Preparations and Prayers

On Saturday, November 14th, five members of the Atlanta Church Group will travel to Haiti. They are Ginger Stapley and Chris Calia from Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, Scott Grosse from Emory Presbyterian Church, Pat and DeeDee Murphy from North Decatur Presbyterian Church.

The group will meet with MPP leadership, the school staff, the parents and the community. They will visit the classrooms, see the gardens planted for income for the school, watch the goats and learn from the children who are learning in their new school.

Watch for updates and journals from the group as they travel. 

Intergenerational Trip to Haiti: April 2 – 9, 2016

Haiti:  Beyond Just Recovery

Cross Cultural Engagement Interfaith, Intergenerational Trip to Haiti

The Seeds of Hope Atlanta Church Group invites adults and youth 16 and older to participate in a Cross Cultural Engagement Interfaith Trip to Haiti from April 2 – 9, 2016.  We will go under the leadership of the Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice (UUCSJ) and be hosted by our Haitian Partner, (MPP), the Peasant Movement Papaye, near Hinche, Haiti.   On this journey, we will focus on learning from MPP about the critical issues of food sovereignty and climate justice.  We will have the opportunity to engage in hands on work alongside our Haitian partners in the Eco Villages and the school, as well as other “agro ecology” projects.   We will approach our experiences as “pilgrims”, ready to be present, ready to listen and notice where, how, and with whom God is working.  Please join us on this transformative journey!  Registration Deadline for Youth:  November 20, 2015; for Adults:  January 31, 2016.  Questions?  Contact beckyevans@mindspring.com or amanda@ndpc.org. 

More Information: 

I.               We need to have a minimum of 10 people.  

II.              We plan for at least two Presbyterian clergy to participate in the trip (Amanda Osenga and Rick Neale.)

III.            Youth must be at least 16, and 16 & 17 year olds need to be accompanied either by a parent or a guardian.  A Youth minister may serve as a guardian. 

IV.            Becky Evans, will be the Atlanta Church Group lay leader, assisting the UUCSJ trip leader.  She has been to visit MPP three times.  There will be participants from other Atlanta Church group churches as well as Unitarian Universalists. 

V.              Cost is $2,000 per person.  $1500 to UUCSJ for trip planning, $500 airfare to Port au Prince.

VI.            NDPC will offer a 10 week Haiti Cross Cultural Engagement Learning Circle Sunday School class from February 7 – April 24.  Trip participants will be expected to participate in a minimum of:  two evening or weekend travel group meetings ahead of time; 4 of 7 Sunday School classes before the April 2 trip; 2 of 3 Sunday School Classes after the trip. 

VII.           Participants will be expected to read: A chapter from Haiti:  The Aftershocks of History by Laurent DuBois and Krik?Krak! Short Stories by Edwidge Danticat.   

VIII.         To register and to learn more about the UUCSJ Haiti trips, visit:  http://uucsj.org/journeys/haiti/

IX.            Registration Deadline for Youth:  Friday, November 20, 2015; for Adults, January 31st, 2016.  Requires a $500 deposit.  

Make Natural Insecticide, Build a Tire Garden and Meet Mark Hare!

Meet Mark Hare, PCUSA Mission Worker

He speaks 4 languages, has a Master’s Degree in agronomy from Michigan State University and he’s our guy in Haiti.  In his 20 years as a Peace Corps volunteer and PCUSA mission worker, he has acquired a deep understanding of the connections between small farmers, ecology, nutrition and demonstrating Christ’s love for the poor people of the world. He has improved the lives of thousands of poor families by showing them how to grow super-nutritious food in a small place. He has a lot to teach us, too, about how we can improve our lives and the world around us.

Saturday, October 10, 12:00-2:00. 

North Decatur Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall

(611 Medlock Road, at intersection with Scott Bldv.)  

The gathering will feature 

·         Free Haitian meal (beans and rice, plantains, baguette, tropical fruit) that incorporates moringa, the world’s most nutritious plant.  If you don’t know moringa, come learn how it can improve your health.

·         Demonstration of how to build a tire garden, including how to convert waste into rich soil.

·         Hands-on lesson in how to make natural insecticide that keeps the bugs – and the chemicals – away.

