For Dog Lovers, Catching up

And then there were 4 - dogs that is. Imagine my surprise last Sunday upon returning from a month in Canada (via 2 extremely turbulent flights)  to find that our canine security force had doubled. Two was a handful, with TiSab (pronounced TeeSab, meaning Little Sandy) requiring special attention due to  a cerebeller lesion and Jolie jealous of the extra attention her sibling receives. Tigger and Granjil (6 months old) had joined our household in my absence as both were in situations which Auguste deemed dangerous. Granjil, named after the mountain,  is the little guy we rescued   in March. (see blog)  Although student Rosema was very attached to him, the pup was the constant recipient of kicks  etc... by those who needed an outlet for their frustrations.  He came to us with an infected  cut to his right  eye and a very large lump on his head, as well as other various cuts and lumps.

Joceline surrounded by Granjil, Tigger and Jolie

Ti Sab (Sandy) trying to keep cool and escaping the horde

Tigger is the pup who hobbled  into our yard (lakou-a) in March with a displaced hip and a broken leg. The bone was protruding through the skin and infection had set in. We were told he had been kicked  off the roof of his house. We sought the advice of the only person in Cap-Haitien with any veterinary training, who  told us Tigger would probably lose the leg. Not on my watch.  Doggie day care was open. Tigger began arriving each morning at 7 when his owner, Steevenson, went to school. After 2 months running with Jolie and our students,  he was vastly improved. But the threat to his safety continued, so now there are 4. After a very sleepless week (pups bark and cry even with their owners are on site in our security quarters) we have devised a plan. Hoping that  all the ducks are in a row, we are heading to Sen Rafayel to-morrow with 2 dogs, a truck load of dog supplies, hobbled to-gether from our meagre resources, and a dozen bags of cement. The pups will support our security team. Their bark is worse than their bite.

Senior security staff member Kesner came down on his days off and stayed to get to know the dogs and their routines. Students Rosema and Camiose will travel with us and look after the dogs en route. Next week Auguste will head back up on the weekend with Dieugrand and Rosema to paint and offer support to Sen Rafayel staff. The following week, I'm going up to stay to work in the office, hold intake interviews  and check on the dogs as well. Did I mention we also have 2 cats?

Bottom line - those who live in absolute poverty suffer - people and animals alike. There are no safety nets here - no Social Services, no SPCA. I had a similar discussion while sharing a meal with friends Brandy and Jeff  in Orangeville. They were participating in a 'Hunger Awareness' project in Dufferin/Caledon and we ate a meal entirely from the local food bank. (See Jeff's blog at www.inthehills.ca ) As we are heading up the mountain tomorrow, of course the truck broke down, but in advance - IN OUR DRIVEWAY. At least we were not on the mountainside with dogs.

                                            Granjil performs for Suzeline and Dieugrand

                                          Tigger loves water - any water - laundry, dishes...

Putting our kids to-gether with wounded animals has been an unplanned but  brilliant manoeuvre. They are healing each other. Our young people are becoming sensitized to the brutal reality of Haiti's animals. Rosema is even considering becoming a vet, a profession completely unknown to him until this year.  If he follows through, he will have to leave the country to study as there are no programs in Haiti.

In addition to dogs and cats,  both offices were running full tilt in temperatures soaring past 110 and the humidity over 90%. Dripping wet is an accurate description. It is also a dangerous time for those who have inadequate water resources. Although we distribute potable water, they can't always get here due to class schedules and/or distance.  Ednie arrived Tuesday  at closing time suffering from heat exhaustion and severe dehydration. Staff helped her in from the street. Everyone stayed past closing until she was able to travel, then put her in a taxi home about 6:15 pm.

Ednie -  arrived at 5 pm as we were closing. Heat exhastion and dehydration -barely
able to sit up. With cold compresses, she slept for an hour on the couch,  after several glasses of water.



Happy 16th Brunel !

Brunel spent his 16th birthday with us this week and picked up a birthday package courtesy of Mme. Cindy's surprise boxes. Everyone in both centres has been the recipient of a new baseball cap, also courtesy of Mme. Cindy. With July heat arriving ahead of schedule, hats, sunglasses and potable water are more important than ever.

