Earthquake Haiti Schools, Students Aftermath ~ Hydro, Water, Food Update from Cap-Haitien

Hello Everyone,

As promised, here's an update on the earthquake in Haiti aftermath regarding students, schools, hydro, water and food supplies in Cap-Haitien, as well as a brief note about donations in kind, travel to Haiti and more Thank yous!

Starthrower Students in Haiti and Dominican
Schools are still closed in Cap-Haitien.

Guilene, a blind student at school in Port-au-Prince who received a Brailler and manual typewriter thanks to Pennsylvania donors Don H. and wife, Sharon, along with the Lions Club, and Cindy W., who supplied a portable cassette player for her, is all right, as far as we know.

Auguste received only one phone call from her, saying that she was okay, but she could not find anyone to take her to a bus station or help her find transport north to Cap-Haitien. Her belongings were destroyed, and she has only the clothes on her back.

Our nursing students (see previous update) arrived in Cap-Haitien on Monday, but I have no details about how they got there from Leogane. They came right to the center to let Auguste know they were back in Cap-Haitien.

Bruni, one of the nursing students in Leogane, likely will be trying to get home to Sen Rafayel. She has relatives in Cap-Haitien who took her in before, when she was going to summer school.

Auguste (our director of education) has only had one communique with Sen Rafayel via text message. The students are okay, but there is still no transit up and down mountain. That means Bruni won't get home unless she walks the 28 kms (18 miles).

Alland and Wisly (nursing students, Leogane) are in Cap-Haitien, but may not have a place to stay. Auguste will take care of them, however, as now he is able to get money from the bank.

Gaby (nursing student, Leogane) would go home to his ti kay next door to Carmene's, where his brother Lusnot is.

Peterson, who was injured in the earthquake and unable to travel, and Plenitude are still unable to get home from Port-au-Prince. They are not together and have no way of  connecting.

Dominican Republic Pre-Med Students
Marlen and Elorge, both in 2nd year pre med in university in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, are among the few sponsored students currently attending school.

Agriculture Students Limbe
Deles (a sponsored student) and Vincent, in 3rd year Agriculture (Agronomie) at university in Limbe, are attending classes. January is a month of 'cours intensif' for them.

Cap-Haitien
Rosenie (2nd year Kindergarten Teacher training) and Joceline (our laundress and Mme Carmene's support staff) are washing bedding and curtains, and mopping and disinfecting the house in Cap-Haitien to get it ready for my arrival.

Carmene, who usually handles the cleaning and cooking for us, is too heart broken at the death of her son (details this post) to work. One of my first visits will be to Carmene to pay my condolences. I will be fending for myself in the kitchen for the first while.

School Closure Alternatives
If schools are still closed when I arrive in Haiti about January 31, we will implement study programs or phys ed programs (both popular with the kids) or any other activities that they suggest, as well as work programs for anyone wanting to earn some money.

Hydro, Banks, Water, Gas, Damage Repairs
As of yesterday (Thursday, January 21), there is still no hydro anywhere and no gas. We are still able to purchase potable water and locally made bread, as a few of the banks are open as of today.

Auguste borrowed a few gourdes from one of the Sisters of St. Joseph who knows us well. The kids are still coming in for rest, bathroom facilities and food.

Jackson, who drives for us, will probably do what he did before the earthquake to get gas. He knows exactly how much gas is needed to drive to the Dominican Republic, so he fills up there. Jackson will pick me up at the Cap-Haitien airport and take me to the center.

We will repair our water system first, then fill  the cracks that need it. Currently we are unable to do any repairs to the students' houses as we can't get to them to do estimates because of the gas shortage. Our students are scattered about the Cap-Haitien area, and at quite a distance from us.

We will also form students in work groups to help repair their houses. Others students can work in the garden, trim the trees, cut the grass etc. Joceline, and Rosenie can keep the house running while I will take turns in the office and the kitchen making sandwiches etc.

We want to establish some kind of normal routine as soon as possible to help deal with the earthquake aftermath.

How To Help Inquiries ~ Donations in Kind, Volunteer

Over the past week Starthrower has been receiving well-intentioned but misguided offers of donations in kind (blankets, tents, clothing, etc) as well as offers to help from those who want to travel to Haiti NOW to help rebuild.

And all we can tell them is thanks, but no thanks. Here's why:

First of all, we work in Cap-Haitien, in the north of Haiti, not the south, where rescue and recovery efforts are centered. For reference, Cap-Haitien is about 130 km (81 miles) north of Port-au-Prince. The road is rough in spots and typically takes 8-12 hours to drive from one city to the other.

If you have been following the updates from Haiti in the media, you will be aware that even large aid agencies and governments are unable to deliver and distribute supplies efficiently or at all, due to quake damage in Haiti.

