New Vehicle, Sen Rafayel Cap-Haitien Haiti Schools, Universities, Summer Programs, House Repairs

Hello Everyone,

Here's an update on what's happening with Starthrower Foundation in Haiti. Our apologies for the long interval since the last update. It's been a very busy time.

Here's what has been happening in Haiti:

• House Repairs
• Schools, Universities Classes, Students
• Summer Programs / Travel
  
• New Vehicle, Driver

Repairs to Lakay Fondasyon

Lakay Fondasyon Cap-Haitien Haiti Quake Repairs

During my last few weeks in Cap-Haitien, we had been unable to use the internet as staff and bosses were digging through concrete and ceramic in the living room to install the support beam. The cement dust was terrible, so everything needed to be covered.

As the entire ceiling in the living room needs to be replaced (much more cement dust), it is best done while I am in Canada.

House Repairs Cap-Haitien ~ Making it safe

Repairs for quake damage, etc. continue in my absence, specifically the ceiling in the living room/dining room.

Although there are several more supporting beams to be installed, the extent of the deconstruction and the cost of materials and salaries for skilled tradespeople make it necessary to await a reply from the report I sent to the owner prior to leaving, that documented costs to date and repairs accomplished and pending.

Hopefully he will share the cost with us.

Schools, Universities Classes
Cap-Haitien High schools: Classes will continue through July in an attempt to cover this year's material.  Our new students Espania, Pico, Wilius, who lost everything in Port-au-Prince following the earthquake, are happy to be back at school  although the aftershocks (4.5 last Thursday) are keeping everyone off centre.

Each school is offering hastily created 'extra courses' for large fees in an attempt to bring in extra revenue. We are not sending our young people to these 'add ons'; They have enough work.

Rosenie is completing the 3rd year of her teacher training for Kindergarten in Cap-Haitien and Micheline her third year of Medical technology at Institute Polytechnique du Cap-Haitien.

Sen Rafayel  Schools will hold classes throughout the summer. When we travel up to Sen Rafayel in July, we will be able to see the situation first hand.

University of Limbe: Agriculture (Agronomie): Deles and Vincent are completing their 3rd year of 5 year degree program. They will write finals the beginning of July. Their program was relatively uninterrupted as Limbe was one of the very few places not disrupted by the quake and aftershocks.

University Santiago, Dominican Republic:  Elorge and Marlene are completing their first year of premed. The first year and a half was intensive Spanish. They have no summers off, as the year consists of three terms with a week off in between each.

We plan to travel to Santiago toward the end of July for a few days. Elorge and Marlene are quite excited about this visit. We will see the Santiago university campus and visit the tikay they are renting.

Home visits are easier now that we have both a reliable truck and an experienced driver. Additionally, there will be more information to pass on to sponsors.

University Port-au-Prince: Plenitude has resumed his first year of a 5 year program for a degree in electrical engineering (Genie Electrique) in an alternate location in Port-au-Prince as the school was destroyed and several students and teachers were killed.

Peterson has recovered from his injuries and is now patiently trying to reconstruct his educational history in order to apply for medical school. He was studying medical technology but having lived through the quake he now wants to be a doctor.

The problem of lost papers is enormous and will have implications for a long time. Not only did students lose what they had, but schools and government offices lost originals.
 
State university campus in Madeline: Casimyr and Osmann have resumed their first year of teacher's college at the State university campus in Madeline (outside Cap-Haitien).

Vehicle Purchase, Drivers Licences:
We have a vehicle! It is 2000 Mitsubishi Diesel truck with 4 doors, 4x4, and a new motor (2008), thanks to Ann in Colorado for her generous donation making the vehicle purchase possible. (see previous posts about vehicle).

Inspecting the new vehicle Starthrower Foundation

Jackson has been hired part time to drive for us. Auguste, Jack and Dieugrand have been to Auto ecole and could drive in an emergency. However they do not as yet have drivers licences.

While I'm [currently] in Canada, Jackson is providing driving practice for each of them. Although they already have full time jobs with us, they will be able to drive in an emergency.