Inea and Edwige continue to need better medical treatment. Although Inea's Thyroid surgery took place March 15, she has had throat pain ever since and is extremely fatigued. After 3 unsuccessful trips to Sakre-Ke  (Sacre-Coeur) Hospital in Milot for post op follow up, we are sending her to Doctor Jerome to-morrow. Her file (dosye) has been lost and there is no record of her as a patient except for the papers we have sent from here. They contain her dosye number but the file is gone.

Ineas -too much post-surgical pain for a smile

In an all too familiar pattern, Edwige has a follow up appointment at the hospital Monday. Her file is also lost. We have the original diagnosis -Ovarian Cyst -  as we send a request for diagnosis and test results on our letterhead for every student. Some clinics refuse.  If nothing tangible is done for her, next week we'll make arrangements to send her to the new hospital in Grande-Riviere du Nord. It is farther and more difficult to reach, but she is in constant pain.

On a brighter note, Brunie received her nursing cap at the official ceremony (Kwaf-la) . Because she changed universities, she was required to repeat the ceremony. The new school has been a positive change for her.  Although the program is demanding, she is more relaxed.

On the macro level, this Sunday is the Feast of Mothers, the Haitian Mother's Day. It is talked about in the schools, so everyone is aware. It is a difficult time for many of our young people as so many have lost moms to the scourge of poverty. Rather than hold a celebration now, we wait until the new school year and hold a remembrance service for all who have died.

I won't go on forever, it's been an insanely busy week. In addition to settling in the dogs to-morrow, we have 3-month performance reviews with 2 staff members, home visits to 2 of our young people with serious housing problems to see if we can arrange for land surveys which would allow us to rebuild their homes,  and a meeting with Danius to plan the second floor construction. A heart felt acknowledgement and thank-you to Diane and Benjamin Plett of the Jasmine Foundation for their support, encouragement and confidence in Starthrower. Thanks to them we are embarking on the final stage of the Sen Rafayel building project.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the  support which came our way from so many in the Orangeville/Palgrave/Caledon communities. The Palgrave Rotary Club was so receptive. It was  a night I will long remember. Thank you Karen for the invitation.

The Illumination Fundraiser hosted by Women of Spirit (Cindy, Sharon, Lucille, Cheryl, Kathy, Karen) was an inspired and inspiring day.  A day of yoga, meditation, pilates, zumba - you name it, we did it (me in a dress yet!)

The 'Life After 40 ' Funraiser in Toronto was a roaring success thanks to Linda and Theresa. You are a dynamic duo.  Thanks to our web admin Daniel for taking the time to attend.

As well the Girl's Club at Golf Road Jr. Public School in Scarborough held a very successful bake sale. My heroes!

Thank you Diane of Acheson's and Janice of As We Grow for your support. Both women of distinction.

Thank you Nicky and Joan of Harmony for the homeopathics.

Thank you Kyong of Natural Choice for the NutraCleanse products.

The list is endless. If I've left you out, it wasn't intentional. The universe knows who you are and that you are amazing.

For now that's all she wrote-  I have to get up at 5 for the trip to Sen Rafayel.

Pi ta
Sharon





Lakay Fondasyon, Cap-Haitien

Met. Bazile died last week.  As often happens, cause of death is unknown to us. He had a headache and crashed his car, we are told. Met. Bazile was founder, principal, teacher and discipline of Centre de Formation Classique in Cap-Haitien, one of the best secondary schools.  He also taught at other institutions in lavil la (town).  We have eight young people in that school as well as some of our grads. They struggle with the death of someone who was not old, not poor, and had excellent medical care. We have been informed that there will be no report cards distributed by the school for the second trimeste.

Auguste counsels Jean-Ricot . Suzeline listens.

The funeral, which took place Saturday at the Cathedral, was a constant topic of conversation this week. They came in groups or one at a time to voice their concerns about the future of the school and to ask for money for the kouwon (artificial wreaths).  A banner has been strung across Rue A thanking the departed for service and promising to remember. Funeral street banners are common practice for those who can afford. They remain in place as long as the elements allow. Rosema just arrived for work with reports of the funeral. The downtown core was apparently completed blocked off and the cathedral had as many outside as in. Every school in Cap was represented. Nearly all travelled to Ouanaminthe for the interment and everyone sang all day. A first for Cap - a united education community.