·         Chance to meet others from the Atlanta Church Group who are building a school in the Haitian EcoVillages.

For more info, email sowseedsofhope@gmail.com

Enrollment is Up!

The EcoVillage school opened for its second year with 99 students in four elementary grades and preschool.  Completion this summer of the 3rd classroom has allowed expansion of two more grades and hiring of additional teachers for those grades.

Growth of enrollment is an important step toward financial independence for the school.  Still, there are many older students who do not attend school or who walk 2 ½  hours each way to the nearest school.  Additional grades will allow the school to bring in these older children and allow parents to send all of their kids to the same, nearby school.  When this happens, parents will channel all of their tuition and volunteer hours toward the EcoVillage school.

Another critical revenue stream is the development of the school farm lands.  According to our partners at MPP, banana and plantain trees have been planted, and the Parents Committee has harvested beans and peanuts, which were the first planting this summer.  Our partnership has funded the development of the farm, which will raise funds for the school and produce for children’s lunches.  Beginning 2016, the farm will contribute funds toward operation of the school.

Gordon French, co-chair of the Atlanta Church Group, notes the important progress made this year.  “Our goal is for the EcoVillage school to be financially self-sufficient by the time our 5-year commitment is completed at the end of 2018.  To achieve that, three things are happening simultaneously. First, classrooms are being built so that, secondly, enrollment can grow (eventually to cover all 12 grades) and thirdly, the farm lands are being planted so that harvests can go to market to  subsidize the school.  As we develop budgets and plans for 2016, these will be our goals.”

Hope in Haiti?

Yes! Haiti is a land of contrasts. This essay by Jon McGoran highlights some of the contrasts and describes some of his experiences during his visit this past January.  If you are considering joining the Atlanta Church Group April trip to the EcoVillages School, you might find this article helpful and informative: http://uucsj.org/contrasts-hope-in-haiti/.

Save the Date for the Next Trip

The next interfaith, social justice mission trip will be April 2-9, 2016.

This trip is open to rising 10th graders and older. The cost is approximately $2,000 ($1500 for the trip, and $500 for airfare). To learn more, see http://uucsj.org/journeys/haiti/. Or contact Scott Grosse at GrosseScott@gmail.com for more information. 

Uniforms for Students!

Q: What weighs 350 pounds, takes up 575 cubic feet in volume, is brown plastic on the outside, and Khaki, light blue, and navy on the inside?

A: A shipment of recycled uniforms, courtesy of the Lovett School and The Uniform Project, for the school children of the EcoVillages School.

Problem: The students of the EcoVillage school had no uniforms their first year. In Haiti, it is customary for school children to wear uniforms. For the upcoming school year, they anticipate growing from 50 students to approximately 150 students. That is a LOT of uniforms!

They would ideally like the uniforms to be made there but they do not yet have the resources.

Solution: Thanks to a lead by NDPC member Martha Osborne, we discovered The Uniform Project, http://www.theuniformproject.org/, a nonprofit that recycles uniforms. After showing sample uniforms to Verona Val and the School Principal in April, we agreed to donate pants, shorts, and skirts for the bottom of their uniforms, and that the families and MPP would sew unique uniform tops. In addition, the students can wear the recycled uniform knit tops on Fridays. The Lovett School has a Recycled Uniform Shop that donated 80% of the recycled uniforms for our school.

Problem: How do we get these 6 huge, heavy contractor bags filled with uniforms to Haiti in time for school to begin?

Solution: Our friend Wendy Flick, Senior Program Leader for the Unitarian Universalists, spoke with a friend, Shawn Davidson in Sarasota, Florida, who was shipping stoves down to Haiti in July, and agreed to include the uniforms in his shipping container.

Problem: How do we get these uniforms to Sarasota?

Solution: Becky and David Evans were planning a trip to Cape Coral, Florida, and to Cocoa Beach. They offered to drive the uniforms down to Sarasota, a short distance from Cape Coral.

Problem: Shawn is on vacation when Becky and David are in Florida.

Solution: Wendy helps come up with a Plan B, where Shawn shares his garage access code with Becky over e­mail, and the uniforms are successfully dropped off in the garage in Sarasota on June 9!

