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

Quake Damage, Haiti High School Sponsor, Port-au-Prince Students, Malaria News

An eventful few weeks in Cap-Haitien, Haiti!

First, the good news:  Edwinna has a sponsor to see her through high school. Thank you, Tracey and family in Canada, and welcome to the Starthrower community!

Quake repairs Update Students Homes

Photo: Repairing Roof at Lakay Fondasyon - Cap-Haitien, Haiti Center

We're still making repairs to our place and to our own students' housing.

Those repairs are almost finished, for though the damage was extensive, their homes are much smaller and have toll and wood roofs, not cement.

However, we have just heard from the Bos Mason, M. Franck, (father of Frandzy, husband of Mme. Carmene) that the structure of our center in Cap-Haitien has been compromised by each successive after shock, so now our energies are being diverted from the ti kay repairs and focussed on home.

I asked M. Franck if he required another Mason to split the work, so after M. Brutus (owner`s rep) has been. we will need to hire more students to assist as well.

And, as the mason was breaking down the cracks on the outside wall, I just happened to be in the bathroom; the crack went clear through to the inside and cracked the ceramic wall tiles in the shower enclosure. Also, the cracks on the outside of the master bedroom (where Mme Marjorie slept last weekend) went through to the inside as well, destroying the repairs we had made to that room.

Same in the  kitchen, so we will have to tear down the ceramic tiles Jack installed behind the stove and refinish after repairs. This could easily take a year and it's someone else's house. So much work for someone else.

We are schedued to close Friday (Vendredisen, Good Friday), however that may change due to the urgent nature of the repairs. The work will be done with the mason standing on a ladder being held in place be 2 students, and using a hammer and nail to break up the house a section at a time. We are going to purchase the supplies to build a chafo-a (scaffold) of bamboo and planks. Unfortunately there is no rental service here.

Vehicle Purchase Update
What we thought was good news about buying a vehicle turned out not to be. We'd put in an offer for a truck, but the owner decided to hold out for more money, so did not accept it. Something will come along. I am certain if we do not use what is left of Mme Ann's donation, another emergency will come along and the entire gift will have disappeared with no vehicle to show for it.

Port-au-Prince Students, Food Distribution, Visitors

Photo: Rosenie and Nadege and Sister Rosemary at Lakay Fondasyon in Cap-Haitien

The March 13, 14 weekend was very busy with visitors and events.

Rosenie and Nadege, who had travelled to France with Sewoz (Sister Rosemary), are embarking on a project together with Erin, a university staff member in the U.S. who also attended the France conference.

They are working to help displaced  secondary and university students from Port-au-Prince (Potoprens-la).

On Saturday, we purchased supplies for distribution; On Sunday morning, we prepared sacks of food, then cleaned and set up the gallery to receive 8 of the 12 young Port-au-Prince students invited. Their stories of January 12 (quake day) were difficult to listen to. How they stay sane is  perhaps a tribute to the resilience of youth.

We have people from Port-au-Prince knocking on our portay (gate) every day asking for support. All we can do is direct them to the gymnasium for registration. This student response is something manageable. We have added all of them to our food distribution and potable water programs as well providing clothing and shoes. Doesn't heal the spirit but perhaps makes the challenges more palatable.

Mme Marjorie was here for the weekend and left on Monday. Sister Rosemary left Wednesday. The combination of rain, rain and sun is helping our garden. We had electricity most of the weekend for Mme Marjorie's visit. Yes, it went off about a dozen times BUT it came back, then left about the same time she did for the airport.

Sad News
The week ended on a sad note. Weby-Schneider's dad, M. Fan-fan, died. He was a lovely, gracious human being who suffered terribly with uncontrollable diabetes.  It is but one of the scourges of this country. When we visited his home in September, 2008 (shortly before my emergency surgery), he welcomed us, and sat and talked although obviously in a great deal of pain from multiple surgeries resulting from the diabetes.

Malaria, Illness Update and Sen Rafayel News

 Photo: Students Contracting Malaria in Cap-Haitien, Sen Rafayel Haiti

Claudy came down from Sen-Rafayel Tuesday. The route was almost impassable due to mud and rocks from recent rains.

