Earthquake aftermath Port-au-Prince, Nursing students, Leogane

2 a.m. The storm has abated and hydro has arrived. While I will not hop out of bed and iron clothes, although the heat has dropped somewhat and my bed no longer feels like an electric blanket set on high, I will try and assemble some thoughts on our trip to Leogane July 1-3. It will take more than a blog, but it is a start. The dogs are restless tonight, (toumante ko li) and I guess I am as well. I have been since the trip through the south.

We set off on a high note as this was the first time Auguste had ever flown. He seemed to regard the 45 minute departure delay as part of the adventure, and was spellbound for the entire 30 minute flight, seeing his country from a very different perspective. Once on the ground, another delay connecting with our driver, then finally on our way.

The high spirits generated by the flight experience quickly gave way to shock, disbelief, silence as we drove through downtown Port-au-Prince, a city I no longer recognized. In place of homes and businesses, endless piles of broken concrete and twisted rebars everywhere we looked - monuments to the countless, unnamed who remain buried beneath the rubble. What should have been hopeful I found disturbing - signs of rebuilding, albeit on a small individual scale, the white "sand/limestone" that caused so many deaths - was again being used - it was the only available building material.

Heading out of the city onto the highway, a sea of tents covers every available inch of space, most homemade, pieced together with whatever could be found. They line the sides of the highway, the median of the highway, packed together, no personal space. The road surface itself is buckled and heaved, and seems as though a giant knife has sliced through it is many places. Now I understand why the international community was unable to get to our kids for 5 days after January 12.  The visual of tents was relentless - with us from Port-au-Prince right in to Leogane.

Our destination was unexpected - the now unused L'Hopital Ste Croix. Another 'first' experience for Auguste - sleeping in a hospital bed. The guest house and home of our hosts, John and Suzi had been destroyed, sparing their lives, although another story of heroism and rescue is there to be told. Part of the hospital is structurally sound, so they have set up shop inside, welcoming us and showing us plans for rebuilding the hospital, making it once again a vibrant part of the community. But for now the community is in tatters.

Our nursing students, Alland and Wisly on the left, Gaby and Brunie on the right, welcoming Auguste and myself in Leogane.

After much needed rehydration, we headed for the nursing school to see our 4 students, each so excited at the upcoming ceremony, more at ease with life than I had seen them in Cap Haitien as they struggled with Post Traumatic Shock. It's still there but they are so busy, it's either being kept at bay or worked through. Time will tell. They are still living in tents, although the field hospital has moved out of their school and is now set up in tents adjacent to the school.

The juxtaposition of sleek new buildings (the school is being used for classes) and tents took my breath away. How and when will this ever end? I talked with some of the children in their tents, signs of malnutrition obvious. An 11 year old doing laundry as mother is ill. A cooler filled with items for sale but no ice or electricity to cool anything. Curious goats and a "plein aire" art gallery.

The next morning, a few feet away, a subdued yet joyful ceremony unfolded, acknowledging the struggle of the year not yet past, the loss of 3 students and thousands of community members, and the hope of a future in a profession Gaby, Brunie, Wisly and Alland have come to cherish. The capping ceremony (kwaf-la ) was held in the courtyard, covered with huge pieces of tenting to protect us from the sun, giving everyone and everything a blue cast. The church had been destroyed, but Haitians rise to the occasion and find another way.

I am always proud of our young people, but never more so than I was that weekend, watching in awe as they took on the reponsibility of serving their communities and country in a profession that has already changed their lives forever.

As we headed for the airport early Saturday, Auguste pointed out the Statue of the Crying Woman, new to him. When originally erected, it served as a reminder that children were dying needlessly and mothers were weeping for them. Now the statue's presence is even more poignant, as she cries for the increasing number of those lost.

Reliving the visit moves me to tears - not just the late (early?) hour but the immensity of the task undertaken - to support these amazing yet vulnerable and fragile young people as they continue the journey we have embarked on together - you, me, them.

We will revisit Leogane - it seems to be calling to be the home of the southern post of Lakay Fondasyon Sant-la. The faces of the young people - proud, defiant, fearful, joyful - still young but aged irreversibly by the events of 2010, are calling out.

