Author: bryan@bmeyers.net (Page 77 of 101)

Friends of Haiti,

Back to school! Here and in Haiti, as well. Although school there begins some what later than in the U.S. (September 2) it runs late into the month of June, and later if there are storms that cause the schools to be closed.

Prosper and Nadige

From that small start, last June his school finished with 100 students and more importantly than the size was the fact that ten of those students passed the government test required of all fifth graders before going into the sixth. That speaks well not only of those who sponsor children there, but also the teachers who are responsible for preparing the students for the next step in their education.

According to a report by the World Bank, 92% of the schools in Haiti are “non-state” schools. Haiti is the only country, among the world’s poorest, where more than 50% of the children are in non-state schools. It also showed that in primary aged children (6-11 yrs) 60% were enrolled in those schools.

What all of that says is, without schools like this one, or Joe’s or Beaubrun’s and others, a very large percentage of children in Haiti would never learn even the basics in education. When you sponsor a child there or help with any aspect of the schools, you are playing a major role in a child’s education and future. And who knows? Maybe even the future of Haiti.

We are always asked to say something to the kids when we arer in one of the schools. The one thing we always tell them is, in school you gain knowledge and with that knowledge comes wisdom, and with that wisdom you have the ability to change the world around you.

Thank you to all who sponsor a child in Belanger or in any of the other schools. It couldn’t be done without your involvement.

Friends of Haiti,

Several times this year we have shown people who we either work with or help. We haven’t done this in order to get your help (although we appreciate those of you who can), but to give you some idea of those around us in Haiti. Next month we will continue, adding at least two more to the list.

This month we thought we would concentrate on the conditions there since we get so many questions concerning that.

There is progress, depending on your definition of progress. There are few areas you can see evidence of the earthquake that happened over three years ago; except the tent cities, which may always be there now. We say that because there is just no place for them to go.

Three years ago, USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development was placed in charge of $651 million for Haiti relief efforts and now it has been found (Washingtonguardian.com/spending-disaster) that it has used less than one half of that total and is cutting back on its original plans.

One of its plans was to use some of the money to build 15,000 homes, but USAID now it says it may build as few as 2,600 homes and the number of people it would supply shelter for, from as many as 90,000 to now as few as 13,000. This is taxpayer money sitting unused for three years.

In spite of what you hear — and in Haiti’s case, don’t hear — things are not getting better there. Roads? Yes. The main road north out of Port Au Prince has been rebuilt and was well done but because there are no weight restrictions on trucks, etc. it is just a matter of time until it crumbles.

Prices are at an all time high and a gallon of gas is nearly five dollars a gallon, driving up the price of everything else. For those who could not buy food before, it is even more difficult now to feed your family.

Those in the villages where we work are more than grateful for the help you provide in the form of feeding programs, school sponsorship, help with the churches and medical needs.

We all appreciate the sacrifices you make each month to help them.