Even CNN (and George W. Bush, in a statement to the media), asked that donors simply send money, as money is the easiest thing to ship to Haiti. This agrees with Starthrower's long held position and donations in kind. It may seem felf-serving, but it is really the most practical and cost-effective route.

Haiti already has tradespeople, and access to goods and services, What they don't have is money to pay for them.  And if a carpenter, for example, travels to Haiti to volunteer to rebuild, he takes a job from a Haitian and spends money to travel there that could have been better spent to help support a Haitian.

At the best of times, visitors to Haiti use resources better allocated to the residents, and in time of disaster, these scarce resources are even scarcer. Also, at the best of times, shipping to Haiti is a challenge. Following the earthquake, it's even more so, with damage to ports and disaster relief ongoing. Currently we do not know (no one does) when shipping and more reliable air travel will resume in Haiti.

In Charities, Smaller is Better
As well, I am pleased to hear media reports advocating donations to smaller charities and NGOs (non-government organizations) such as Starthrower Foundation because, they say, that these smaller aid groups are already on the ground in Haiti, know the culture and know what is needed and who needs it.

As well, these reports explain, most of the funds donated to smaller NGOs go directly to the intended recipients, with a tiny amount going towards administration costs.

Large fundraisers dominate major media, but it's hard to track their accountability and disbursements.

Thank You, Donors!
Thank you to everyone who has sent a donation. Once I am in Haiti, and am able to visit students' homes to assess damage, etc I will have a better idea of the money needed for dealing with the extra expenses due to the earthquake. We always need funds to support our students, and for food and tuition, and medical care. I am taking with me anti-malaria meds and Cipro, as I don't know what is available in Haiti.

Thanks to Orangeville Ontario Canada business people for supporting Starthrower Foundation:

Thank you, Sigrid at From the Kitchen to the Table for taking our need to the BIA (Orangeville Business Assn).

Thanks also to owners Janie, Sue and Deb at Mochaberry Coffee, who have set up a donation jar.

Thanks also to Dianne, owner of Acheson's, who is doing a fundraising blitz this week.

Thank you to Kathleen. owner, and staff at Henning's Salon who are also collecting donations via jar on the counter.

It means so much to have the support of my local community, and from Starthrowers around the world.

If you are unable to make a cash donation, you can still contribute to the work in Haiti by telling your friends, families and social network sites, and sending them the link to this page and to our web site.

On a personal note:
As of today I have been discharged from home care by the wonderful nurses of St. Elizabeth health care. My wound is manageable, and the restrictions placed by the surgeon will be followed to a T.

So for those who have written concerned about me travelling and living back in Haiti, know that I go with the blessing of my medical support team.

Thank you, Lesley, Jenna, Pam, Elyse, Peter and Dr. Pham.
Thanks also CCAC case workers Barb and Cheryl.
Thanks to Red Cross manager Carrie and PSWs Joanne (both of them), Elizabeth, Kim, and Nancy.

My life has been so blessed by your presence and expertise over the past 15 months.

As more updates come in, or we get other news from Haiti, I'll post it and let you know. I leave for Haiti in just over a week, but will be in touch before I go.

Blessings,

Sharon

PS Here are two links to articles about the crisis in Haiti that you may like to read:
Ted Fellows The Broader Crisis in Haiti  and the Wall Street Journal Leogan.

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Resources from Amazon
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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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Cap-Haitien Haiti News : Auguste, Lakay Okay

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 Hello Everyone,

As you know, the Mag 7.0 earthquake and  dozens of aftershocks devastated much of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

As yet, we have not heard any news from any of the students attending post secondary there.

However, Auguste emailed that the house has a few more cracks after the earthquake, but seems fine.  I will see for myself when I get there. They may be old cracks.

Digicel, our cell provider, is down. so we are able to use email only.

Starthrower, as is likely with all charities working in Haiti, has been contacted by media for information. For those of you in the Toronto area, I will be interviewed tomorrow morning -- January 14, Thursday -- on Andy Barry's morning show on CBC radio 99,1 FM at 7:13 a.m. See http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/andy_barrie.html and the video at Waiting for Word from Haiti.

Today I saw my surgeon. who is very pleased with the way I am healing. He gave me the green light to travel to Haiti, but no heavy lifting for at least another month. I will book flights tomorrow to return to Haiti as soon as possible.

Thank you to those who shared their news from Cap-Haitien:


To Debi from Salem, Oregon:

We have a team of nine people from our church, Salem Evangelical, that flew into Cap-Haitien yesterday right before the earthquake took place in Haiti.  We received word that all are okay.

To Mark in USA  :
Here is a report we received last night from Father Henry. Their MOP compound is across the street from Starthrowers in Cap-Haitien.

Blessings!
Thank you so much for your loving concern and for your prayers. Thank God, we are all safe here, residents and Brothers alike.