The machine broke down twice and he finally walked the last half arriving here at 4 p.m.

He set out for Cap-Haitien at 6 a.m. A 10-hour trip to cover 28 km.

He was shaking from fatigue and fever (malaria). We fed him, and I suggested he stay here at the center, then go to the clinic in the morning.

He has an aunt living in Petit-Anse. This would allow time for Auguste (director of education) to get to the bank to pick up funds for Sen Rafayel school fees and to restart the food distribution program there.

Student Heads For Home with Sleeping Mat, Mosquito Net

We sent Claudy off with new clothes, shoes and a sack of food for his tant.  He did stay over, and the clinic the next day confirmed malaria.

Modeline was our 4th malaria case and Claudy our 5th.

It is such a devastating illness and these young people keep going not in spite of but in tandem with the pain and fever.

Our sick numbers are growing: Lusnot has a boul (growth, abscess) on his neck. We are treating it with topical and oral antibiotics, as prescribed.

The hospital, however, says antibiotics won't help, as the abscess is on a vein. Othanes is also very ill with similar symptoms to Edwinna and Sister Rosemary. Nothing specific showing up in blood work. No surprise.

I also sent Auguste to the clinic for tests as he had Typhoid symptoms. The clinic confirmed he has malaria (our 6th case), typhoid and UTI,  so he will be lost to us for at least a few days.

Student Nurse Tests Staff, Students Blood Pressure

 Photo: Student Nurse Gaby Checks Carmene's Blood Pressure

Gaby came in from Leogane yesterday to update us on the work at the field hospital and tell us the potential start date for Leogane nursing school.

At my request, he held a blood pressure clinic for staff, looking every inch the seasoned professional.

He has been allowed to observe surgeries and his eyes just sparkle as he describes procedures.

I know he would make a great nurse, but I believe nursing will lose him to surgery.

Cat and Dog
On the up side, Ti Sab, our smallest dog, with cerebral palsy (maladi latranblad, according to our resident nurse, Sewoz) has recovered from pneumonia, thanks to Allimax, but now, we are out of it.

Lucy, our wonderful mother cat is plen (with kitten) although the 'vet' told us he had neutered her. Oops. Good thing we really like kittens! Thanks to Mme Cindy in Pennsylvania, we will be able to feed them.

Good Wishes, Return to Canada
Happy (March) Birthday to Sister Rosemary, Wisly and Othanes (15th), Auguste (7th),  Edeline (5th), Vincent (22nd), Berline  (27th) .

I have changed my return flight to Canada from March 31 to May 8. Initially the change was made as the school system is in disarray. We have yet to hear from the Minister of Education. Several schools opened 2 weeks ago and are charging full fees for the Jan-Easter trimest although schools have been closed since January 12. I will pay half as I know they have commitments but I draw the line at paying the teachers which will deprive our young people.

Pase yon bon semen sa-a (have a great week)
Joyeuse Pak (Happy Easter, for those who celebrate it)

Sharon
PS
Last Friday, a tanker coming in to Cap-Haitien harbor hit the dock. The resulting shudder resonated throughout the district. The students in a nearby school thought it was a tsunami and despite the teachers' urgings to remain calm, many jumped over the second story balcony and broke legs, feet and arms. Hopefully the level of orthopedic care here has improved dramatically. This shows the level of fear and how pervasive it is.

Joceline came in this morning with a story of two toddlers who yesterday fell into the latrine behind the church she attends on Sundays. Both died.

This poor country! One cannot help but ache for it.

Malaria, Vehicles, Mosquito Nets, Beds, Nursing : News From Cap-Haitien Haiti

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Bonjou tout moun

Another busy week in Cap-Haitien Haiti: Malaria returns, Inspecting a vehicle with view to purchase, mosquito nets and beds, and outfitting student nurse for return to Leogane to work in field hospital. And through it all, intermittent hydro and rain,rain and more rain.
(Click on an image to enlarge, then click Back to return to this post)

Malaria drugs, Cloroquine Resistance
Our second (Alex) and third (Wilta) cases of malaria were recently confirmed, and we have our third case of cloroquine resistance: Rosema.