Rosema, Jean-Ricot, Edwige and Jolie-  asking questions no one
can answer about the future and seeking  donations
for artificial floral tributes

Centre de Formation Classique (known to everyone as Tcho-Tcho) had a reputation, thanks to its founder, as one of the best disciplined schools in the city, with high academic standards. With the sudden departure of Met Tcho-Tcho, the tone of the school has already changed. Hopefully a new director will be found in time to maintain the status quo.

Kinston came in to study out of uniform. He sings in the choir and wanted to attend the funeral but his dress shoes fell apart, so he was not allowed in. His shoes were not only chire (finished, washed up) they were mouye (soaking wet). Sen Rafayel is not alone in the misery of the rainy season. Like so many,  the tikay of Kinston's  grandmother is flooded so he and his cousin cannot sleep on the floor. After eating and a brief rest, we put him to work then sent him off to purchase new shoes.

Kinston came to rest -- Grandmother'shouse is flooded --
 they cannot sleep on the floor.



Kinston and Lusnot  fill bottles with potable water
for freezing and distribution.

In Cap, third trimeste is just getting underway - but not for everyone. For the few who attend state Lycees, there are as yet no classes. Teachers have not been paid so students fend for themselves. Paudeline left Sen Rafayel to get away from an abusive father. Although her home situation is better Okap with her aunt (matant), she spends a great deal of time here reading as her school is a frequent site for teacher's strikes. Before the Easter break they were closed for a week due to strike. The state had not paid the teachers for 6 months. Everyone loses.

Paudeline - no teachers yet

For those who have resumed classes, study is the mode of operation, whether it's one-on-one with a staff member or in a group looking for chemistry equations. Cap-Haitien has the added advantage of internet access (upon occasion).

Reto state exams are just around the corner

Auguste, Lusnot, Myriame,Camiose,Jehnsen - Chemistry on line

We have several who have been felled by major illnesses recently.  Brunel, Marik and Venise are all recovering from Typhoid, Malaria and Anemia. Camiose and Jehnsen each Malaria and H Pylori. Mexene continues to have dental problems although we have sent him to the clinic at Justinien. The good news is we are in recovery mode. John-Steevenson came down from Sen Rafayel with us to consult in the Dept. of Opthalmology at Jusinien Hospital  for an eye infection and vision problems. Yesterday we picked up his glasses and the infection is clearing. It was his first trip to Cap-Haitien so we delivered him to all appointments. Public transit is unreliable at its best.

John-Steevenson -- first trip to the big city and
new glasses to start the term

Thanks to those who have inquired about Inea. Finally a surgery date on which an operation actually took place. After lying on a gurney for a day,  in the midst of demonstrations which became quite violent then being sent home for a month,  on March 15th, she underwent a left lobectomy, not a complete Thyroidectomy. 
We're hoping this means no hormone replacement although she is suffering fatigue and bouts of dizziness which are incapacitating. I say we're hoping  as the doctor with whom I  spoke immediately after the surgery spoke only Spanish.

Inea : post-surgery before the infection

Our  spare room was again a recovery room. It has been used by many of our students over the years with a senior student in the other bed to help. It's a job as well as practice for our future medics. Brunie dropped in for a visit, ever the nurse. Inea has returned to her tikay and Mme Carmene has been cooking and cleaning for her half days. Inea has returned to the hospital 3 times with Auguste only to be told at each appointment that there is no doctor on duty and the hospital has lost her file (dosye). The next appointment is scheduled for mid-month. The infection in the incision has cleared up and she is pain free. We just have to get a handle on the dizziness and fatigue. She has travelled far since presenting herself at our gate last July. I'll keep you posted.