The next step for them is to take a state mandated / operated seminar ($800 Haitian; $100 USD). This seminar is offered once a year in Cap-Haitien, usually in September / October.

Due to quake damages sustained by government offices, this year there may be a delay.  Upon completion of the seminar, they receive a certificate which must be taken to Port-au-Prince (more money for travel expenses and registration) and registered.

After that another paper is received which must be brought to Cap-Haitien and the DGE office, where one can then apply for a drivers permit (also for a fee: $400 Haitian; $50 USD at last update).

Haiti Students Tshirts From Pennsylvania (Thanks!)

Jackson is more than just a driver: He picks up boxes from Pennsylvania, building supplies, food supplies from the market for distribution, potable water (12 5 gal. jugs at a time); He has worked with Auguste to pick up students (Wilta, Modeline, Othanes) who are too ill to get to us and taken them to clinic, hospital and the x-ray clinic in Carfoumoustiq; and He provides security for Auguste and me when we travel to the bank or when we are paying school fees.

With Jackson taking on driving duties, he is allowing staff to continue work. And, instead of leaving when his driving job is done, he washes his hands and pitches in where needed, filling vitamin bottles for distribution, taking inventory of text books on hand, moving furniture for repairs etc.

Summer 2010 Travel in Haiti
Leogane: Our 4 nursing students were successful writing their end of year exams and will enter the next phase of their training. The Kwaf-la ceremony that marks this transition for  Gaby, Brunie, Alland and Wisly into medical studies will be held on June 25.

Auguste and I will travel to Leogane with Jackson driving, providing we can find a place to stay over. As Leogane students are sleeping in tents behind the school (which is still being used as a field hospital staffed by a team on international doctors), and most of the city was destroyed, it will be necessary to look for a place to stay in Port-au-Prince. The retreat centre where I usually stay was destroyed and many staff were killed.

Sen Rafayel: Sometime in July we will head to Sen Rafayel (again with Jackson driving and providing security) to check on our staff and satellite office, collect text books for our repair distribution program and to pay home visits to students in crisis.

I had hoped to travel the first week of July but the school year will end at different times depending on each school administrator. We'll just have to wait for word and plan accordingly.

Cap-Haitien: While we travel, summer staff and program directors will begin the book repair program at the centre, with whatever books are returned.

It will be a challenging summer as I anticipate most textbooks being returned only a week or 2 before they are needed for the Fall term. We usually need at least 10 weeks to make all repairs etc. We will probably modify the program and prepare books as the lists come in for the new year rather than by grade and subject level.

Things We Need:
For our 4 nursing students we need :

• 4 FRENCH medical dictionaries and pharmaceutical references; most recent pocket edition
• Glucometers, watches, clamps , surgical scissors, thermometers, used laptops (wireless), scissors, blue scrubs; I can purchase some here in Canada and take them back with me, but the reference books are proving a challenge.

I head back to Cap-Haitien on June 18 via Turks and Caicos on WestJet and Air T&C. WestJet has a most generous luggage allowance, and Air Turks and Caicos has a lower fee for excess baggage, so I can take back some supplies. If you can help with some of the Things We Need for our nursing students, please contact me ASAP as I am already packing.

Starthrower Foundation Website:
Over the coming weeks, the Starthrower Foundation website will be re-designed to accommodate newer technology. Thanks to Teena at Buildawebsitetonight.com for her generous donation of technical support.

Kenbe pa lage
Sharon

PS On Friday, Auguste sent me an email, telling me, among other things, that Cap was experiencing a full day of violence: Burning tires, rock and bottle throwing, gun shots, and the citizenry running to get out of the way. The madness spread quickly from zone to zone.

Before I left, we experienced a similar afternoon where the staff remained at our centre for hours after closing due to the amount of, and proximity of, gun fire. Haiti is so fragile, with aftershocks, overcrowding, lack of housing and food, and anger.

It is more important than ever that Starthrower Foundation not only continue its work, but as funds allow, take on more of those Port-au-Prince students displaced to Cap-Haitien with nothing but the borrowed clothes on their backs.

