Spring 2011
And it’s over again. It just goes by too fast! I spent about a week in Haiti and it was another amazing, shocking, inspiring experience. It was really great to reconnect with the kids (I can’t stop calling them kids though they’re all young adults) in our program and I was super happy to see their eyes shine when speaking about their school and the opportunities that await when they finish.
Chris and I finalized a plan for community service for all students; as per February, every student from KCH will dedicate two days per month to helping others. This can be in an orphanage, construction, school. It is so important for them to know that they can give to others in need, even when they are usually in the position of receiving aid. I am sure it’ll be a boost for their self-esteem too! And fun. And it’ll promote team work, and…
Also we are beginning with our first internships. Two young men, almost finishing their school, will now enroll in an internship so they can practice their skills and make connections in the appropriate professional network. We hope this will help them towards a more stable life and eventually a paid position, at some point.
I met some amazing young students, who left an unforgettable impression. Let me tell you about Jackson. A smart, well spoken, modest, 22 year old guy. In short; he and his family lost everything they ever owned in the earthquake. They now live in a small tent in one of the poorest and most unsafe areas in town (Cite Pele Simon) with six siblings and his unemployed mom. He is not quite sure how his mom finds food, which sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn’t. Jackson started teaching street kids to read and write, in an empty building in his neighborhood. He applied for a four year community development course at the university. Passed the entrance exam. Received a full scholarship. All amazing accomplishments for someone with his background. But guess what? He can’t go to school. He lacks the funds for books, badge, uniform (all mandatory) and transportation. All he needs is a few hundred dollars a year. How can I refuse to help someone who got so far with so little means? Another example. A young woman, who works in the mornings with displaced children. Living with her young cousin in a tent in an unsafe and overcrowded area of town, she has been a dedicated student at a university, where she managed to attend daily classes and to study from books which she borrowed, hoping to one day find a sponsor. She doesn’t have the means to pay for it herself. Now her university career is over because the school doesn’t accept it any longer… unless we help? Should I say no? Of course not!
I am convinced that there are many people out there, in the US and Europe, who would be happy to share some of their wealth with some dedicated students in Haiti who literally are never sure when they will have their next meal. I trust, that somehow, more and more people will help Kids Connection Haiti to help all the boys and girls, young men and women, so that they as well can grow to their potential and create a self-sustainable future. The more people understand the importance of not letting Haiti down, the more young adults we can help establish economical security. It is all in the package we offer…but we need you! Sign up and make a donation, if you can miss $10, or $20 or even more. Every little bit helps…and though we accepted some new students in our program, the waiting list for potential students is getting longer and longer...
Thank you for remembering Haiti!
To make a secure, tax-deductable donation on-line, please visit: www.kidsconnectionhaiti.org
PS:
Please meet our new volunteers in Haiti! Since Chris will be leaving Haiti per April, LeeAlly and Travis will join our KCH Haiti staff, as per mid March. Until then, they will be working on smaller scale projects for KCH. Welcome Travis and LeeAllie!