Changes

Everything changes. I'm told life would get boring if everything stayed the same but there are times when it would be comforting to just be.... for more than the present moment.

Both drop in centers are busy, busy. Exam time is rolling around and in addition to our juniors, we have 30 candidates for Philo/Secondaire 4  the final year of high school. Here are our 13 candidates in Cap-Haitien.

Yfrenel, Brunel, Norceline, Raymondson, Wisly
Namene, Withnise.

Celine, Melane

Stephan, Claunise

Fatia

Emania

Sen Rafayel has 17 candidates writing State Nationls. We had a picture call for Thursday but due to  an emergency trip down the mountain ---- Sen Rafayel grads on Monday.

Although our visit to Sen Rafayel was truncated this week, it was still crazy busy. Outside work was progressing on the security wall around our recently purchased property.

Project manager (and Foundation high school/
university grad) Da oversees work.

                                                   Many jobs created by our building projects.

                                       

                                                  

Next door at Lakay Jasmine, staff organize applicants who have arrived for intake meetings and look after drop in students as well. We added an extra staff member to make certain everyone was looked after. Auguste and I interviewed each applicant, checking birth certificates and last report card received. In the kitchen and on the 'galri', staff boiled eggs, made sandwiches  and served students.

Auguste checks a birth certificate. Photo copies
are accepted as many originals have perished.

Only actual report cards are accepted --several
came with photo copies. They had to return to the
school of record.

Most of the young people who apply for support are tired, hungry, apprehensive even  frightened. So coaxing a smile for individual photos is a challenge. Again we depend on center staff. Sometimes they end up cracking each other up and a very needed and appreciated relaxing of tensions fills the center. Like many things, laughter is contagious.

  

Staff members Angeline, Elanie and Edeline relax applicants and each other with a laugh. Occasionally the applicants relax enough to enjoy the moment.

New admission --relaxing

After 45 consecutive interviews, a rhythm is established and I relax. But not for long. Our security coordinator Dieugrand was working night shift at Lakay Fondasyon in Cap-Haitien. He sent me a text about 9 pm indicating his concern for our 10 year old cat Lucy Two. I had also been concerned and saw her wasting away during the past 3 weeks til she was just skin and bones. Lack of veterinary support is frustrating to say the least. After many texts back and forth and no sleep, I rose with the roosters about 4:30 and waited for the rest of the staff to get up. We packed the truck, left a note for staff to reschedule remaining interviews and headed out. Construction staff had not yet arrived -- they work from 7 to 4. It was an opportunity to take in the progress. Yesterday they were laying the chainage to strengthen the walls. The masons would then be back to work.

Two weeks of nightly heavy rains have not only played havoc with student living quarters and our building project, they occasionally bring the mountain to a standstill. Of course when one is in a hurry, it seems interminable.

Finally past the bog, we made it to Cap-Haitien before 8 am. Lucy was very weak. For 10 years she has been there. When she became used to the new center, she took it upon herself to guard the first floor during the night then about 4:30 am she would make her way upstairs, stretch out on the floor beside my bed, and chatter until I regained consciousness and poked my head out from the mosquito net. She would then patiently wait while I dressed and walk down stairs beside me, mission accomplished, food on the way. She died shortly after 10 am and we buried her under the big mango where Tisab is buried.

 

 

Pictures are Lucy from  2006 to April 25/16)

Thank you Lucy -- for 10 years of friendship, support and joy. You are missed.

Sharon

Catching up -- a thank you

My mother always said that good things come in small packages. This week it was a piece of paper torn out of a notebook with a note from a student we took on last year. We receive many handwritten notes - usually asking for something we are unable to provide -- safe housing, a new roof, a weekly stipend for food, a bed, a mosquito net, screen, windows, solar lamps...

No one asks for things that would be considered luxurious or outrageous. While the requests are reasonable they are not within our budget and I am at times overwhelmed with sadness. Knowing the situation of this family of 4 teenagers looking after a 9 yr. old orphaned cousin, and the havoc recent heavy rains have brought, I expected a list. This is what she wrote:

Good day Mme. I feel that today is a great day for me because I am saying thank you to you.

The reason that today is a great day for me is because today the (school) director sent away ( retounen) students who had not paid their fees for the rest of the year.

I remember when I didn't have a contract with the Foundation. I was in the same situation as all those (who had to leave school).

I tell you thank you, thank you so much because you are helping me with education which I think is the biggest gift one can give me in my life.

These young people know that it is not my money that keeps things going. So this letter is for everyone of you who allow me to distribute your funds. Thankyou.

