Haiti EcoVillage School

Antoine Jeune, a parent of a fifth grader, lives in EcoVillage 1.

He gives the school high marks because his child has a great learning experience, and the teachers are well trained to educate the children.

We were delighted to hear from Natacha Loë. We met her in December 2013 as a new resident of EcoVillage 4. As a recent survivor of the 2010 Earthquake, she told us of the relief in knowing that she can go into her own garden to harvest a meal rather than suffer the iffy availability of food in the city, where she lived before the earthquake. She told us her children needed a school so they could all stay in the safety of the countryside. Today, she was delighted to send her 3 children off to school. Like most parents everywhere, she knew her children “had been home too long.” As for Covid-19, she had concerns when it was rampant, but now it seems safe for the kids to return.

Isana Michel is a farmer living in the Tiber District area of ​​the 4th Section of the Straight River.  She has 3 children and all 3 of them are in the Ecovillage school.  According to Isana, she has been involved in many activities, such as gardening, animal husbandry, and business.

 She works in the fields even though the land is not very productive.  She works in the fields to feed her family, takes what she can to the market to earn money and to store some to plant again in the next season.  For breeding, she looks after animals so that she can sell them when she needs money.  For a trade, she borrows money from the credit union to supplement the little money she makes from selling field crops.  Sometimes she doesn't even pay the interest on her loan because she must feed all the children. So Isana says life in Haiti is very difficult.

 In addition to economic hardship, insecurity is everywhere.  People can't eat because life is so expensive.  People can't take to the streets easily because thieves are digging, kidnappers are kidnapping, and thieves are stealing animals.  When they send their children to school, they are afraid because they don't know if their children will return. She believes that political stability is necessary to improve the situation in the country.

Juvenia Joseph is a peasant living in Matbonite in the 4th Section of the Agwayedyonn Riv Dwat. Juvenia reports that her gardening and animal husbandry activities provide for her and her children.  She does not have any extra to engage in trade, so she has no money.  She received a gift of uniforms and shoes for her children at school because of a donation by a member of one of the Atlanta churches.  She was happy to receive this gift because she would not have been able to send her child to school this year without this gift.  She thanked the Atlanta Group for its strong support.

She believes the political situation in Haiti has led to great insecurity in her community.  She has to watch the animals indoors, especially at night, so thieves do not steal them.  As with so many other people in her community, she cannot shop at the market because the products are too expensive.

Kelson Joseph is a resident of EcoVillage 3 and has 3 children.  He says the donation from the Atlanta Group was life-changing for his family.  He was troubled watching his son go to school without a uniform because he has no money to buy a uniform for him.  The boy felt sad when he saw his classmates in uniform and he was not. With this gift, Kelson was delighted that his children were attending school along with other students whose parents had the means to send them to school.  The child is also happy to see all his classmates and his mind is ready to learn.  Kelson thanked the Atlanta Group for this donation.  Kelson said that the political situation hinders the country in every way and makes life very difficult.

 “Our message to our Atlanta supporters: despite your limited resources you find a way to care about Haitian children in need of a good education. We want you to know that we feel the greatest appreciation and admiration for you, for what you mean to the school and the surrounding community. “Thank you” is only what spoken words allow us to say, but our grateful heart means way more than these simple words. We are so sorry that the current situation of our country prevents you from traveling and seeing with your own eyes the fruit of your labor. Until next time, mèsi, mèsi anpil.”

from the Staff and Families of the EcoVIllage school