Except for a minor crack on one of the side walls of the Asile building, all of our buildings are also intact.

We do not know what it is like in the city, especially up in the hills where they have a lot of those weak houses. We definitely heard shouts from outside, but we only rushed over to the residencies to check on our residents.

We will go and check it out in our neighbourhood tomorrow morning. It seems Port-au-Prince has sustained quite a bit of damage. I pray there are no casualties even if there are injuries.

Thank you each and every one of you for thinking of Starthrower,  our staff and students. Thank you for asking for donations via your Facebook and Twitter contacts, and even for contacting your friends and relatives on our behalf.

We are of course very concerned about the students in Port-au-Prince. As soon as we get any information about them we will let you know.

Blessings,

Sharon
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Update January 13, 2010 7PM

Auguste writes:

Still no word from Sen Rafayel and no public transit up and down the mountain. The country is at a standstill (bloke).

The rain which has been falling for 2 weeks in Cap is adding to the misery. The kids have started coming in because houses are damaged and the rain is coming in. As soon as possible we'll put together and send out work crews to do repairs, purchase and install new toll roofs.

Sharon

Haiti Laptops, Home Visits, New Center Cap-Haitien, Nursing Students, Thanks!

Jwaye nouvel ane tout moun!
Happy New Year, Everyone!

A new year in a new decade inspires Starthrower Foundation to redouble its efforts to sponsor our young Haitian adult students in post secondary degrees and college certifications, and to address issues about our current center in Cap-Haitien. Here's how you can help us help them:


Upgrading your laptop eBook, netbook?
Consider donating your old laptop (wireless only) to our post-secondary students program. For many of our young people, classes are starting up again this week. Our nursing students wrote midterms in November and will write probationary exams in early February.

For those nursing students who are successful, there will be a ceremony at the school in May to which sponsors are invited, so Auguste has already assured the students that he or someone from Starthrower Fondasyon (their sponsor of record) will be there to take pictures and applaud for them. Those who succeed move up to wearing uniforms.

The nursing students as well as our other university students have asked us to try to find wireless laptops for them. You may recall from an earlier post that one of our student sponsors, Mme Marjorie, purchased and delivered 2 new laptops to Elorge and Marlen who are studying in the Dominican Republic. They are very grateful. Not everyone has a fairy godmother such as Marjorie!

We have 11 other students in post secondary in Haiti, and that number will grow every year. So, if you or anyone you know has upgraded a laptop or netbook for Christmas, or if you know of any schools or businesses in the process of upgrading now, please ask how they will dispose of the older models.

Donate them to Starthrower, and we will get them to the students somehow. While we cannot get computers into the country in bulk, there are always visitors coming from Canada and the USA. If every visitor brought in one laptop each, we would have a steady supply. From what I understand, the schools in Haiti have printers available for the students so all we need are wireless laptops / netbooks.

Please contact us through the website if you are able to help out.

Home Visits in Haiti
We are hoping to extend our home visit program this year to include our post secondary students. This means travelling to Port-au-Prince and Leogane as well as to Santiago, Dominican Republic. It is important for us to know that our students in schools away from Cap-Haitien have safe and comfortable (as comfortable as is possible) housing, to facilitate academic success.

Although schools with dormitories and cafeterias are more expensive, our students have a much better chance to succeed when they finally have a bed on which to sleep, a hot meal every day and safe drinking water in addition to water for showering. (Cold water, yes, but what a treat after a lifetime of no water!)

Lakay Fondasyon: Decade for Change
I have long had a dream for a home of our own in Haiti. We spend a great deal of energy and money making constant repairs to our rented lakay (house and outbuildings) in Cap-Haitien.

Housing Issues:
We have been living with these challenges since we first moved in:

• Toilets back up very easily (as visitors will attest)
• All floors need to be replaced as ants come through the tiles and deposit small mounds of sand inside
• Walls and ceilings have cracks.
• Wiring is a confusing melange
• The well water is so contaminated that we have to replace all taps every 6 months as they are consumed by rust.
• Bathroom and kitchen counters were replaced at our own expense because of severe damage and mold from leaks
• Several doors have been replaced at our own expense, and others need replacing.

Carpenters Working at Lakay Fondasyon

A Home of Our Own - A Dream?

We continue to pour money into a structure that is not ours. Perhaps this new decade is the time to dream bigger, and begin raising funds to build a home of our own in Cap-Haitien.

Imagine a Starthrower Foundation center In Haiti where our students could come for daily meals, or to use the bathroom facilities, get clean drinking water, study, get tutoring, work for the summer, play soccer, hold choir practice, receive medical/dental referrals, work in the garden or simply rest on a hammock under a tree.

Students at Starthrower Foundation in Cap-Haitien Haiti

It is not just financial support which defines Starthrower in Haiti but much more. It's the support we give them and the support they give each other. It's the sense of community.