Inea in our post-surgery recovery room

Student nurse Brunie makes a call

A new  trimeste means we purchase, package and distribute hygiene products, rice and beans. Everything is prepared here for both centers.  Sen Rafayel has a distribution advantage in that students all are within walking distance and the lakay can accommodate about 30 students comfortably at one time. In Cap, any more than 10 or 12 and we are full, using the roof  and  the covered parking space. But here we have the luxury of  grass, trees and flowers. Both locations work, because of the care we take in setting up programs and selecting staff.  Each student is known and our first rule is: Listen!!

 

Fresnel exercises Tigger or vice versa?

Each student comes for a different reason. Some, like Fresnel, come to exercise- kick the soccer ball, dribble a basketball, play with the dogs, some come for medical/dental help. Some like Kalandy don't know what the  problem is - he's  malnourished. In cases like that, and there are many, we increase food sacks and put them on a regimen of multi-vitamins, vitamin c, Allimax.

Lusnot distributes vitamins and information to Kalandy

Weather will continue to add to the misery. Rosema just reported that his house flooded last night and they bailed water all night. There will be others in the days and weeks to come. Our citron tree was a victim of high winds last week.



Our 'sitwon' tree - a victim of high winds

And so life goes on. My return to Canada comes at a good time - we're out of just about everything I purchased on my trip to Fort Lauderdale in February. With 150 young people, vitamins, etc seem to be finished before they're unpacked. Although never enough, we have to start somewhere.

Last month's 4.6 earthquake just south of Port-au-Prince caused new damage here. I've been in touch with the owner's rep and he will come to inspect when he returns to Haiti the end of May. In the meantime uninvited ti bet yo march in through the cracks.I thought this pic was rather telling - foumi (ants) with a selective palate - they completely ignored the cat food.



Discriminating foumi - they don't like cat food.

And sometimes our visitors are a little larger than foumi. I opened my laptop last week to find this  zandolit (chameleon)- sitting on the keyboard. He was obviously looking for the POWER button. I left him to his business and he eventually scuttled off, leaving me to mine.



The power button is to the left!!

Talk to you from Canada

Beni-w

Sharon

PS Now that both blogs are finished I have to :

1) Return calls to Marjorie in Canada and Lakay Jasmine in San Rafayel

2) Prepare salaries for student staff

3) Check exchange rate for Dominican Peso/USD then

4) Prepare third term fund requests for med. student sponsors

5) Find and clean my suitcase

6)Check airline tickets and passport

7) Pack for to-morrow

8)Wash my hair

Yesterday's blog mentions my penchant for lists.

PPS Although the rain is too much or too little for the crops, our choublak  ( hibiscus ) flowers despite

Our choublak (hibiscus) in all her glory

Lakay Jasmine, Sen Rafayel

As with most mountains, Granjil is imperturbable, impervious to the lives which call it home.  We, on the other hand, are not - our lives intersect and we have developed relationships. Thursday's trip to Sen Rafayel, as per custom, was eventful.  Our trusty machine, resplendant with 2 new tires, came to a halt shortly after it began as the young man below, Franco,  had closed the road with boulders thrown down from the plateau during a recent protest which killed a policeman, wounded another, damaged several houses on the down side and sent our Auguste and Danius backtracking for cover for several hours.  Those who live between Grand Riviere du Nord and Dondon were protesting  the new road which will run from Hinche to Grande Riviere du Nord, leaving many residents out of the loop, cutting off much traffic and  public transportation. Assuring him we would pay on our return, he moved the rocks and we were allowed to pass.

Enterprise -- a toll road to continue up the mountain

Two more stops to deliver rice, beans, hygiene products and new baseball caps to our usual customers then onward and upward - so we thought.  Orphans Jimpson, Frandzy and Sony were without middle brother Wesly,  as he has been sent by guardian 'matant' (Aunt) to live with other relatives near Dondon. Matant was in prison for harboring a thief  last time we passed, leaving the boys unsupervised,  but has since been released. Every trip we make, the brothers, and further down the mountain,

Mountain dwellers - orphans Jimpson, Frandzy
and Sony. No school for them.

Lou and his family, pick fruit which we purchase. Lou's mother makes 'kasav' on occasion which she wraps in a dirty  pillow case. We launder the case and return it next visit.