And this being Haiti, the hydro left at 3:15 a.m., as quickly as it arrived. Morning now, a little solar energy before I start up the fridge, time to let go of Leogane as staff and students arrive. Thank you to Jane in Georgia for connecting me to the HSC Guest House, John and Suzi for taking such good care of us, thank you to Jamille and Michele, nurses from Pennsylvania who gave so much to our kids at the nursing school, and to the amazing Mme Hilda, Doyenne of the school, words are insufficient to thank you for the care and encouragement you have given and the courage and leadership you demonstrated through these past 6 months. You are truly one of Haiti's heroes.

7:20 a.m. someone is knocking at the portay - it's Paulaine on her last day of school. She has come to pick up the icing sugar we bought for her baking test, to present me with the pizza she made this morning as a thank you, could she please take a shower, and do I have a tooth brush and toothpaste as her's are finished?

I am having pizza for my 65th birthday breakfast.

Pi ta

Sharon

Back in Cap-Haitien, New Truck, Students' News, Needing a Back Brace

Homecoming

It's been just over 10 days since I arrived home in Cap. And what an arrival it was! The truck makes it possible for more folks to travel (students, staff, dogs) so I was greeted with a joyful, chaotic scene as I emerged from customs. Jackson, our driver (chofe-a) has been serving as driving instructor, so Auguste drove home from the airport. He was calm, cool and collected - a gift in the often intense Haitian traffic (sikilasyon). We drove into a center bustling with activity as Sunday morning is our food distribution day. Rosenie, Sherlyne, Stefan and Joceline had been at work since 7 a.m. - their choice. The early morning hours are cooler. It is comforting to know that programs continue to function smoothly in my absence.

Sherlyne asked to speak with me at the end of the day. Her aunt, in Port-au-Prince, had been injured in the quake on Jan. 12 and lost her house. She died on June 18th - age 35. The quake (trambleman te-a) is still claiming victims, and the ripple effect is still taking place. Sherlyne's aunt had been paying for her younger sister to attend school here in Cap. Edwige is in 9eme, preparing to write state exams. We sent the two down to Port-au-Prince for the funeral and will see if we have the funds to take her on full time in September. Sherlyne has been dealing with an H. Pylori infection and became quite ill. She ended up in hospital in PAP and has yet to return. I will ask what hospital was able to accommodate her and what the conditions were.

The centre has been a study in contrasts - over half of our young people are entering the homestretch - studying to write State National exams July 26-29, so there is quiet concentration. On the other hand, Haiti is soccer country, with support being split between Brazil and Argentina in the World Cup. We go from the profound silence - students sitting on the gallery, the roof, the corner patio, or just wandering around muttering to themselves, to the absolute amazing uproar from the whole country whenever a match is on and someone scores. The sound of the word 'gooooooal' is seared into my brain.

And 'mirak d'ayiti' (miracle of Haiti), we have been given electricity EVERY DAY since my arrival - in honor of the World Cup, so I am told. I have much to learn - I know that we're 'fanatik' about soccer (fouk[t]bol) but did not realize that the sport had the power to light up the country. Point of clarification - every day does not mean without interruption - but it is gift.

More Student News

Rosenie has finished exams, so she has started the Book Repair program. In addition, she has begun to scour the market for new backpacks. They have to be a decent size to accommodate the load of books needed by each student. Also new is necessary. We have found that even gently used backpacks breakdown quickly and we have to replace them within a short time.

We have 10 students on the waiting list for summer jobs. There are already 6 working. There will be more. The delayed exam timetable means the books will be later coming back, perhaps depriving some of summer employment.

Paulaine is busily completing her sewing assignments as she graduates from her 4 year cooking/sewing program on July 25th.

Claudy came down from Sen Rafayel Friday for funds for the 20 students writing State National Exams there. Everything has a price tag. The good news is we will be able to travel to Sen Rafayel to pick up text books and deliver clothes and shoes now that the truck is here.

Djohn's hernia surgery has been set for July 8th at L'hopital Bienfaisance in Pignon. We have sent funds and meds with Claudy.

Kesner, Camiose, Mona and Marie Modeline all arrived with diagnostic result and prescription forms, so I'll take a break and help Auguste.

I'm back.  A huge thank you to Paula in Pennsylvania for her tenacity in tracking down a Perkin's Brailler for Guilene (see last post). We are hoping the 3 machines arrive before she writes exams but if not, we know they are coming.