Gaby and DIeunet are also cloroquine resistant. Tuesday we sent Edwina for Malaria testing. We had to postpone her home visit, as when we arrived, we found she was very ill.

We left her some meds for fever, pain and nausea, and asked her to promise that she would send us a message (bay komisyon) with Rosenie the next morning to let us know if she needed anything.  We should have her clinic results today (Thursday).

Good thing I purchased Mefloquin and Malarone in Canada before travelling. These antimalarials  are so needed. Cloroquine is always prescribed first, as travel clinics refuse to believe there is Cloroquine resistance in Haiti.

For Rosema, we followed up with Mefloquine. We had enough for one patient only. If more cloroquine resistant cases occur, we can use the prescription for Malerone, the newest anti malarial.

Mosquito nets, Beds

The need for beds (kabann yo) and mosquito nets (mustike yo) is ongoing. We purchase mosquito nets from a marchand at our corner, and also in the market.

As beds are expensive and difficult to find, we are trying a large piece of foam suitable for use as a mattress.

We purchased one to cover the sofa frame where the kids sit on the gallery. It is about the size of a double bed, 5 inches thick and seems quite durable, so we've purchased 3.

Sherlyne (who received hers last Saturday) says it works well so we distributed the other 2 this week. Finding a taxi that can accommodate the awkward size mattress was the big challenge.

We have always been short of beds for our students, and have only been able to provide perhaps a dozen for our 100+ kids. Malaria is worse in Winter (rainy season), so there's a more urgent need to get kids off the ground and surrounded by an effective mosquito net, rather that than see them suffer with Malaria. From experience, Malaria is hell. So is sleeping on bare cement or wet earth.

Buy a Vehicle in Haiti: Mechanic Inspection

There are many used vehicles for sale in Cap-Haitien, so it's necessary to have a good mechanic inspect it before buying.

We are looking at a 2004 Mitsubishi diesel truck, with double cab, in excellent condition, according to our mechanic's inspection and to Jud who knows every vehicle in Cap.

Our mechanic recommended that the seller drop the price by several thousand dollars, which he did. The lower price is still more than we can afford but at least now we know good used vehicles exist.

For background on buying vehicles in Haiti, see previous blog entries:
http://starthrower-foundation.blogspot.com/2008/03/good-used-vehicles-housing-needed-in.html

http://starthrower-foundation.blogspot.com/2008/02/valentines-day-in-haiti-cookies-roof.html

Jack, Auguste and Dieugrand have driver licences. Rosenie is starting driver training this week, and I will renew my international drivers permit when next in Canada.

Student Nurse Update : Gaby in Leogane

Gaby, who has been dealing with post trauma shock, went back down to Leogane after  a very long talk with me on Monday March 1st.

When he phoned to let us know he had arrived, he sounded much happier than he had prior to going. He had wanted to change nursing schools and stay in Cap-Haitien to study; He did not want to go to Leogane again but bravely decided he needed to talk to the Doyenne, Mme Alcindor, before making final decision.

When he came back from this trip (the trip back to Cap-Haitien was very difficult as regular bus routes are still not running), he told me that, after an inspiring talk with the Doyenne, he decided  that his place was there working with other students and an international team of doctors and nurses in the field hospital that used to be his school. 

L'hopital St. Croix, the hospital in Leogane, was destroyed in the earthquake. What was once his dorm is now being used as the operating room; The next dorm is now the Maternity ward and one more room is used for recovery and urgent care.

Gaby had lost everything in the earthquake, and after combing the Cap-Haitien market for scrubs and other items, Rosenie, Sherlyne and I helped him find shoes, jeans and Tshirts from the Christmas boxes that we picked up Wednesday.

What a lifesaver, as the only clothes he had were on his back and everything, including his shoes, was soaking wet.


The need for medical help in Haiti is still great and Gaby is very happy to be able to go back and work. Students and medical staff  are sleeping in tents behind the school. Everyone receives one meal a day at noon. There appears to be enough meds etc. He phoned to tell me he's safe and is working nights, sleeping days.