As the school year begins its end-of year activities, schools will not allow students who haven't paid in full to write exams/receive a report card.  We too are finishing this year's business. Although home visits were finished in January, many have moved and three were ill so we are still 'visiting'.  When we arrived at Nerlie's 'hill' I had to laugh -- I also asked our visitor Kathy to make the visit with Auguste. Crutches were not designed for mountains. In addition to the climb, Nerlie has a 2 to 3 hour walk into the village to get to school.

No way...lol

These young ladies thought it was very funny that I couldn't
climb with '4 feet'. They wanted to try the crutches (bekin)
but were apprehensive.

Up on the  'ti mon' (little mountain) Kathy and Auguste were doing a stellar job.

Kitchen

Latrine

Back in the village on level ground the crutches can do their job. Following Melane to the one room she shares with cousins. As usual, bed is the floor and there is a kitchen space. No toilet here and a sick, malnourished dog named Patience. (Pasyans in Kreyol)

A two family house

The kitchen with memories of the last meal.
No next meal in sight.

Moving on with Doudeline. She is new this year and has recently moved in with her cousin Youseline, also new this year. Because she wasn't living with her cousin on our first visit, we come back to the same tikay for a different person. Like her cousin, bed is the floor, but it's better than outside. Kathy had the opportunity to meet and visit her sponsored student Youseline, who has been waiting since the quake in 2010 to finish high school.

 

Doudeline is now staying with her cousin Youseline.

Youseline and sponsor Kathy.

One of the noticeable  differences between mountain village and city living is the amount of space available. Although our young people live in the smallest of rooms, there is room to build and grow if one has the funds. Claunise moved down from Sen Rafayel last year thinking life would be better. She has moved 4 times and hopes she can stay put to finish high school with her older sister and her family. We climbed six steep, narrow flights of stairs as the apartment is in the heart of down town Cap-Haitien. When we arrived at the top, I was grateful that the crutches had been put away. 

Following Kathy -- 2nd of 6 flights



Following Auguste -4th of 6 flights

 Finally at the top -- the welcoming committee!

The chairs are stacked at night and the floor
becomes her bed. No toilet no water -- 6 flights.

Like Claunise, Fritzman and his brothers came down from Sen Rafayel hoping for a better life. Oldest brother Jean-Woody graduated last year. Fritzman and brother Raymondson will finish this year. They have also moved every year, trying to find a stable, safe environment where they can stay to complete school. In contrast, they are now back in the country but in the city. The floor space they call bed is a 3 hour walk each way for school. To get to our drop in center, add 2 hours. We do provide funds for tap taps and taxi moto to get home but they still have to change and wait for available vehicles 3 times. They are with a cousin, her husband and children. The husband did not seem happy with the arrangement so they will probably return  to Sen Rafayel when finished. Fritzman is happy because there is a dog and he keeps rabbits and chickens as well.

 

 The dog was malnourished and covered with sores
so we sent cream and dry food.

 Kitchen for 11 people. No water - no latrine.

Rabbits and chickens -- not pets

 Back in town just outside of the downtown core, we followed Orina  to the room she shares with 2 older sisters. Like many, her parents are dead. She left the village as well.

   

 Following Orina, dodging the puddles.

Inside the only room on her bed. Behind the curtain,

an older sister, very ill with H Pylori symptoms.

Orina was recovering from the same bacteria so we sent meds.

With the recent rains, we will redo several visits as flooding means damaged/destroyed uniforms, shoes, text books, not to mention mattresses, cooking implements . Inea has been through this in 3 different locations. The solution is to find a second floor apartment for her and Carline.

 

Inea has been through this many times - it never
gets easier.

In addition to the girls, we have heard from 4 families in Cap so far with extensive flooding. In Sen Rafayel it's the mud as well as the swollen river. Those living on the other side are cut off from everything.

This week Auguste and I head up the mountain to talk to those affected and do a quick inventory of necessities for life and finishing the school year. Talk to you asap --til then

 

May you be safe

May you be healthy

May you be happy

May you know peace.

                       

                                                                                                 (Monica A. Frank PhD.)

                                                                                                                      Loving Kindness Meditation

Namaste

Sharon



Up and down the mountain

Jan. 12 marked the 6th anniversary of the earthquake (tranbleman dete) which killed a quarter of a million  -- Haitians and non Haitians. We lost one our own, Frandzy will forever be a bright, energetic, committed young man in the first year of what could have been a promising medical career. Many other of our young people lived through the catastrophe, coming through with physical scars which are fading and emotional scars which are still all too fresh--Myriame, Norceline, Brunie, Gaby, Wesly, Aland to name just a few.

