them to a second clinic for blood work as Malaria meds are so hard on the body. Also if used and Malaria is not present you have a problem when it does appear.

3 more cases of typhoid. Jak's daughter did not respond to the Malaria meds so he took her back to the clinic. No malaria this time but symptoms still presenting. She is only 5 and has lost so much weight she looks like a little skeleton. I had brought some Rice Protein Powder for personal use, and that seems to be giving her an appetite.

Sherline arrived Thurs am at 7 as she had a rendevous at the clinic to check on her Malaria. I asked if she had finished the meds and she said no she wasn't able to because the nurse told her to take them with food . When I asked how often she ate she said once a week - the sack she picks up from us on Sunday. She told me there were 5 in the house and they each depended on that little sack for their weekly meal. Auguste and I conferred and we are going to provide her with a weekly stipend which she will pick up on Sunday with her food sack. She will be able to purchase a sandwich, juice and water and take her meds. This is a temporary solution for one person.

As I talked with everyone who came over the last 3 days ( and the weekend staff today) I realized that for most our sack is the only food they have in a week. If staff did not have work here, no daily meal. Enough for a day or 2 (if others are not eating from it.) Staff and I agree that we need to double food distributed and begin distributing charcoal for cooking. It is $100. H a bag in good weather and goes up to $500. bag in the rainy season (now) This means we will need more donations .

On a another note, our university students are enjoying the experience although Vincent is ill. He has blood in his sputum, so tests are being done. Thank goodness there is an infirmary on campus. One of the computers (ordinateur) donated by Seton Hall has gone to Limbe with the guys as they were paying to use the schools computers. This gives them one to share. Thank you again Seton Hall.

We set up one of the printers which arrived courtesy of Steve in New Jersey and it works like a charm. The staff all stood around watching as it printed test pictures and letters. We have set up the gallery table and bench inside the front door so that only those with permission may enter and have access to the "cybercafe".

On that note I will close. We have visitors arriving the first week of December. The men will help us install the solar panels they donated and the women will spend some time getting to know our students and programs and hopefully make some home visits with us.

Alal pwochen - (until the next time)
Kenbe pa lage (hang in there)
Sharon
============================

Hi again

It is 1 pm Sunday. We have already had 30 in for food sacks, keeping Erzilia and Dieugrand very busy. Of those 30, 10 needed medical referrals (meaning we need another staff member to work Sunday ) Of those 30, only 2 ate on a daily basis (brother and sister. However, he has malaria) Hopefully Rosenie will be able to work Sunday instead of Saturday and we will replace her Saturday.

This leads me to send a request for items we need:

Ensure supplements

Protein bars - good quality with high protein percentage

Antiviral Kleenex

Vitamin C (Esther C if possible - easier on stomach)

Multi vitamins (chewable if possible)

Protein powder

Herbal teas for colds, sore throat etc. (Traditional Medicinals< makes a very effective line.

Money to purchase mosquito nets and beds - could be a single campaign.

I'm sure something else will come to mind but this is a good start.

Beni-w
Sharon

Easter Exams Break, Medical News, Family Help

Hello Everyone,

Modeline is scheduled for her surgery on Easter Monday, April 9. Many of the kids are off school now, until after Easter, about 3 weeks. Some are doing exams). The hospital won't be keeping her, so she's coming here for her recovery.

There's a family in Sen Rafayel that needs some help. Kesner, 17, is the eldest, and he is taking care of his twin brother and sister (age 14) and their 13 year old brother since their parents and then another brother passed away. When his parents died a few years ago, Kesner dropped out of school to try to 'take care of his family, now'. As it is, they only eat about once a week, and are missing their schooling. This is just not right. These kids shouldn't be suffering like this. Kesner's decided to learn to sew. I think this is very smart. Once he learns to sew (about three years), he can get money to support the family. We can help him get a good sewing machine and he can be a tailor. I want to go up to Sen Rafayel and see how they are all doing. The kids here at the house think we should close for a day, find a vehicle, go to Sen Rafayel, take the camera, get photos of this family, the schools, their homes and ask everyone to help them. I will see what I can do and let you know.

Deles, 27, our very first graduate, is still hoping to study agronomy, and is awaiting a sponsor (Someone? Anyone? He's a great guy!). In the interim, he's been tutoring our kids in science before and after school, seven days a week. So many of them need help with science!