I'm relieved after the phone call and grateful for cell phone presence in a country with little in the way of reliable communication.

Recap of Students Starthrower Supports
This school year we have 100 students in secondary school. Half of them are in school in the mountain village of Sen Rafayel and the other half are in Cap-Haitien.

In addition we have half a dozen who are apprenticing in trades (carpenters, mechanics, masons) and another 13 in post secondary settings:

• 4 in nursing school in Leogane, west of Port-au-Prince.
• 2 in pre med in the Dominican Republic
• 2 in 3rd year agriculture at the Univerity of Limbe
• 1 in 2nd yr medical technology in Madelene       
• 1 in 2nd year kindergarten teacher training in Cap-Haitien
• 2 in first year teacher training in Madelene in Cap-Haitien
• 1 in first year electrical engineering, in Port-au-Prince

One of our university students studying medical technology was killed in Port-au-Prince; 2 others were injured and I have left them off the list as do not know if injuries will keep them out of school.

In addition, there are several students on a waiting list for post secondary support but we just don't have the funds. We never know from one semester to the next if we will have enough funding for those already in school to continue as school fees are fluid in nature.

The number of Starthrower students in post secondary is remarkable, and we are very proud of their hard work and accomplishments.  For those who are new Starthrowers, see the Haiti national exams post.

Pi ta
Sharon
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Water, Propane, Food, Medical, Dental, Supplies ~ This Week in Haiti

The News this week from Starthrower in Haiti: Water, Propane, Food Distribution, Medical, Dental, Supplies

Propane Supply Found
We've been without ice for almost 2 weeks. Vegetarian lifestyle is the most reasonable option. And we ran out of propane last Sunday.

Staff had been scouring the city to find a refill tank. More important than cooking, we need it to boil the well water.

Jacques arrived from town on Wednesday with a full tank of propane. It took stops at 7 shops to find it, but we have it! The first shop was closed, and the next 6 had no stock.

They returned to the first shop to find it open and in possession of only 5 full tanks and about 30 empty ones, and that's it for Cap-Haitien.

Current price of a propane tank refill is $600 Haitian or 3000 HTG = $78.54 US. For a full tank (not just a refill - I would say 'new tank' but the word 'new' would be misleading) the price is $1500 Haitian or 7500 HTG = $196.34 US.

We did manage to secure potable water for this week's distribution. Hurray ! And we finally got enough sun over a few days for solar power.

Rice and beans arriving, Water
Rosenie and I prepared food sacks on Sunday and we distributed them all week.

This is in addition to the simple meal we provide each of the kids when they drop in.

They bring their gallon jugs for potable refills at the same time. Monday was crazy busy as expected as we resumed  food distribution.

Sherlyne wrote a note asking if we could lend her money to buy food as she goes many days without eating. This is the norm.

Instead of a loan I offered her a job on weekends helping Rosenie purchase and package food, oil etc. It frees me up and allows them to continue working whenever schools finally reopen.

On Tuesday morning, Erzilia also wrote a note (in French -- talk about keeping up with studies!) and then came in asking for work, so she will cover the office with Auguste on Thursdays and Fridays for a few weeks.

Student Health - Medical, Dental
Jean-Ricot and Christamene went to Milot Tuesday for extensive dental work.
They'd gotten up at 4 a.m. to travel to Milot at 5 a.m. They were fortunate enough to each get a consult, as only 10 consults are done per day.

Adlyn arrived on Tuesday, after having had a circumcision (needed due to recurrring infections from bathing with dirty water) to bring us his prescription forms.

Rosema also arrived Tuesday, having come from the clinic. He'd been back and forth 3 times, walking each way, each time, and he is so sick. I diagnosed malaria but waited for the experts to agree. I don't want to give him something he doesn't need. Unfortunately my diagnostic skills are quite accurate. At least we can treat it.

We continue to have success with the natural product Allimax that has an antibiotic effect. I Am NOT a paid spokesperson; I just have had success personally using it and now here with the kids: The stubborn wound on Jack's arm closed in 3 days, and he did not need an xray as the pain disappeared, and the arthritis he has in his joints is now gone for the first time in years.