Each  January I go inward, reflecting on the advancements the world has made. Governments change, some of those we looked to for wisdom and guidance have left their bodies. Those we thought were stronger than any illness succumbed. Things  go 'viral' on the internet and everything is instantaneous. There is talk of love and commitment. Canada and other countries have opened doors and hearts to immigrants fleeing intolerable situations. Yet I read of a solitary, courageous Muslim woman who wanted to show that Muslims are not 'scary' -- ejected from a political rally. 

Perhaps we should look to tolerance as a first step instead of jumping right into love. Tolerance takes courage. If the quake of 2010 did nothing else for me, it shocked me into the reality of this life -- fleeting.

I began this blog on the 9th. It's now Sunday the 24th. Rain and wind are lashing our drop in center. Staff (even the dogs) have the day off, a welcome break after the dangers of traveling the distance to work since flawed elections (or 'selections' so dubbed by one of the candidates) once more turned Haiti 'tet anba' (upside down/on it's head). Violent protests have taken over the country and the response by authorities has been returned escalated violence. Staff and students have had great difficulty getting to and from our center in Cap. Lakay Jasmine in Sen Rafayel still remain temporarily closed for another 2 weeks. Just getting up and down the mountain (28 km) took a day each way. Staff had to sit at a distance and wait until protests and protesters were finished. This is not a new phenomenon. Check our blog archives. The only bridge into our village (bouk la) is again damaged and weak. We hold our breath when passing.

Auguste on the Sen Rafayel bridge this week.
Clearing away the protest remnants, checking stability.

Home visit first - Brunel's papa had
surgery. Allimax and Serrapeptase.

As the truck is getting on in years (any vehicle that goes up and down Granjil mountain weekly ages like a dog -- approx 7 years in one, I'm thinking) we head straight for a home visit, knowing that in the morning it will take some coaxing to get moving for the great water hunt. Brunel is in his last year of high school in Cap-Haitien and has asked if we can help him attend University in the fall to become a teacher. YAY!!!  But this week his dad ended up in hospital because of a 'boul' (ball/boil/growth) on his back and needed him home. We began with a home visit and delivered some supplements to aid his recovery.

As predicted the truck needed a mechanic to coax it the next morning. Then on to the water hunt.

We are the  entertainment and a source of
curiosity. This little one knows one English phrase
"Good bye" She uses it for everything.

We take advantage of the temporary closure to scrape off flaking paint and give a facelift. The colour we had chosen and had mixed was not right so we had to take it back down the mountain,  into town to the store and have it remixed. Everything is labour intensive. It is still not what we wanted but we'll live with it. This week we will return to Sen Rafayel and add -- colour!!

Mountainside stop to deliver food. 

Police check mountainside -- another time consuming
stop.

Cap-Haitien and Sen Rafayel are microcosms of the macrocosm that is Haiti, in turn a microcosm of our planet. But microcosms are only part of the story. Our staff and young people continue to sit for hours waiting for protests to move on, dangers to decrease, then continue to make their way to us. Courage, tenacity, commitment.

We eat ... the only food that day for our
young people. Staff eat as well.

85 degrees ans Orina was cold (fwet)

Medical consult -- Rose-Nadia (bl. and white top) has pain.

Eating is not the only activity that takes place at the table. Lusnot (hand on his back) is trying to pinpoint the source of pain Rose-Nadia is experiencing. 3rd year nursing student Camiose (black hat) asks targeted questions to help identify the problem. We do this to give our kids confidence and language when they go to the clinic or hospital for a consultation. They think 'ko fe mal' (my body is sick) or 'vant fe mal' (my abdomen is sick) is information.

Lusnot and Carline make a list of text books and
supplies needed for the new school term.

Although we spend a fair amount of time around the communal table and study is second to eating, we are spreading the word that activity/movement is as necessary as breathing. The manual treadmill we have added to the center is very  popular and the source of many laughs -- also necessary for wellness.

Stefan in Philo uniform does his dishes.
He is one of many with a severe peanut
allergy.

Homework -- not only a quiet workplace but
knowledgeable staff to help as well.

8 hours of classes on an empty stomach
Dehydrated as well

Working off extra calories?

Catching up on the latest news

More homework

Saturday -- the office becomes the dog groomers.

Thanks to all who sent support during a recent crisis. Your prayers, energies, mantras, thoughts, chants and comments on Facebook meant a great deal and helped us find what we needed -- courage.

So til next time, please continue to hold us in your thoughts. It is true that in Haiti:

Deye mon gen mon

Behind every mountain is another mountain -- or when one crisis passes it will be followed by another.


Namaste
Om shanti, shanti, shanti

Sharon