Praise God for conversations, collaboration, trust, and problem solving! And pray for this uniform shipment to make it safely into MPP's hands, and on to the students and staff! 

Day 7 - Lake Lawob and Guest Blog Appearance

A friendly note from one of our favorite Unitarian Universalists, Melinda Meyerhoff. Of course, we love all our UU traveling companions (doctors Beth and Duane and UU staff persons Wendy and Kristin), but Melinda spent the most time with our ragtag Presbyterian crew, so she’s earned a place of privilege on this here blog. :)

- Jennifer
 

---

This interfaith group has been blessed with a week in pastoral Haiti.  As we drive to our work sites each day, I am enthralled by the people walking on the road carrying their goods, wood, and fresh produce to town to sell or trade.  Oxen, burros, and horses, all rigged up with saddles, yokes, carts and baskets (made by hand with resources found near their homes or bartered for) make the journey possible.  Others balance items on their heads, using the power of their legs only.  Children follow in crisp, clean clothes, on their way to school. 
 
No fossil fuels are burned. The people are content living a life steeped in tradition, wisdom, and simplicity. 
 
World, take note: Can this way of living help us envision the new paradigm needed to save our earth?

- Melinda

Mango, plantain trees, and cow at Lake Lawob.

Baby goats, one week old, held by Alcont, the goat farm veterinarian.

Day 6 - A dazzling day

Day 6 – A dazzling day

Melinda read a text that asked us to be open to being dazzled. 

We went to the school and for the first time we were all engaged in the same activity.  Our job was to carry buckets of wet cement from a pile on the ground up a couple of steps, across a space covered with a grid of rebar and lines of string, and dump them in the place designated by the mason responsible for poring the slab as the foundation for the new classroom.  We soon realized it is hard work for one person to carry a bucket all the way, dump it, and take it back.  Therefore, we set up a bucket brigade, which went much faster.  According to a Haitian proverb, "many hands, burden not heavy".  We all found it to be satisfying work, and a joy to see the smoothed cement take form.  Fortunately, all the skilled work was done by Haitians to make sure it was done right!

Bucket brigade

In addition to our manual labor, Becky rejoiced to see the well that installed last December providing water for the school.  Beth, Becky, and Melinda had fun blowing up balloons and playing with the children during recess.  Beth and Duane took time out to speak with some villagers about health issues. 

Leaving Moccene's yard

After cleaning up and eating a delicious lunchtime dinner we visited the garden of Moccene, an inspiring 32 year-old MPP volunteer who helps show other peasants like himself how they can grow healthy food in a sustainable way.  He shared with us about the philosophy and methods of agro-ecology that he practices as well as preaches.  It was meaningful to meet his family, including his father, sister, and two young daughters, and to see how they have hope for the future in the progress already made. 

Bassin Zim Waterfalls

After walking around Moccene’s garden we got back in the vehicles to visit the waterfalls at Bassin Zim (featured in the Lonely Planet travel guide to Haiti).  Moccene and his younger daughter, Daniella, went with us.  At the base of the falls we each selected one of the young men to guide us up to the caves and the falls.  I enjoyed chatting with my young guide, who identified himself as Steven, and got to practice my limited Haitian Creole.  The accompanying photo, taken by the Atlantan Steve, shows the beautiful falls. 

- Scott

Day 5 - A great day!

I think most agreed that this was our best day yet, both in variety and in a sense of purpose for being here. 

After breakfast, we headed back out to the school (a 15-minute drive over very bumpy roads).  There we met with a gathering of parents who introduced themselves and told us how many children they have in the Eco-Village school.  We learned that the 1st to 3rd graders now walk 1.5 miles or less to school each day.  The 4th to 12th graders, because the additional classrooms have not been built yet, have to walk 2.5 hours each way (into town and back).  It therefore made us feel even more gratified to see the construction that we helped get started yesterday morning on Room 3 progress to partially raised walls today.  We also heard stories from earthquake survivors, and how they lived in squalor in Port Au Prince tent cities, and are now able to live normal lives in the villages. 

Then on to our first village – Eco-Village 1.  This was probably the best part of the day.  We spent the next 2 hours sitting with the villagers learning the MPP method of making natural insecticide.  Becky peeled garlic, Jennifer cut onions, Russ grated oranges, and Scott and I pounded Neem leaves into a mash.  This was a great opportunity to get to know some of the villagers and hear their stories in a relaxed setting.  We also got to know each other a little better.