Granjil resident -- 18 yr. old  Lou - supplies us with fruit and
occasionally 'kasav'. No school for Lou.

Five minutes later, another stop. This delivery machine (truck) had gone off the road. As we were unable to ascertain what had happened or who needed assitance, we continued the climb, sobered and hypervigilant  -  recent rains had added a new challenge to the already deadly road.

Skeletal remains of vehicles dot the mountainside --a sobering reminder.

Two more stops  - one to speak with a Red Cross rep. manning a Cholera treatment centre and the other to distribute frozen juice to these 3 guys (twa ti neg).

Mountainside Cholera treatment centre

Junior mountain dwellers

Slowed further by our load of cement and lumber as well as the  hundreds making their way to Sen Rafayel for market day, we finally arrived to a full house on a Thursday morning. In the village (bouk la) many of our seniors are writing exams for second trimeste, while others have resumed classes and are submitting report cards. Jasmine House has become a daily stop for homework, relaxation and an ear to listen as well as unfortunately, an emergency clinic although there is as yet no clinic on site. We've added 2 new staff members to provide coverage. Edeline was working alone when we arrived - Thursday is usually a 'slow' day.  In the 3 hours we spent on site, she had 36 students in, 4 of whom needed medical attention. 

In the chanm devwa (homework room)

In the bibliyotek (library) ALL hats courtesy of Mme Cindy, in PA

On the galri-a (gallery)

With so many needing so much, there is still never enough time - we just do the best we can. Currently we are responding to Cholera, Malaria, Typhoid, Staph and Strep as well as measles and assorted eye/ear/ dental problems. Everyone is anemic.  Auguste and I met with a student who has been sitting out since 2008. His papers were 'bon' so we'll send Ulysse back to school in September and in the meantime he has been 'admis' so has access to the centre and staff. Our home visit is scheduled for June. That interview was followed by a meeting with the Boss Mason for an estimate on construction of the second storey which we will begin end of May. Already we need the space. That meeting was followed by another meeting this time with the painter who left the work to an assistent who had obviously no experience. Not pretty. A story for another time.

In addition to some solar lights purchased in Haiti, Auguste demonstrated a compact single burner propane stove we delivered so staff can begin to purchase and boil eggs for distribution, in addition to the crackers, cheese and potable water currently on the menu.  We also took up third term packs of hygiene products, rice and beans which were nearly all distributed that day. The beauty of a centre in a village where everyone walks.

Rose Magda Alina wasn't walking however as her feet were very swollen. We drove her home and gave her funds to take a taxi moto back and forth to write exams. She was adamant that exams come before a clinic consultation.

Two other home visits were on the agenda - Clenie and Consienne. Clenie is next on our list for sponsors, and Consienne was the first of 8 students to let us know of damage to her house by recent winds and rain. So first to Clenie then to Consienne, leaving John-Steevenson sitting in the truck as we were delivering him to his Aunt in Cap-Haitien to followup with the opthalmology department and pick up the glasses we had ordered 2 weeks ago. There are another 6 on our list to come down to Cap to have eyes checked and probably glasses ordered. During a conversation about life and death, I once asked the staff how they would remember me when I am no longer here -- they said " Ah Mme - she made lists". Good one!!

I have always maintained  that home visits keep me grounded. I do not say that lightly --actually they usually bring me to my knees in humility. I am so in awe of the courage of the Haitian people, as I am privileged to witness it through the lives of our young people. Driving down the mountain from bouk la  (the village) Consienne's house was indeed a victim of the recent rains - holes large enough for an army of rats to pass through as well as water from the river which overflows it banks and moves with speed and force through the village. Mud and wattle construction, the mud was just about gone, but the interior was still wet, a breeding ground for mold, mildew and any and all bacteria and fungi in the neighborhood. Most of our young people are afraid to go to sleep at night, because the house could fall in on them.

Clenie's house is right in the village and has been marked (as Inea's was in Cap-Haitien) for destruction by the local government.  Owners are not reimbursed, making home ownership an illusion. There is no place to go. We moved her up on the list as she has multiple problems all stemming from malnutrition.