I've looked into their eyes, I have heard their stories, I have laughed and cried and shared a meal with them. 

Some say this is a major turning point in the history of Haiti. I don't know that yet. I do know that Starthrower is already a part of the country's history, thanks to your continuing support.

Haiti Earthquake News Cap-Haitien, Port-au-Prince, Leogane, Sen Rafayel

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Hello Eveyone,

News is still coming in sporadically from Haiti, some devastating, some hopeful. With no cell phone service, e-mail has been a lifeline. To upddate our previous news, here's what we know so far:

Port-au-Prince Bad News, Sad News 2 students
Frandzy and Peterson, in Port-au-Prince, until this afternoon were both still unaccounted for. Auguste just emailed to tell me that he heard from Peterson last night, who said that he is injured but alive.

However, Frandzy (Carmene our cook's oldest boy) was killed. Both were studying medical technology. Plenitude is okay.

Our sympathies go out to Carmene. Auguste reports the family is desolee. Another of her sons, Ernst, died of an ear infection about 4 years ago. Ernst was also one of our kids, who we sent to the school for the deaf (Lekol des enfants sourds).  Carmene has 2 daughters as well, both in elementary school.

Leogane School Nursing -- 4 Students

Our nursing students (see earlier post) are shaken but alive. They described the town of Leogane where the nursing school is located as 'kraze' (crushed). The school gave them permission to travel home. I am not sure how this will happen as nothing is moving up and down the Route Nasyonal.

It sounds as though the students were able to get their belongings out of the dormitory. We'll know more soon, hopefully. Obviously my concern is for these 4 kids travelling the 200+ kms (124+ miles) on their own.

BUT CNN just ran a story from the nursing school in Leogane. The students have been operating a clinic as the hospital and 90% of the town demolished.

I saw one of our students, Alland, in the clip looking every inch a competent nurse!!!!

Doctors without Borders have just arrived. The students attended to an estimated 5000 people. The mayor estimates the town has already buried about 5000 although numbers are unreliable as many are burying their family dead privately.


Thanks to Mme Jane in Georgia for responding to my query with news of our nursing students.

Sen Rafayel -- 50 students
The students in Sen Rafayel are okay, but supplies in the village are becoming scarce as transit up and down the mountain is interrupted.

Cap-Haitien Students
All schools are closed in Cap-Haitien, and the banks and government offices are also closed. With the banks closed, it is difficult to make repairs (more detail  about damage below) as we need to pay tradespeople on the spot and we do not keep a large sum of money on site.

Gas Kerosene Scarce
As shipments are not getting into the Cap-Haitien, supplies of gas and kerosene are becoming very scarce. Those with money (moyen ekonomik) are beginning to stock up.

This hoarding mentality means that the poor, who can only purchase a very small quantity at a time, will be left with no light source. As dirty and unsafe as kerosene is, it provides illumination in a very dark time.

Damage at Lakay -- No Water, No Hydro
Our house sustained more damage than initially noticed. The new water reservoir on the roof which we installed about 18 months ago has cracked. The staff did not realize this until they went to draw water and it was empty. Let's hope it only needs repairs and not replacement.

The wiring for our generator (which draws water from the well up to the roof reservoir) was also damaged and needs to be replaced. Jack sustained a shock from anba te-a (underground) so the owner's representative in Cap-Haitien was contacted.

This rep said in no uncertain terms that this was not his problem. We will handle this as we have in the past. Jack and Auguste will do what they can until I arrive.

There is absolutely no electricity! We have dealt with this before. The longest period I remember without electricity is 6 months in 2004.

House Habitable
The staff thinks that the house is structurally sound despite the appearance of new cracks. I have confidence that this is so as Jack has a great  deal of experience as a builder. He has checked everything and declared it habitable.

Students Housing Estimates,Repairs
Students continue to come in to Starthrower's center asking for help repairing damage to their living quarters (ti kay-yo).

Auguste is making a list and giving the kids appointments to come back so they can direct staff to their house. We have to do it in this manner as there are no street names or addresses. Small living spaces are very difficult to find even after having visited once before.