The best part of the Villager’s day was when we handed out the photos of them and their children taken during the last visit in October of last year.  It caused a lot of excitement!  Then we headed back to the school where we had an opportunity to visit with the kids in their classrooms who were gracious and happy to get a brief break from their studies.

We then went outside where the MPP representative, Vilga Jacques, made an official presentation of the 24 Village goats bought by the funds raised by the Presbyterian tri-church group.

Donated goats on display

Our duties done for the day, we stopped by the MPP store where the group bought peanut butter, jam, honey, and 12 bottles of rum (not kidding).  I’m feeling a greater kinship with these traveling buddies.  We then headed to the town of Hinche where we visited the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.  This is a beautiful church with a six-story dome.  Much to our surprise the caretaker took us to the top of the dome – on the outside.  This being the highest point in the city, we had a bird’s eye view of the busy city below. 

Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Hinche

Our final stop of the day was a real treat.  Wendy, the UUSC program manager, took us to the Midou resort - an oasis in a very rural countryside.  There we sat on the cool veranda drinking very cold beers and eating tasty chicken and plantains.  A very relaxed group returned to the MPP compound…

- Steve

Day 4 - Working on a Building

“Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” – Benjamin Disraeli

5:06 AM the unofficial start to the day is dogs getting into a ruckus in the trash.
5:48 AM the power comes on and once again the ceiling mounted fan starts a slight breeze through my mosquito net.
6:23 AM the power is back off – and so goes the fan.
6:36 AM my feet hit the floor for a quick shower of bug spray and the start of the day.
6:45 AM the Alarm rings signifying it is time to start the day.  And thus the adventure continues …..

We had a wonderful breakfast of sweet potatoes, spinach with hard-boiled eggs, pineapple, peanut butter and jelly, at 7:00 followed by a Centering Reflection led by Scott where he helped us focus our day with a reading and interpretation of Isaiah 61. We are then introduced to Makenzie who is a civil engineer and will be supervising our work for today on classroom number three of the EcoVillage School.

At the job site

As we begin our work, some of the team is moving rock via wheelbarrow and five gallon buckets while others are clearing the foundation of classroom three in preparation for tied rebar.  The day continues with sifting sand to mix with cement for the mortar joints, unloading and stacking a truckload of cinder blocks, and moving more rock for the foundation.  

Throughout the day I was remembering the story of a cathedral being built in the middle ages, and a man watching the workers went up to a man who was downcast and asked his what he was doing? “Laying brick” was his reply.  A second worker was approached and asked the same question.  “I’m building a wall” was his response.   He approached a third worker who was singing and displayed great Joy in his work.  When asked what he was doing he replied, “I’m building a cathedral to the glory of God!”  It was evident through the work of the day that our team knew we were laying the foundation of an education for generations.

We left the job site to return for showers, lunch, and a brief rest period.  As you may recall from yesterday's post this is when we again met our friend the insomniac goat.  He was tasty.

Goat...it's what's for dinner.

At 2:30 we toured the MPP headquarters building with an opportunity to meet with Augustin Josnel of the Solar Panel Workshop where we learned about their creations.  They provide panels ranging from 3 to 120 watts that are used to power everything from lighting and cell phone chargers in people's home to pumps for wells.  From there we went to the Agronomy station and saw bags and bags and bags and bags of seed.  They were in the process of working with GVC, a group of Italian volunteers to sort and support food security needs in two of the surrounding areas.  

Seeds!

As the tour continued we met many more wonderful folks with a quick introduction to the accountant, the technical team leader, an intern, and staff members working on the brothers of men actions, aids, and the Haitian clinic.  We concluded our tour with the director of Sere Pou Chofe translated as "save it to heat it up later".  This was described to us as a Peasant Co-op Credit Union.  They offer loans on Mortgages, Salary percentages, and Small Sellers loans with interest rates from 1.5% to 3.5% per month.  

As our headquarters tour concluded, we adjourned to a “logistics” meeting at the local watering hole where beverages were enjoyed and the conversation quickly turned to global politics.