Thanks also to Sister Rosemary for securing a new stethoscope for Micheline (medical technology). Micheline informed me that she also needs a French Medical dictionary and a complete Glucometer kit. If only I had known when we were looking for supplies for the nursing students.

Timing is everything. We are still in need of used laptops with Wireless for all post secondary students. Thanks to Cindy and family in Inglewood, Canada for donating one. Daniel will bring it when he comes to visit.

That's about it for now. Auguste and I are flying down to Port-au-Prince on Thursday for the capping ceremony (kwaf-la) for our 4 nursing students. We had planned on driving but last week's storm (which is now called Alex) further damaged the Route Nasyonal at Gonaives so flying is the fastest and most reliable method of transport. We will deliver the supplies so generously donated by Corinne, Peg and Mathieu. Thank you again everyone for taking these young people into your hearts.

Talk to you next week -I'll take pictures!

Kenbe

Sharon

PS. Kesner has a back problem and is need of a brace - if anyone is able to find one.

Haiti Student Nursing Texts, Medical Supplies Donated: Thanks Starthrowers!

As I prepare to return to Cap-Haitien this week, I want to thank everyone for your support of our centre and our students in Haiti. We've received some much needed supplies that I can take back with me.
 
Student Nursing Books, Medical Supplies Update
Thanks to our Starthrowers, we now have some of the items from our Things We Need list [See previous post for details]

The list of supplies needed by our 4 nursing students to move on to the next level was very daunting. As an educator I know little to nothing about finding and purchasing medical and surgical supplies, so there are many people to thank.

Medical Supplies
A huge thank you to Corinne in Toronto for finding and purchasing Kelly Clamps and glucometers, and to Daniel and Gay for delivering them to Orangeville so that I can take them back to Haiti. Thanks also for the meds so desperately needed.

Student Nursing Books
The same huge thank you to Peg in Virginia who contacted friend Mathieu in France. After several emails, we determined that Mathieu and Peg had indeed located the French medical dictionaries and Medication Guides needed by our student nurses, and bought them and shipped them to me in Orangeville.

Thank you both for your generosity. The books arrived safely this week after a brief delay at  Canada Customs. [see comments below: Ed]

When I am back in Cap-Haitien, the staff will cover these books in plastic, stamp each with the fondasyon dam and then we will deliver all items to the students in Leogane on June 29. We are still looking for accommodations. See previous post for details.

Thanks also to Lesley (Instructor) and students in the Community Nursing course at Georgian College, Orangeville. It was a pleasure to spend an evening with you. I felt very welcome and questions asked were very insightful. What a great group.

Brailler Etc. For Guilene

Thanks to Paula in PA who has taken on the task of finding replacement articles for our blind student, Guilene.

Guiline lost the previously donated Perkin's Brailler, manual typewriter, cassette recorder / player to the earthquake.

[see Guilene this page]


Supplies, Donations
Thanks also to Cindy in PA  whose boxes of donations arrived in Cap-Haitien last week. I can't wait to see what she has sent this time. I'm always surprised by something.

We continue to put out a request for used laptops (wireless) in good working condition for all of our post-secondary students.

If you can help out, please let me know as visitors are coming to Haiti over the coming months, and would be able to bring one each.

And, as always, donations are needed to cover tuition and supplies for school this fall. Any and all amounts gratefully received!


Schools Exams
It seems as though the schools in Cap-Haitien have decided to set their own direction, and instead of holding classes throughout the summer, exams have already begun.

State exams are also earlier than previously announced:

• certificat (or 6eme for high school entrance) June 30
• 9eme AF (annee fondamental : end of junior high) July 6-8

No definite word about exams schedules for the final 2 years of high school, Rheto and Philo.

Everyone at our centre is busy studying, and weekly food distribution will continue to the end of exams.


Kenbe pa lage
Sharon

______________________________________

    

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 House Unsafe, Manifestations, Food Aid, School News: Updates from Cap-Haitien

Repairs to Starthrower's house in Haiti, Cap-Haitien Manifestations, Food Aid Chaos, and Schools News

Hello Eveyone,

Sharon Gaskell phoned this morning (Monday) from Cap-Haitien, Haiti. I hadn't heard from her at all in over a week, so she called to let us know that she is alive and well.

