Catherine Marin on choosing the Haiti EcoVillage School
As a French person who lived in the Netherlands for 10 years before arriving in the United States at age 32, I was not used to regularly supporting charitable organizations. In Europe, we expect our governments to take care of people in need. Once in the United States, I became aware of the many charitable organizations and workplace giving programs, and my employers encouraged me to make pledges and regular payroll deductions. That prompted some reflection. I began contributing to several of the hundreds of local, state and national nonprofits, following my own moral compass and ranking them by what I felt should come first. I also responded to urgent needs I heard about in the news, like a hurricane, an earthquake or a war.
There are an incredible number of charities to choose from. Between browsing websites and hearing from friends about this or that great cause, I was soon flooded with worthy causes. How do we know the help really reaches the people in need? How are those needs assessed? How do we know our dollars are used to their fullest value? Is the help a temporary fix, or does it offer a stable path to a better situation?
I learned about the Haiti EcoVillage School project through my neighbors Carolyn and Gordon French. I was touched by the sincerity and seriousness of their commitment. I became a donor and started volunteering. The project’s goals felt realistic and well worth supporting. It ticked all the right boxes.
Two aspects particularly appealed to me:
100% of individual donations go directly to the school. We know exactly where the money goes and what it accomplishes. It is transparent. We see what is being done and the direct result of our help. The school is real. The children are real. The improvement we provide is real and long-lasting.
Haitians control the project. The role of the Haiti EcoVillage partners and donors is to empower Haitians and, over time, to reduce their dependence on outside help.
Our contributions feed the children, body and soul, and give them a formal education and a solid foundation to build on. The school creates a safe community and gives hope to the whole region.
What began as a seemingly modest project has grown to amazing proportions. It still honors its early promises while adapting as needs keep growing. The children learn together, share a meal and follow the curriculum they need to graduate.
It is deeply satisfying to see pictures of the school, the students in their fresh uniforms and the classrooms filled to the brim. I love seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and hearing from the school and its teachers, and knowing that we are making a real difference.