As we returned to Sant Lakay, supper was popcorn, peanut butter and jelly, bread and Cassava, and hot chocolate.  A small contingent of the group headed off for a medical meeting with Chavannes and came back with exciting news that we will share with you in a later edition.  Stay tuned for what’s happening next.

- Russ

Day 3 - Goats, Dirt, and Chavannes

After breakfast, as I was walking from the dining hall back to the guesthouse, I was reveling in the clear weather, the blooming hibiscus, the “baaing” goat, the rooster crowing, the gentle breeze – what a joy to return to Sant Lakay, the training center campus of MPP, our Haitian partner.   This is my third visit – first in January of 2013, second in October 2014, and faces and paths are becoming familiar to me.  

This morning was our first workday.  We worked in the garden at MPP, learning how to make “good soil” for planting seedlings.  I have never been much of a gardener, but now I do know the proportions for creating this soil:  3 wheelbarrows of sifted dirt from the ground; 2 wheelbarrows of pounded and sifted cow manure, and 1 wheelbarrow of sifted sand.  I now have experienced “pounding poop” – beating dry cow patties into small pieces, which you shovel and sift into a wheelbarrow!  It was sweaty hard work, but not stinky. It felt good to be physical.

Tree Nursery

Our afternoon was spent in conversations – first with Gislaine St. Fleur, the coordinator of the women of MPP and later with Chavannes Jean Baptiste, the Executive Director of MPP.  A favorite, powerful image from the meeting with Gislaine was listening to her and Magorie  sing an MPP women’s song.  Mayheeda has translated the words for us, and the tune was beautiful, but the lyrics were heartbreaking and uplifting.   I will post a video as soon as possible.

And of course meeting with Chavannes was a highlight for everyone. He is extremely charismatic.   The rainy season officially began when we were meeting in the grass hut behind his house – it poured for the first time since our arrival.  

Meeting with MPP executive director Chavannes Jean-Baptiste in his gazebo during a serious downpour!  We had to gather in close to hear him...

One side note – many of us were kept awake last night by a baaing goat – and several jokes were made about hopes that it might become our dinner.  And then we found out that he was to be for our dinner in another day, but they slaughtered him a day early so our sleep would not be interrupted. 

- Becky

Insomniac goat

Day 2 - Intro to Sant Lakay and MPP

"All you need is a body on this earth, willing to notice where it is, trusting that even something as small as a hazelnut can become an altar in this world."
Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World

Magorie explaining tire gardens

Magorie St. Fleur, our host and organizer for the Papaye Peasant Movement (MPP) matter-of-factly plunges her hand into a tire-full of almost-compost. Holding the little pile of earth in her hand, she smiles and affirms, "We say, 'yes' to agro-ecology!" (Which happens to be her vocation: She's an agro-ecologist.) In that little pile of soil, which she believes has life in it, Magorie holds the dual intentions of agro-ecology: to produce food and protect the earth. These dual intentions are evident everywhere we look here in Sant Lakay, home of the National Center for Training Peasant Professionals. This "popular university" is a place for peasant farmers and their children to learn sustainable agricultural practices and strategies for organizing in their rural communities. It's also where Adaline, Guerna, and Emmanuel, our guests from GEAD last night, were trained.

(A personal note: As someone who writes about the global food system and local responses to it, it made my heart very very glad that my body is in this place, hearing these stories.  I write about it, but there is nothing like witnessing a community--a movement, even--that is living it. I go to sleep tonight grateful for this work, and for whatever little way we might contribute to it.)

Beautiful and twisty road from Port-At-Prince and Papaye

The tour of the Sant Lakay grounds came at the end of a good bit of travel over some curvy, hilly, and bumpy terrain. I believe this was a bonding experience for our little group. At least that's how I am choosing to frame it. :) We were greeted at the MPP guest house with an abundant meal, yet one more example of the generous hospitality of our Haitian hosts. We are in a place of great beauty, struggle, and resilience.

We are settling in for the night after a great discussion on the front porch of the guest house. Tomorrow morning we'll again place our bodies in this particular place, and I hope we all will continue to seek to notice all the beauty and struggle in even something as small as a hazelnut. 

- Jennifer

Sant Lakay (educational/training center for MPP) gardens and composting operations.