As she spoke, the sound of hammering made it hard to hear her at times. She explained that the house is being shored up with steel girders and is work being done on one corner of our center, and will progress to all corners.

Repairs to Starthrower Foundations Center in Cap-Haitien Haiti

The house sustained more extensive damage than initially thought, with new cracks appearing as fast as existing ones were repaired. Some cracks are due to aftershocks and some from the initial quake on January 12, and some perhaps the result of the age of the building.

Now that the walls are being removed, and the basement is being dug out, the building foundation is being exposed. It's become apparent that cement block foundation is mostly rubble and dust, and that limestone had been added to the original cement blocks laid some 30 years ago.

Building materials and supplies, always hard to come by in Haiti, are in short supply, which slows the repair work.

Even without the quake damage, the house was increasingly unsafe. Rental options in Cap-Haitien are limited at the best of times; with the current housing crisis, they are virtually non-existent.

Haitian Students Work to Help Mason Repair Lakay Starthrower

Building Fund for a home of our own
The best case scenario, Sharon says, would be to buy some land in the area, and build a Starthrower Foundation center. With the house repairs taking so much time, Sharon has not been able to go view a parcel of land recently offered for sale.

"The mason, Frank, and workers arrive each day by 7 a.m., and work until about 5 p.m.," she said. "I'm up at 4:30 a.m. So far I am still living in the house, and the kids can still come to get a light meal, to study and get some water.

"With the house being ripped apart, they can sit on the gallery, or on the patio outside. And with the walls opened up, the mosquitoes are everywhere in the house. Jack and Jocelyn are sick now, and I've sent Jocelyn to the clinic. I suspect malaria again. Jack is ill, but with other student workers sick and sent home, he has to stay to help with the work.

"The masons are working on house to shore it up with girders. So far, one corner is being worked on. The bulk of work is yet to be done. My best guess is the work will take 4-6 months to be completed. We are paying for the work but I have asked the landlord to pay for repairs, and I have said that if we do them, it is in lieu of rent for 6 months.

"I have been staying in the house, though if and when Frank says it is totally unsafe, I will sleep in the small building at the rear of the property. It's not ideal, but it has been repaired and seems safe."

Haitian Workers Repair Quake Damage Cap-Haitien

Manifestations in Cap-Haitien
"With so much going on here at the center, it's better for me to be here than at a hotel in town. Getting back and forth from the hotel to the house would be a nightmare, as many Cap-Haitien streets are blocked while they are being repaired. And now, streets are also being blocked with manifestations (protests, demonstrations). The crowds are a nightmare.

"Auguste had gone into town on Friday afternoon, and called to let us know how difficult it was to get around. He said there were piles of burning tires, and crowds throwing rocks, and for me to tell the others to stay at the center until the situation improved.

"Part of the reason for the demonstrations is the food aid distribution program. There is absolutely no system in place. The food aid trucks pull up and start throwing bags into the crowd. The people are so afraid of starving, they mob the trucks, so the trucks leave.

"They are treating Haitians like dogs."

Bos Mason on Roof Opening Bedroom Wall Lakay Fondasyon Haiti

Hydro Food Water Propane
"For the past few weeks, there's been almost no hydro, as when work is being done on the house, it is shut off. Ice has been scarce, and for several days, we had none. Water is also harder to find. I can still boil water, but that's only good for as long as we have propane. Jack usually goes out to look for water, propane and supplies, but he's had to help work on the house so he cannot get out to look for any today."

Schools, Exams
"Some students have been back at school, and are into exams now," Sharon said. "No school for a whole term, and two weeks of classes, and they already have exams! These are the kids whose schools accepted our offer of payment for a half-trimest, and third trimest fees are due next week.

"The students who went to schools that insisted on full payment for the January-Easter term, even though the schools were closed, are not attending classes, and some students decided to stay out of school until September.  I think waiting till September would be best."

Back in Canada Dates
Sharon said that she is still planning on returning to  Toronto around May 8, but that time frame can change. The nursing student ceremony in Leogane is now set for May 12, and she would like to be there to support our students, but she may have to miss it.

Those of you who are waiting for responses to emails, etc. may have to wait a little longer. If anything is urgent, contact me, or phone Sharon in Haiti.

^ Karen
Admin. Starthrower Foundation