Starthrower is outgrowing its current premises so a change of location is on the horizon. One possible alternative to building a home of our own would be to rent a small apartment for myself and also rent separate office space for the programming staff. With two smaller locations, we would lose the community centre aspect everyone enjoys. Compounds such as the one that we currently rent are scarce.

Nothing happens quickly in Haiti, so it could and probably will take years to realize this dream. Please let me know if you want to participate in making this dream a reality.

More Thanks to our Starthrowers!
Congratulations to Jackie in Canada on her retirement! Thank you so much for your support for our nursing students.

Congratulations to the students at Boulder High School Colorado who participated in a model UN debate. Not only did they inform and educate but also the UNA Boulder Chapter donated the entry fees to Starthrower Foundation to support our potable water distribution program. A special thanks to the staff who organized the event and the judges who gave of their time to adjudicate.

Thanks also to Scotiabank in Orangeville for matching funds raised by Acheson's in Orangeville, Ontario, in December. Congratulations also to the winners of the draw. You will enjoy your time at Ste. Anne's and Peonie Aesthetics (article).

Special thanks to the Solon Family for their Christmas fundraiser to benefit Starthrower Foundation. Much appreciated!

That's the news from 'Arctic' Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. The main street is full of emergency vehicles working to repair the broken water pipes in a neighboring restaurant. Just a reminder that, for all the challenges we deal with in Haiti, there are some problems we will never face!

Kenbe pa lage (hang in there!)

Sharon

Christmas in Haiti Fundraisers Thanks!

Bonjou tout moun / Hello Everyone!

To our fundraisers and Christmas box donors, to all of you who have supported Starthrower Foundation this year, and to Starthrowers true as well as new, a huge Thank You!

Sarnia, Ontario:
Congratulations and many happy returns to Mme Marjorie on her 80th birthday! Instead of gifts at the open house held in her honour, Marjorie had requested donations to the students in the nursing program.

Thanks for your thoughtfulness, Marj! (Earlier this year, Marjorie went parasailing in the Dominican Republic. I want to be just like her when I grow up!)

Orangeville Ontario:
Thanks to Cindy S. who organized the Acheson's fundraiser last week. Cindy would be the first to say that she did not do it singlehandedly. Thanks, too, to Martina, Cindy's business partner who shared the load.

Thank you, too, to everyone who helped make this fundraiser a success!

• Dianne and her staff at Acheson's: You made us feel so welcome. It was a great event!
• Harmony Market and Mochaberry coffee shop, who supplied beverages.
• Angela who designed and supplied tickets for the draw (which will take place Dec. 23rd).
• Ste. Anne's Spa for donating spa packages.
• Special thanks to Scotiabank for committing to match funds raised by Acheson's.

Pennsylvania:
Mme Cindy and her elves have been busy preparing Christmas boxes for each of our kids, and the boxes are now on their way to Haiti. As well, they've sent a donation to purchase rice, beans and oil for Christmas distribution.

Although I won't be there this Christmas to distribute them, I know from other years how much these boxes and foods are appreciated, and the joy with which they are received. To all who participated in this huge undertaking, my gratitude and that of our staff and students!

Web Comic for High School Sponsorship:
Thanks to Daniel Lafrance, Toronto, ON, for his continuing work on the web comic to raise funds to sponsor High school students in Haiti. The web comic continues to receive positive critical reviews. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to read it yet (see www.starthrowerinhaiti.com), perhaps you'll have some time over the Holidays.

The latest pages tell Auguste's story. Auguste writes that he is very pleased with how Daniel has portrayed his situation, and that the web comic is vreman bel (very beautiful).

Thanks, too, to those who have donated (often anonymously) through the CanadaHelps.org link on the webcomic!

Sponsorship Thanks:
To each of you, thank you for supporting the amazing young people we sponsor in Haiti. The Christmas break approaches and the first trimeste is coming to a close. Some students completed exams last Friday and others will finish this week. Then we will all wait for the results. In the interim, there will be Christmas boxes and the fet of Jou endepandans (celebrations for January 1 Haiti Independance Day).

As is the case with first year post secondary students everywhere, not all of Starthrower's students will 'make the cut' at Christmas. Once we have the exam results, we will know who will be going on to the next term, and who will be looking to other endeavors.

Other News:
Sad news: Charlie Brown, our fierce guard cat, died last weekend. His unrelenting 'critter control' services will be sorely missed.

I continue to recover after surgery, though a bad bout of flu kept me close to home for a week or so. Thanks to all who lent a hand during this time.

In 2010, Starthrower will likely face new challenges as well as the all-too-familiar old ones. But as in the past, so in the future: Working together, we will continue to make a difference in the lives of our young adults in Haiti!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!
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Alapwochen
Beni-w
Sharon