Day 1 - Travel and Arrival!

The group settled in the Palm Inn Hotel for dinner and a "transition night" that included some swimming.  :)  As part of the initial trip meeting, the group met with four leaders from GEAD, who shared how they took what they learned with MPP into an urban environment.  They explained that as part of a pilot project with 60 families, the organizers received training in home gardening (specifically tire gardens).  They worked to create collectives of 10 families each who set up communal vegetable gardens.  Their focus is on building community and fraternity, not just gardens.  Each collective holds weekly meetings, and also works to raise money to fund future projects.

Some comments from the leaders include:

• Common for families to be raised on corn, sorghum, and rice, but not vegetables. 
• They never learned the importance of manuring, composting, irrigation, etc.
• They learned at MPP how to organize meetings.
• Although they have no background in growing food, they are now crazy about gardening and eating healthy food.  
• Remarked that people do not eat many vegetables, not because of the cost, but because of a lack of knowledge about nutrition and health.
• The leaders shared that ultimately they would like to organize an urban farmer’s market with organic produce both for consumers and restaurants.

GEAD Leaders Adaline, Guerna, and Emmanuel

Overall it was a great meeting and a great introduction to the impact of our work.  On to the interior tomorrow!

Group prepares to travel to Haiti

On Saturday, April 11th, five members from the Atlanta Church Group will travel to Haiti for a week to support the people of the EcoVillages and the school we are building with them.  They are:  Stephen Konigsberg and Russ Weekley from Good Shepherd Presbyterian,  Scott Grosse from Emory Presbyterian and Jennifer Ayres and Becky Evans from North Decatur Presbyterian. 

This is an interfaith trip with members of the Unitarian-Universalist church, who are our partners in the school building project.  They will be making vital connection with our Haitian partners at MPP and in the EcoVillages. In the process, they will actually work on building the school itself!   

Follow them this week through their posts and photos here and on our Facebook page Haiti EcoVillage School.  They will bring us stories about the people and our new school.

See the School! Slots are available for Trip to Haiti

The Atlanta Church Group and The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee are co-sponsoring a week-long interfaith visit to the EcoVillage School near Colladere, Haiti. 

Trip dates are April 11-18. 

The trip has two parts:

(1) working - helping build the school and prep its grounds that will foster financial self-sufficiency, and

(2) learning - about the country, its people and the EcoVillage mission that has been a joint project of the PCUSA and UUSC for the past several years. 

There are openings to join the trip.  Register online at www.uucsj.org/haiti. 

Or, if you need to learn more, talk to one of the trip participants: Scott Grosse (Emory Presbyterian) 404-966-4605 or Wendy Flick (UUSC) 617-230-1795.  It can be a life-changing experience.

Taste of the Caribbean Celebration!

February 21, 2015

The Taste of the Caribbean dinner celebrating the opening of the EcoVillage school was attended by 102 people despite threatening weather.  Sponsored by the Atlanta Church Group (ACG), it was the first event to gather people from the supporting churches to meet one another and see photos of the new school, including the premiere of a video about one of the school’s students.  In addition to members of the churches that comprise the ACG -- Emory Presbyterian, Good Shepherd Presbyterian and North Decatur Presbyterian – attendees included members of two Unitarian Universalist congregations as well as Druid Hills Presbyterian.

One of the stated purposes of the ACG is to create community among us here in Atlanta, in addition to our collaboration in building the school in Haiti.  Attendees talked about the joyful spirit in the room, which was undoubtedly enhanced by the festive decorations and exceptional food from Badda Bing.  It was a successful friend-raiser. In addition, another $4600 was donated for the school.  Year-to-date fund raising is at 44% of our goal of $45,000.

2015 Atlanta Church Group Plans and Goals

The School.  Plans call for the completion of a 3rd classroom which will allow for the expansion of grades and teachers in a split-day structure.  They expect an enrollment of 100+ students starting in September.  Plans are under way to engage parents in supporting the school through tuition and volunteering.  The big push this year will be the development of agricultural infrastructure that will in time turn the surrounding land into a profitable farm that both feeds children school lunches and funds the school.

