There's still no hydro, no phone, though we had hydro for about 2 hours on Monday night, but only 2 rooms had current. Boss Electrisyon has been by several times but cannot ascertain problem without [working] hydro. Ditto the other Boss Electrisyon who services refrigerators. It appears that ours has 'died'. Without hydro, it is a very nice icebox. The temperature reached 140F yesterday, and the large blocks of ice we buy on the street last about 4 hours.

We have 15 students working at the house -- about 10 are digging a new garbage pit in the garden area and cleaning the security wall in preparation for whitewashing. The others are working on the gallery with textbooks. They have finished cleaning, repairing and covering the books, which are now ready to add to the backpacks that Pat, Amy and Marisa are bringing with them when they come in August. Then we can sort texts according to grade level and school. While that is going on, two others will scour the market every day with a list of the books we still need.

I have been able to purchase rice and beans in large sacks and I am distributing small sacks of each on Fridays, along with magi (spice) and a little oil. I travelled to Diegrand's house on Tueday to see it. He borrowed the money for rent and is working it off. He's so proud of the one room dirt fllo he shares with his sister.

Boss Plombier repaired our reservoir yesterday and we are able to pump water again. Boss Mason has almost finished the increased security wall. We are going to build a small patio in the corner of the garden when he is finished. (We need a way to use all the rocks the neighbours have tossed into our yard over the years.) It will be magnificent.

Many come knocking on portail daily asking for help to complete high school, each bringing the necessary supporting documents. We don't need to go looking for kids -- they are finding us. We could easily compile a list of 500.

Time is up - kenbe - Sharon

Hello everyone,

Today is the first working internet service since I arrived. There's still no phone or hydro. Gas costs $30/gallon now, and once again, the price of material for uniforms and for food are higher, with very limited quantities available.

A very sad day today, as we have just buried Djempson Cadeau, 7. His brother Kesner, 16, is one of the students we sponsor. Kesner is the head of this family of four. The mom and dad are both dead. Kesner is filled with guilt that he did something wrong as he could not keep his brother alive.

This family's situation underscores our mission to support students in school and at home, as well as pay for medical and dental when needed. It is not possible to pay for only for schooling, since if the other factors are ignored, these young people will be most likely be repeating every year. It is simply not possible to learn or attend regularly when you are hungry, sick or frightened.

Since robberies are on the rise, apparently, M. Brutus has installed a back door in the kitchen at Lakay Fondasyon, and he is in the process of increasing the height of our security wall which he will top with barbed wire. Another 'Boss' is coming to fix the roof which has been leaking. In addition, one of our reservoirs on the roof is leaking, and so I have been spending a lot of time hiring appropriate help, and purchasing and transporting supplies, as well as doing the actual work.

Local travel is very difficult as tap taps won't stop for 'blan -yo (foreigners) any more, and taxis are asking double the agreed upon fare when you go to pay. The people's anger and frustration seem to have reached the boiling point and with no other outlet for venting, we bear the brunt. Haiti seems to be a country holding its breath.

Kenbe, Sharon

I arrived in Cap-Haitien on July 1, and I am busy getting the house organized for visitors in early August, when Pat Materiuk will coming down here with Amy and Melissa, both university students from Ontario on a poverty awarness/familiarization trip. They plan to be here for several weeks, and I will ask them to email reports to you all with their impressions and views on what they learn here.

Haitian young people continue to come to Lakay Fondasyon, on the average, about one new visitor every half hour. They seem to be aware of Starthrower's mandate to help high school age students with tuition, as all of them fall into that category. However, with limited funds available to pay for the students we currently assist, we simply do not have funds to help any others. All I can do is listen to their stories, and occasionally add a name to the waiting list, which is now at 20 students.

M. Claude Boucher, Canada's ambassador to Haiti, (Canada's Embassy in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti) hosted a reception here in Cap-Haitien for Canadians who are working here with NGOs (non-government organizations) and charities. It was very interesting to meet him for a brief chat before he was called away.

Until next time,

Sharon

April 24, 2005 Cap-Haitien


Hello! This is the first internet service in about two weeks, and yesterday was the first day in two weeks without rain. And because of the rain, the cardman was unable to work, as nothing dries, and the artists' market was closed as each stall leaks like a sieve.

The U.N. troops are still much in sight, heavily armed and patrolling the whole city. The Hospital Justinian is now entering the second week of a greve general (strike). They have the same problem with the national schools -- the teachers have not been paid by the government for months and so no one is teaching. We have about 10 students in the Lycee.

We have six kids showing up each day to eat. Keep in mind many of our kids have to travel on two tap taps to get to our place then on two to get back home. That is four dollars they do not have. Also there have been several large blokis (roadblocks) each day due to the mud washing out what remains of the road surfaces. This means a lot of time is spent sitting in a tap tap. It takes them about three hours to travel, eat, then get back home to change for school.

Our response to the feeding crisis in Sen Rafayel is going well. Mme Joseph is cooking each day and Gastel is working and therefore receiving a salary so that he can feed HIS family. In Canada, Pat Materiuk is busy preparing Amy and Marisa for their trip to Haiti when they come back with me on July 1. The kids here are very excited about meeting (Canadian) kids their own age and about taking them places like the market, the book sellers, up to Sen Rafayel, and maybe to Labadie.

The painting on the house continues, and we are building shelves, rearranging beds, washing curtains and hanging moustikes (mosquito nets). It's crucial we have the nets right now as this is 'M&M time' -- Mud and Mosquitos.

M'ap kenbe,

Sharon

Cap-Haitien


(by telephone)

Mud, mud and more mud -- it's been raining since Friday. Laundry that was done then is still not dry, and the satellite link for the internet cafe is still down. Many roads are giant puddles and everyone is covered in mud. You just can't avoid it. Usually it's around Christmas that we get this type of weather. It's very unusual for this time of year.

At Lakay Fondasyon, we're getting a steady stream of visitors as more people are becoming aware of Starthrower, and that we are here much more of the time now. The other morning around 7 a.m., an obviously malnourished woman came to the door. I offered her something to eat, but she refused, saying she didn't feel well. I asked her when she had last eaten and she couldn't remember. I asked if she was able to cook at home, and when she said yes, I sent some food home with her to cook later. I then asked her, "What do you need?"

She told me she wants to do commerce again, and that when she used to sell goods in the street markets, she had been able to support herself and her kids. (She must have done well -- it's not easy.) But years of carrying heavy loads on her head was hard on her neck and shoulders. I explained that we needed the money for the kids for school, and although I couldn't just give it to her, I would lend it, and she could repay us once she got going again. She signed the book, as they all do.

One of our students came by to say her father had died, and that she wanted money to go home. Then two of the mechanic apprentices came over. One of them, Jetho, said his dad had just died, but I explained we had no money to pay for his funeral. So many deaths every week.

And, they said, the owner of the garage where they were apprenticing was now in hospital. It seems the car he had been working on had slipped off the jack and landed on him. With their apprenticeships, in effect, over for the year, Mirabele, the other apprentice, asked if he could instead go back to school in September.

I'll stop by the internet cafe every day and keep trying to get through. Until then, kenbe.

Sharon