We can then estimate what materials are needed to make repairs and how long the work will take. With both gas, taxis, and building materials in short supply and high demand, repairs could take a while.

We need a taxi to get to the houses to make estimates, we need money to pay for the taxi and the taxi needs gas, which is in limited supply. Once we have made estimates, we'll need to purchase building supplies. All banks and businesses are closed, so the staff  literally have their hands tied.

Travel to Haiti
I will fly from Toronto to Ft Lauderdale on January 30, and purchase some supplies, then fly over to Cap-Haitien on January 31, provided the airport is open by then.

Courage Kouraj
Haitians have been through devastating times in the past. Too many, perhaps. But their 'kouraj' will bring them through this.

If food is available for purchase, we will also restart our meal program at the centre until the schools re-open. It may just be a brief time until the kids can get back to high school. However long it takes, we'll get through it together, one house at a time, one student at a time.

And again, Thank You
Thanks so much to those who have emailed and phoned with words of support an encouragement.

Thanks also to those who have donated for our rebuilding needs.

Thank you to those who let others know of our plight, and thank you to colleagues who share information.

As we learn more of the needs and conditons in Haiti, and the extra funds now needed following the earthquake, we need our Starthrowers more than ever.

Thank you, Everyone! Once I get to Haiti and can assess what's needed in  Cap-Haitien, Port-au-Prince, Leogane, Sen Rafayel, I'll let you know.

I'll also let you know when and what I hear from the nursing students making their way back home.

Beni-w
Kenbe pa lage
Sharon

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Packing Supplies for Haiti, Sponsor Seamstress Business, Student Profile, Paris Trip

Hello, Everyone!

A big Thank You! to Alex and Laura, who traveled from London ON to Starthrower Foundation to pack supplies for Cap-Haitien and to Jane, here in Orangeville.

Thank you, too, to Daniel and Amy who have also volunteered to come pack supplies. We just have to find a time when my energy level can keep up with theirs!

Last week I asked for support for Rose-Youdeline (DOB 03/07/85) who wants to put her newly acquired sewing skills to work making school uniforms. Thanks to Ingrid in Ontario and Dave in New Brunswick for their quick response to her request (see Dave's comments following last week's blog post)

Here is some information about Rose-Youdeline. Her story is very typical of all our students' stories.

Once Rose-Youdeline is set up in her new business, she will be able to support her 5 sisters and 4 brothers. She is the only one of them all who has had the opportunity to go to school.

Her mother died in 1994, her dad is blind and very frail, and requires constant assistance. Her older sister (a year older than Rose) has been mothering the family since she was 10 years old. Since this older sister is currently in hospital (she was injured in a bus accident), Rose-Youdeline is now responsible for taking care of them all.

Whether this older sister lives or dies, someone in the family will have to find the money to pay the hospital bill. In Haiti, unpaid hospital bills mean that someone in the family will go to jail; in this case, it would probably the blind dad.

I know from past experience that the first thing Rose-Youdeline will do when she receives the money for supplies is take a small portion to buy food to feed her family. I also know from experience what her future will be unless drastic changes take place.

She will set up her sewing machine outdoors in the daytime, hunched over it for as many hours as there are daylight. At night, she will move the machine inside (the sewing machine will have more room than anyone in the family) and continue to work until she is exhausted.

Seamstresses are prone to damage to their eyesight, postural muscles and fingers. Fingers usually become arthritic after about 10 years. Someone will always stay home to prevent thieves from taking the sewing machine. It is the most valuable thing they own.

Although Rose-Youdeline knows the challenges she faces, she was ecstatic when Auguste contacted her last week in Sen Rafayel to tell her the good news about her sponsor. However when Auguste contacted Soeur Fernande to ask about buying the sewing machine for her, Soeur told Auguste that the machines she had in stock had all been sold within a day or two to people who had the money at their disposal.

Soeur Fernande will search for and find another machine for Rose-Youdeline. When it arrives, the money will be on hand. This delay is difficult for Rose-Youdeline but she knows that it will happen and is very thankful for sponsor support.