Rosenie's chest infection cleared up and our pup is still alive and showing signs of improvement (when I can slip the capsule into her food).

Many of our young people suffer from arthritic complaints from sleeping on the ground or on concrete. Even with funds for beds and mosquito nets (though the students would be more comfortable), they would still have joint pain.

I always feel so badly sending kids for day surgery, dental surgery, etc on public transit over horrendous road surfaces, knowing the discomfort and often pain they experience. Someday we will have a vehicle. But for now we do what we can with what we have.

Shopping for Shoes

Everyone is in need of shoes, as well. We provide a new pair in September and January.

Although school is still on hiatus, shoe leather wears out at the same rate here.

Roads are non-existent for the most part, or else a series of various sized potholes joined together in an intricate pattern.

As it is the rainy season, the constant mud also takes its toll. Everyone needs black dress shoes but everyone needs different sizes and feet, like teeth, continue to grow despite a life of abject poverty.

Since schools are still closed, they actually have the luxury of taking their time going through the marketplace looking for shoes.

Aftershocks Aftermath
Aftershocks continue, and you get to the point where you don't want to say anything because maybe you're the only one who felt it. Wisly and Alland came down from Sen Rafayel to talk. Together, they speak not a word about the earthquake trauma. Separate them, and stream of consciousness pours out.

Intellectually, they understand that the trauma of their experience at the nursing school in Leogane will fade, although it will always be a part of them. Emotionally, they are still very much in the middle of it. What each talks of independently is the courage of the Doyenne, Mme Alcindor. She is their hero, holding them together and turning them into clinicians.

Thank you For Supplies
Thanks to Mme Cindy and elves in Penn!

Jacques (staff) discovered that the baseball cap (kepi) he received in his bwat nwel (Christmas Box) has a miniature flashlight embedded in it.

As there is still little and intermittent electricity, he's very grateful from a security standpoint, and it's hands free!

What a boon! This country could use about 5,000,000 of these!

Mme Cindy also sent chocolate chip cookie mix, so the kids will have a treat. There is no margarine in sticks available in any of the markets, so we're trying a pouch margarine from Indonesia which came to us via the Dominican Republic.

Our biggest challenge when cooking is a having to use a 6-year-old propane stove which has no temperature settings, only a series of dash lines between min & max. We frequently overcook food and oft times undercook, making everything oven cooked an adventure.

Thank You to Nadia and Daniel from Toronto, for turning a holiday into an opportunity to send supplies to us. They had come to Orangeville in January to help pack a bag of donations stored in my apartment, and  packed a few more bags with their own. They were travelling to Provo, Turks and Caicos, so they took all the bags with them to Provo, then sent them to us via Air Turks and Caicos. Thanks again!

Haiti, Canada, Chile
It's been a month since I returned to Haiti. The comparative luxury (electricity, flush toilet, blankets and bed) of my modest one bedroom apartment above a store on main street in Orangeville, is difficult to picture.

I had forgotten the smell of burning tires, the ferocity of storms during the rainy season. On Thursday, the winds started mid afternoon and howled all night long. Many toll roofs have been blown away.

I'd almost forgotten how incredibly difficult life is here in Haiti, and the immense courage of the Haitians.

Pi ta
Sharon

PS Tale of Two Quakes: Saturday's Mag 8.8 earthquake in Chile invited media comparisons' with Haiti's Mag 7 quake on January 12. See Associated Press story in the Sunday Toronto Star.

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Cap-Haitien Schools Collapse, Earthquake, Update Medical Dental, Water, and More Christmas Boxes Arrive

News from Cap-Haitien and Sen Rafayel Haiti

Bonjou tout moun!  Hello Everyone!

This week began innocently enough. I was allowed to turn the water back on Sunday night at 6 p.m., the plumbing operations, performed Saturday were sufficiently dry and I was exhausted so bed at 6:30.

When one is up with the roosters at 4 a.m., fatigue sets in early. Besides we had endured a weekend of torrential rains and that lulls me.