Our electrician discovered that two households near us have been tapping into our private transformer to get power to their homes. When he approached them to tell them to disconnect the wires, they refused at first. When he offered to let the police handle it, they took the wires down. I guess we will just have to check the transformer every second day or so.

On Friday, when Mark from the U.S. came to visit, he said he thinks it's possible to set up a Wifi router here so that we can access internet from the house. This would be wonderful. We could be our own little cyber cafe! And the kids could use the internet. Can someone look into that project about 'One Laptop' or 'A Laptop for every child' and see if Haiti qualifies?

We continue to post our monthly Birthday List of those marking their birthday that month. I discovered that for some time now, I've been calling one student by his surname, not his given name. It seems his birth certificate shows his given and surnames in the wrong order. I asked why he hadn't corrected me before now, and he smiled and said, "I didn't want to embarrass you."

With the shipment I'd sent from Canada that came last month, we now have enough multivitamins to carry us through for 6-12 months, depending on the numbers of kids. We could use some chewable vitamin C, though.

Marlene is still waiting for information about getting into nursing schools, and is still staying with me week nights. Sister Rosemary comes on the weekends to help me manage while my arm is in the cast. I am very glad for their help. I never realized how difficult it can be to get by with the use of only one arm. I am due to go back to the doctor on March 21 to have the arm assessed, and possibly have the cast removed. Once the cast is off, I am to have intensive physio for 4 weeks to get back full movement.

Thanks to those who've sent help, and those who've offered to come to Cap-Haitien and volunteer their time and skills. We can do this! We CAN help these kids!

Until next time, Kenbe
Sharon

No News From Sharon in Haiti

Hello Everyone,

Checking my calendar, I see it's been two weeks since I last heard from Sharon in Haiti, and any update information. If anyone has heard from her, can they contact me to pass on current news, please.

Thanks go out to board member Cindy M., and congratulations, too, for her successful private fundraising initiative earlier this month.

posted by Karen

Cap-Haitien to Florida and Back

Hi Everyone,

I am in Florida for the week to fulfill visa requirements. The trip from Cap-Haitien to Miami proved eventful on Monday as we had to land in Ft lauderdale due to storms which closed one runway in Miami. Rather than circle for 2 hours in a storm, the pilots chose to put down , making me very happy as I did not have to shuttle from Miami to Ft Lauderdale. The MIA travellers were not as happy.

Back in Cap, things remaina open and operating. Abel is doing day duty to respond to student needs, Jack is doing night security. Carmene is home Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, making mamba (peanut butter), and Joceline in coming in half days to clean through.

I should be home Friday (Feb.9) about 9 a.m. Abel will met me at the airport with a taxi. We are planning to make our mamba/protein mix that day and distribute Saturday and Sunday. Now that we are open all 7 days, we seem to be catching everyone before infections, etc. get out of hand. I however need to carve out a getaway space/time to stay sane.

Christmas gifts for the staff arrived from Penn. last week. Although delayed, the staff was probably more excited because they got to savor opening them. We took numerous photos so will send them when things are up and running.

Some of the kids in Sen Rafayel wrote thank you notes to Mme CIndy and they went to Guilene (our blind recipient of technology from Penn) to type and print their thank yous.

Current challenges: Dieumane has typhoid, vag infection, anemia and vision problems.

• Gaby has 15 teeth in need of composites/ amalgam.
  
• Jean Ricot needs one extraction, and 11 other teeth in need of extensive work.
  
• Christamene needs one extraction, and 12 other teeth in need of work
  
• Paulaine was to pick up her glasses Monday at the hospital dispensary.
• Modeline will travel to Milot on Thursday (tomorrow) for blood work to see if she is healthy enough for the surgery.

We finished painting the bedrooms before I left and Jack will paint the employees change room while I am away.

Re: grant applications. Please do not wait until I get home to finalize. I trust you all. Please go ahead.

Nearly forgot. I went to CASCO [shipping company] today and sent some boxes to [Haiti}. We will see how long it takes. The price is certainly right. The 3 boxes I sent today would have cost $200.00 on Lynx. CASCO charges by volume :: the same boxes cost me $40.00 total including customs inspection. We just pick them up at the warehouse after.

Will close for now

Beni-w

Sharon