As we left the centre, Wislet, one of our senior students handed me a letter. He said he had written in English to practice. Everytime I see him he practices his English. (blog post January 15,  2012 Home Visit - Wislet M.)

We were so busy that there just was no time to stop and read a letter. His words are more eloquent than mine, so I'll let him speak for himself --

Wislet - eloquent in English

"The biggest thing that someone could do in my life ...is help me with my school. For that reason in spite of all the bad moments that I suffer from my house I didn't want to tell you anything...Last Wednesday..it was raining cats and dogs.. my house situation worsened. The house was flooded with water passing through ..holes that the rats and mice dig all over the foundation because there is no concrete base and the walls are not steady, so they can fall down at any time. When its raining cats and dogs and the house is flooded , we can't sleep on the bed, so we pass the night sitting or standing on feet....I write to you because my life and my family is in danger."




He asks for a mason, some sand and cement to:

' fix the holes and  some concrete so that our life situation can be a little bit ameliorated'.

He signs the letter  "Peace Wislet.. member of the foundation in San Rafayel" He belongs somewhere.

The rainy season is just beginning. As I write this at 5 am Saturday morning wind is howling and rain is lashing the house. Words fail me. I know what they are going through - this must be what it means to bear witness.  I am cheered by the knowledge that even real writers have times when words fail. Agatha Christie  (Dumb Witness, 1937) wrote "Nothing is more wearying than going over things you have written and trying to arrange them in proper sequence..." Oh Agatha, I`m with you.

Now that I've admitted again that I'm not a writer I'll go to my fall back - action planning. Although it is Saturday, this can't wait. So

1. Call Lakay Jasmine in Sen Rafayel and ask Kesner to count (kontwole) the number of sacks of cement we have in the depot for the second floor construction

2. Call Edeline at the office and ask her to talk with Wislet when he comes in. He`s there every day to study.

3. Call Danius in Sen Rafayel and ask if he available to work. If so, can he pay a visit to Wislet's tikay and assess damage - he can find him at the centre. Will patching with cement ameliorate the problem? --If so

4. Give him the go ahead to hire a mason for up to 3 days and order a truck load of sand. We will use the leftover. There is already gravel on site.

5. Ask Auguste to make a special trip to Sen Rafayel to check the work and document with camera

The staff is right -- I do make lists. And although Wislet is (at this writing) one of 8 with flood damage, we can start there. One at a time.


Beni-w

Sharon

A Sponsor's Impressions

On Feb. 3rd, Auguste and I picked up Sherlyne's sponsor, Yvonne, at the Carib Tours bus station in Cap-Haitien. She had come from British Columbia, Canada to meet her sponsored student and spend some time at Starthrower. By the end of her visit, she was staff -- complete with 'official t-shirt'.  Now back in Canada, these are the thoughts she shared.

.

Cap-Haitien staff: Lusnot, Yvonne, Joceline, Auguste

Starthrower Visit 2012

After meeting me off the Caribe Tours bus, Sharon and Auguste took me directly to  Lakay Fondasyon, which is fortunate because I don’t think I would ever have found it on my own. I was quickly introduced to staff and dogs, and later to a miraculous Allimax and citron cure for the upset innards I had brought with me from the Dominican Republic. Before retiring for the first night, Sharon warned me to check my sandals before putting my feet in them ... in case a monster spider/milliped/cockroach etc had got there first: however, in preparation for my arrival, staff had cleaned in every nook and cranny, and I am glad to report that I had no encounters with spiders or ti bet yo (little critters) of any sort during my stay.

We made a home visit to Sherlyne, my sponsored student, accompanied by several curious youngsters: it proved too much for the youngest on-looker, who found our pink faces quite as scary as any monster spider and let out appropriate wails of horror. 

Now what are those
two blans up to? 

With Sherlyne and her aunt, in their home

The tidy one-room home (divided for sleeping with a sheet of Silotex) that Sherlyne shares with her sister and aunt has a lean-to kitchen with charcoal recho (burner) and barrel for catching rain water: there is no latrine, no water source – no electricity. The alleyways between houses are very narrow: there would be no chance of evacuating the area in a hurry. Sherlyne is too thin and I am too fat -  in the photo we look like Jack Sprat and his Wife -  however I think we average out to a good pair and I am hoping to partner with her through post-secondary.