Sewing Machine for Rose-Youdeline

Update on the sewing machine October 2009: The machine as been found, and assembled, and will be delivered to Sen Rafayel so Rose-Youdeline can begin her business. Thanks, Folkie! See more updates on students here.

An update on our Paris traveller-to-be Rosenie (this blog post):
Rosenie has written her exams and begun to hire staff for Starthrower's summer text book restoration program. We have asked for a sponsor to come forward to pay for her second year of the 3 year Kindergarten Teacher program.

And more good news! A group of the most amazing young people on the planet -- the mighty girls of the Golf Road Junior Public School Girls Club, in Scarborough, ON, organized and mentored by Linda, Penny and Nancy -- have collected money to sponsor her. Imagine that! These junior Starthrowers who are actually still Starfish themselves. Thank you each and every one!

I know Rosenie will be so relieved to know that she can continue her studies for another year. Although she excited about the upcoming trip to France, she and Nadege, who will travel with her, both expressed apprehension about traveling so far on their own. They've never been anywhere away from home, let alone on an overseas trip!

Sister Rosemary has decided to accompany them, which makes me feel better as well. Sister Rosemary will not attend the conference sessions but will be present to debrief the girls when needed.

On a personal note:
There is still so much I'd like to say, but I am somewhat handicapped this week. I learned that I have 3 bacterial infections which have been hanging on since the surgery, thereby delaying my recuperation.

Last Friday night, our local hospital (Headwaters, in Orangeville) began intravenous antibiotic therapy three times a day. I have one IV line in my right hand and another on the inside of my left arm. I am at home now with the one on my hand hooked up to a pump which runs 24 hours a day dispensing one antibiotic directly. I carry it with me.

The amazing nurses of St. Elizabeth Health Care come in each morning and evening to administer the other antibiotic through an IV drip, as well, and also change the dressing on the surgical wound. We shall see if there is light at the end of THIS tunnel.

It seems I have used much of this post to saying Thanks! but Thanks are called for. Thank you all for your ongoing support. We are all very grateful.

Though there is still much to be done in Haiti with and for our students, it is encouraging to have your help. Remember that many of our young people will be writing exams well into July. Please send your prayers and positive energy their way. We have 10 writing Philo, the 7th and last year of secondaire.

Kenbe (hang in there)
Sharon

PS
It's national holiday week: Canada Day July 1, and Independence Day USA July 4. Stay safe and happy, everyone!

Next week I will profile our students Plenitude and Vincent in hope of generating sponsor relationships. Please leave any comment you might have after the blog, as Teena and David did last week. It helps us get to know each other a little! And sharing ideas and concerns is good for us all.

Starthrower Students in Haiti, Hospital Update Sharon in Toronto

Hello Everyone,

Week Two in St, Michael's Hospital: Sharon's health continues to gradually improve. Even though the crisis period has passed, her condition is still very much day-to-day, with some days much better than others, if she's had energy-draining testing and scans and various procedures to track issues following her surgeries.


If you've ever been in hospital yourself, you will recall that institution life is not the most conducive to rest, and you sleep when you can. Because of this, Sharon is not up to receiving visitors while undergoing active treatment and recuperation, but I did pass on your messages. Thank you for your support.

And many thanks, too, to those of you who have been Starthrower's 'memory' of details large and small: Donors who continue to sponsor our students in school and university; Maureen, who thought to ask us about the ongoing need for cat food (Natural Choice for Cats, not available in Haiti) and will include it in the box of vitamins, etc she will ship to the staff in Cap-Haitien; Sister Rosemary for stepping up to the plate in timely fashion then and now, and when she returns to Haiti in a few weeks.

Rest assured that Sharon has arranged for Starthrower's center in Haiti to continue operating in her absence. If you have any questions or happen to think of something we may have overlooked at this time, please do not hesitate to email us at the Starthrower address.

When Sharon and I set out to establish Starthrower Foundation, we were determined that one of the things is was NOT to be was yet another charity that worked in Haiti for a few years, then left when the going got tough. Sharon had witnessed the lives of these 'abandonded' kids, and resolved then and there that Starthrower would be in Haiti for the long haul.