Another Quake Felt in Cap-Haitien

At 7:49 p.m. (according to my cell phone), an aftershock tossed my bed from side to side. It certainly took my attention off the book I was reading.

The options were to stay in bed and wait for another shock, or join the rest leaving their houses and heading for the street in the pouring rain. I chose option A.

Monday morning rain continued unabated.  I rose and opened the house, fed the animals, fed night security, boiled water for dishes (we cook with propane, so must go outside in the rain). Auguste was back from his week off, and his shoulders had descended from his ears and were sitting in the appropriate place. As well he was smiling despite the rain.

Tuesday was the first of three days March for the Official Mourning Period. It began at 6 a.m. and wove through town from the airport, closing businesses, hospitals and clinics, and stoppin traffic until 6 p.m., so all staff walked to and from our center.
 
Jack, Dieugrand, Christamene, Jean Ricot arrived and decided to work inside as the rain was so heavy. Jack had repaired the quake damage in one room and it needed to be painted. Perfect indoor work. Outdoor repairs are impossible with all the rain.

Joceline arrived and began to clean bathrooms, Carmene arrived from the market an hour later. Thank goodness she took a cab. Students were arriving, Claudy was on the phone from Sen Rafayel, but I had to go to town to the bank to pick up the Moneygram sent from PA to help Carmene manage her houseful.

Jackson (cab) arrived within 20 minutes and off we went. When the rains come, huge amounts of water are dumped. Although he parked on the sidewalk in front of Fonkoze (bank), the water still came up over my shoes.

Inside I knew what a sardine must experience wedged in a tin. The place was full of folks waiting for Moneygrams. The guard said I would probably get processed about 3 p.m.

This was 10:30. There were 8 chairs, and more than 40 people. I would have stayed except for the fact that one must surrender either passport or Haitian identity card.

I'm uneasy when my passport is somewhere I can't see and dozens are milling around in front of me. So I secured my passport and asked for the daily rate of exchange. Armed with that information we went looking for ice for the house. None to be found and the road was so bad we past several taxis which had lost tires in the potholes.

Home at last and Martha is waiting, so sick from not eating or sleeping. But she can't eat/sleep because she keeps feeling the  ground move. So after she drank a little tea, ate a little bread and cream cheese and half a gravol tablet, she began to settle.

Schools Cap-Haitien Collapse
Jackson had just arrived in town spurred on by a call from his brother: Le Petit Ecole, a private primary school in Carrenage (downtown Cap-Haitien) had collapsed and he was going to help. We learned that 4 Grade 4 students were killed, up to 8 more students plus a teacher were seriously injured.

We later learned that one of the little boys who died was the only son of M. Brutus, our rental agent. I have spoken to that boy so many times on the phone from the time he was learning to talk.  Our condolences to the family.

Also killed was the only son of Dr. Toussaint, a local pediatrician. Mudslide and huge boulders had crashed down the mountain, landing on the roof of the school.

This is a yearly occurrence during the rainy season. In the last 2 days, 3 more schools in Cap-Haitien have had walls. etc. collapse.

These were all private schools for the wealthy: Kay Frere (primary and secondary), College Regina (not sure about levels offered) and College Notre Dame (primary and secondary).

Thankfully no one was injured, as these schools had closed after the disaster at Le Petit Ecole.

Lakay Fondasyon Damage, Injuries
Wednesday night the rain continued unabated and what was left of our damaged covered parking / study space came down. Jack had arrived early to help me as I had had no security overnight, and after filling water pails for me to boil, he poured a cup of coffee.

He never got to drink it, though, as a very large mouse poked its head out from between the tins of dry goods. Into action we went, dispatching the mouse and deciding to rearrange to pantry area completely. The mouse had been very industrious and it needed a good cleaning.

Jack, who had been injured when working on repairing the covered study area, is going for an x-ray on his knee. Though the wounds on his forehead and leg from the wood falling on him have healed, the one on his arm is still quite nasty. I am changing the dressing every 2 days,. He also has pain in the knee area where he was frappe.

Carmene phoned during to say that she had a very high fever and could not work. I couldn't urge her to get tested for Malaria as hospital (and many business) were still closed for National Mourning.