Budget.  A $90,000 budget has been approved by MPP, ACG and UUSC. It will provide for construction of the third classroom and operational funds for the 2015-16 school year.  Significantly, it invests heavily to develop a farm that can provide a long-term funding stream, a top priority for both ACG and UUSC.

Goals.

·      ACG proposes to raise $45,000 in 2015.

·      To accomplish this will require additional partners and contributors – with a goal of engaging 3 more churches and increasing on the 100 individual donors.

·      We plan two mission trips: one April 11-18 jointly with UUs and one in the fall. 

·      We have launched a search for potential grants. 

·      We will use the website for internet-based outreach.

Structure. ACG has organized into committees led by co-chairs:

·      ACG Organizing:          Chris Calia, GSPC and Gordon French, NDPC

·      Partner Outreach:         Brian McWilliams, EPC and Pat Murphy, NDPC

·      Mission Trip Planning:   Paul Ferre, GSPC and Scott Grosse, EPC

·      Fund Raising:                Becky Evans, NDPC and Edward Ramos, GSPC

·      Accounting:                   Linda Curry, NDPC

·      Web design:                  Carolyn French, NDPC

Partnerships.  A key part of our mission is to live the gospel in all that we do by building relationships here and in Haiti.  A gathering in February will allow members of the participant churches to meet one another and to invite others who have an interest to learn about our work.  As we send groups to the EcoVillages, we intend to build relationships with Christians there with whom we might collaborate in teaching, learning and mission work together.

2014 Annual Report for the Atlanta Church Group

The Atlanta Church Group (ACG) began collaborations in Atlanta and in Haiti to build a school in the central plateau of Haiti. Participants from 3 Atlanta churches--North Decatur Presbyterian, Emory Presbyterian and Good Shepherd Presbyterian--organized to lead this effort. 

Partners with the ACG are also deeply invested in this collaboration.

·       The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, based in Boston, has joined with us to raise funds, sponsor mission trips and coordinate planning with MPP.  UUSC has built 2 EcoVillages.

·       Mouvment Paysan Papaye (MPP) is a Haitian agricultural cooperative that has provided the vision, land and coordination for building six EcoVillages and the school.  UUSC and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program funded construction of the EcoVillages.

·       Mark Hare is the PCUSA mission worker attached to MPP. He provides communication support and counsel as we partner with MPP.  Through Mark’s effort, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance funds built 4 of the 6 EcoVillages.

2014 Highlights

The Vision.  ACG commissioned MPP to develop a vision and plan for the school.  MPP produced a lengthy document that described a financially self-sufficient school that would serve 400+ students, from pre-school through high school, who live in and around the EcoVillages.  The report explained educational requirements in Haiti and analyzed phased construction and operational costs.  Proposed costs for Phase 1 exceeded the resources available to ACG.

Getting Started.  ACG asked UUSC to collaborate in a smaller scale Phase 1.  We jointly proposed a first year budget of $90,000 -- $45,000 each – to fund building 3 classrooms, a well, toilet and one year’s operations.  After consulting with their engineering firm, MPP accepted the plan and construction began in July.  In response to cost overruns, two members of the ACG group contributed an additional $10,000.

Website.   In August  ACG launched a website  (haitiecovillageschool.org )as a primary communication tool.  It delivers latest information about the school, reflections of visitors, photos, videos and more.  

School Opens. Despite the late start to construction, the school secured a Director and hired 3 certified teachers.  It opened in October for grades 1-3 with 45 students.  Two weeks later a delegation from ACG and UUSC visited the school, investigated the construction, interviewed teachers, parents and students, and discussed 2015 plans with the leadership of MPP. (Reports and reflections from this team can be found on the website.)

Reaching Our Goal. By December ACG reached its goal of $55,000.  There were 102 individual donors, plus funds from church fund-raising initiatives.  

PCUSA Mission Worker Visits EcoVillage School

January 15, 2015

I recently took a group from Alabama to the Central Plateau and we visited the site of the school you are building.  It was an impressive site and the local leader who gave us the guided tour was "bubbling" with pride and shared so much about how meaningful this school is to them.   Congratulations on the wonderful work you are doing.  I wanted you to know you have inspired this group and shown them what is possible when you  are serious about real partnership ministry.

Suzette Goss-Geffrard,

PCUSA Mission Worker in Haiti