This is one of those tough times, tougher than normal as, more than usual, it involves Sharon's own life and health. In addition to trying to recover from her illness, she is also worrying about those left behind in Haiti. Though she is here in Toronto, the needs of the kids in Haiti continue. They still need food, water, shelter and support, medical services and tuition. Please continue to help us help them.

These are trying times for Starthrower, and for the global community. When you have a minute, see this excellent post on Ireland-based Statcounter.com Blog, written by one of their staff for blog action day to give perspective to the current economic situation.

Karen

Hydro, Housing, Workforce and Outrage

Hello Everyone,

We have 18 students working for the summer with another 5 on the (work) waiting list. We just do not have the resources for everyone to work. Nine are working in direksyon (the education program), which involves cleaning, repairing and covering last year's text books to hand out to this year's students. They work 3 days a week and have chosen to start at 7 a.m. when it is cooler. They finish at 1 p.m. Our students are a little slow returning books this year.

The other nine students are working with Jack, taking care of the house and grounds. They work 4 days a week and have also voted to work from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. We are preparing to open the staircase in the kitchen out on to the roof. This should drop the temperature inside considerably as we will replace the current tol (corrugated metal) roof with cement blocks. Here in Haiti, we purchase cement and sand, rent a form and make the cement blocks ourselves. When they are dry enough, we pass them up to the roof using our gwo nechel la (long ladder) with one student every 3 rungs.

Claudy brought textbooks and news from Sen Rafayel. While we here in Cap-Haitien are parched and hoping for rain on a daily basis, Sen Rafayel (up the mountain) again has too much rain, and the gardens, which were coming back after the December flood, have again been destroyed. That little village just cannot catch a break.

As of yesterday, our staff have responded to 102 young people seeking entrance and help. (That is just since I returned on July 1st) We have 14 on our new wait list for September. We have not made any home visits yet, as we are hoping to find a vehicle (or perhaps 2 used vehicles -- we have everyone in Cap on the lookout).

Four of those who came did not have report cards, as they had not paid final trimest (term) fees. Auguste travelled to Semi Lycee Anacaona and paid for 3 of them. Claudy will come down with more books and go back with money to pay fee for Monese. There will be others in the interim who have not been able find out if they passed due to shortage of funds to get report cards released.

Their housing, too, is a growing problem. The little shacks (ti kay yo) which used to cost between $200 and 500 Haitian ($30-$70 USD) are now $1500-$5000 Haitian ($200-$700 USD). That is with no improvements. We are on the constant look for housing. I think it is time to start buying a few and fixing them up for student housing.

Jhennie and Dieugrand both have eye infections. Although we try to provide sunglasses and hats for everyone, by the time these young people reach their teens, a lifetime of sun glare, blowing dust and constant dehydration has already taken its toll.

Electricity has been very intermittent so far.

Last week, everyone went without power as EDH was saving hydro for Sunday night's COPA America soccer match between Brazil and Argentina. This city erupted in a frenzy of dance and music -- and the best part -- no violence. Last night, we still had no electricity, so those waiting for emails, please have patience. Our wonderful system is only as good as the electricity which drives it.

Wednesday morning, I turned on the computer, and saw the headline '195 feared dead in Brazilian plane crash'. What a tragedy, and we are all sorry to hear of the lives lost.

But let's put it in the perspective of the larger picture. Stats tell us that, worldwide, between 24,000 and 30,000 children (anyone 18 yrs of age and younger, according to the UN) die daily as a result of the debt crisis (absolute poverty).

To put the large numbers in perspective, the number of children who die each day, worldwide, is at least 120 of those planes. All those planes -- filled with infants, toddlers, youth, teens -- crashing every day. No survivors. And a significant number of those deaths occur in Haiti, and our grief is real and as profound. This is not old news; this is Current Events. This is happening NOW.

No experts make their way here to examine the tragedy. No teams arrive to comfort family and friends, who grieve and ask 'WHY?"

Why are we not outraged?

Please examine what you are doing to change these statistics. Each number represents a real person. Indifference kills as surely as malnutrition.

Pita

Sharon