En route to San Rafayel, hills denuded of their mahogany trees

On Sunday, August drove us up the rocky Granjil Mountain road, in a truck loaded with cement and tiles for Lakay Jasmine, at San Rafayel. It being wash day, washing was everywhere – all along the cactus hedges, stretched out on rocks and rooftops, strung up in trees, and even on the occasional washing line. Some of the dwellings we passed were made of concrete blocks but most were of wattle, some covered in plaster, others not.  On the hills beside the road, there were a few chickens and the occasional goat searching hopefully for food. Two solitary solar-powered street lamps, erected by local magistrates, were the only lights on the way – 28 kilometers- you wouldn't want to travel that road after dark.  

One of two solar street lamps on the road to San Rafayel: there is no electricity service here 

We passed several small waterfalls - hopefully a source of clean water for the locals. 

Up on the roof at Lakay Jasmine, Sharon showed me where her second-floor bedroom will be: it will give her a view of tree-tops and mountains, and be a peaceful refuge from the bustle and noise of Cap Haitien. The centre in San Rafayel is a real boon for the local Starfish as it has several rooms suitable for meeting, study and tutoring – to say nothing of working toilets, and a supply of snacks and potable water.  Sharon even has plans for a small on-site dispensary.

Student staff at the new Lakay Jasmine, San Rafayel 

I came away with an appreciation for how much effort is involved in getting even the simplest thing done in Haiti. Sharon and Auguste are busy non-stop with scheduled activities out of which arise many complications, and dealing with crises as they occur; to say nothing of switching the electricity source once or twice a day, and pumping water up to the rooftop “chateau” before the electricity dies again. There is never a dull moment!

Thanks, Sharon for being there in Haiti: it is your tireless hands-on efforts that make it possible for the rest of us to make contributions in the knowledge that our money goes where it should. Collectively we are indeed making a difference, one life at a time.

Yvonne Parti

Sharon here. As Yvonne gave permission to use the documents she sent, I have culled a section from  a second report on her visit ot the orphanage Maison d'Espoir in Gressier ( in the South ) pertinent to Starthrower and our work. Yvonne wrote:

Haiti’s poor have no purchasing power, and yet many of life’s necessities cost as much, or more, there as they do in Canada. Haiti’s minimum daily wage is $3 – not enough to feed two people, and then there are rent, clothing, hygiene products, medicine, transportation and children’s schooling to be paid for. 

In Cap Haitien, Starthrower Foundation pays high school, and when it can find sponsors, post-secondary, education for very poor youth. These young people, who do not have the “luxury” of orphanage care, generally can afford to eat just twice a week: as a consequence they are quite malnourished. Their housing conditions may involve sleeping on a bare concrete floor and/or having no safe water supply, and/or no kitchen and/or no latrine, and certainly no electricity. As you can imagine, these students have no reserves of health to tide them over when they get ill, as they often do. In many ways these youngsters are worse off than youth at the Maison d’Espoir orphanage, but they are more self-reliant., having life skills that the orphanage kids have no opportunity to develop. The foundation does its best to improve the students’ health so they can succeed at school – giving out sleeping mats, mosquito nets, clean water and nutritional supplements where the need is greatest. It also provides senior students with much-needed part-time employment - as tutors, night security, and person-Fridays. The two modest buildings in Cap Haitien and San Rafayel offer students a quiet refuge for studying, reading newspapers, and receiving counselling, first aid, snacks and potable water. 

I can quite see how the earthquake caused so many deaths. Not only does lack of money lead to cutting corners in construction, but throughout the cities, single storey dwellings have become two and three storeys high, without due respect to the original building’s capacity to hold the extra weight – a little shaking and of course the whole structure collapses. While those few with money are no doubt rebuilding to higher standards than before, the reality is that the poor (most of the population) can hardly afford to rebuild at all so they will continue to cut corners and risk calamity. 

Thank-you, Yvonne, for your time, energy, support and courage. Thanks to all sponsors who enrich the lives of our young people with your support and encouragement.

Beni-w

Sharon