Auguste has started to talk about his fears for the country and trying to deal with kids who have the same fears but he feels he mustn't show his.
 
Sen Rafayel Medical Dental, Guilene, Gaby
The students in Sen Rafayel have phoned us, but not come down into Cap-Haitien because of rain, mud, rocks blocking route. But Friday, Claudy made it down from Sen Rafayel with requests for money from hospitals, dentists, clinics.

For example, the dentist in Pignon charged $270 Haitian for a visit: $50 Haitian ($7 US) for registration, $70 Haitian ($10 US) for a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss, and $150 Haitian ($20 US) for the actual dental work (composite).

I never begrudge payment for dental work, but the charge for dental hygiene products which in Canada would be a gift from the dentist gets my Irish up. Besides we provide these supplies to the students at the beginning of every trimest (except for the floss, as we can't get it). So we learned today that we specify we pay for treatment only.

Christamene and Jean Ricot both have dental problems so we are sending them to the dental clinic at Sacre Coeur Hospital in Milot although we know they are overrun with victims of the earthquake.

We sent Guilene to the hospital in Pignon as she is having pain in her shoulders and back. Small wonder after being trapped under the rubble in Port-au-Prince for 6 days.  We sent her to Lopital Bienfaisance in Pignon; she needs 2 x-rays for a total of $700 Haitian ($93 US), payable up front.

Since she couldn't pay, they sent her back down the mountain by camionet over terrible roads with who knows what pain (and she is blind) to get the money before they would take the x rays.

Truth or Rumour? Study Abroad Program
Gaby (student nurse) sent a letter from Sen Rafayel via Claudy today. He has again heard on Haitian radio (each station has a different version) that other countries are offering to help those students who were post secondary in the Port-au-Prince area  continue their studies abroad.

I have heard nothing about this. If anyone has any info, please let me know.

Gaby also said in his letter that after 2 weeks in Sen-Rafayel, "I think I can take back me."  How profoundly moving and descriptive. Bear in mind, English is about his 4th language.

Schools Opening After Easter?
A local magistrate said on the radio that schools should remain closed at least until Easter (April 5-6), which would mean a one-semester year rather than trimest. At this time, I don't know if our payment would be honoured.

Rosenie
At the beginning of every trimeste, we distribute toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar soap, facecloths etc. and the girls drop in whenever they need pads. Part of Rosenie's job is to purchase and prepare hygiene products for distribution. She purchased everything on  February 7.

She was off on Friday when Claudy had come down from Sen Rafayel and when we had sent everything that she had purchased back with him (prices are higher in the Sen Rafayel market).

Imagine her surprise when she arrived for work and found she had nothing to work with. At least she knew where to go to find supplies and I knew exactly what things would cost.  So she is preparing hygiene packages for distribution and tomorrow, we package rice, beans and oil to distribute. See food program details here.

Water and Christmas Boxes Arrive
Today (Saturday), Jack called to say the store owner with whom he left our deposit bottles just called him to let us know the potable water had finally arrived, so he is coming to pick up and deliver.

Mme A. just phoned to say that she has 4 boxes for us, the rest of the Christmas boxes from PA. So BIG thank you to Mme Cindy and her elves. Now we hunt down Jackson, our driver, to pick them up.

Donations and Fundraisers
Sunday (tomorrow), we will to go to the airport to pick up the bags that Daniel in Toronto is sending by air from Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.         

Thank you all for continuing to support Starthrower Foundation, the students and their families in Haiti, by donating funds,  by donating and offering goods and services from dental and carpenter supplies to trauma counselling and paramedic skills, by holding fundraiser events and in schools.

Kenbe pa lage

Sharon

PS February Birthdays Starthrower: Evaldine (Feb.10), MarieModeline, Shounoune and staff member Jacques (Feb. 5), Julhomme (Feb 20), Nauseline (Feb 22), Kinston (Feb 24).

Ti Sab (dog, member of security team) still not well but able to stand up albeit very wobbly, still falls down a lot, moves laterally, has developed a large lump on lt. haunch (picture this post).
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