Brainstorming to build bridges

On January 14, 2017 thirty five people, mostly educators, gathered to consider the following issue:  How can we bridge the “connection gap” between Atlantans and the students, teachers, parents in our Haitian school.

Many great ideas were generated and most focused particularly on the power of storytelling through video, photographs and the arts. The evening was exciting and informative. 

Joanne Folger from Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church reports "The gathering at the French's was great!  Wonderful Haitian soup,  wonderful conversations around the table, and wonderful brainstorming. The evening was organized from start to finish, yet I never felt rushed. Meeting and talking with Sophia was fantastic. Her personal input about the Haitian situation gave such meaningful insight. The ideas each focus group listed for the best approach to connect with the Haitian villagers are great. I wish it would be possible to implement each one of them. However, I am excited to see which one or two receive the emphasis. To establish a relationship with one child, one family, or one classroom, would surely make this project come alive for all concerned. It would indeed fire the passion to complete that 10 room school building!"

"What a wonderful evening!  It was such a pleasure for Chris and I to spend time with this dynamic and dedicated group of people.  While we had contributed to Seeds of Hope in the past, Chris and I had not developed a full emotional connection with this mission.  This evening changed that for us!  Beginning with an amazing meal and overwhelming hospitality, we  immediately felt the love shared among those committed to this mission.  This meeting really opened a door for us to develop a better understanding of the work in Haiti and how we might play a role.  Gordon and the steering committee thoughtfully organized the meeting to foster an emotional connection by sharing a video and the history of the mission.  After learning more, we were all charged with brainstorming new ideas to further the goal of connecting the Haitian and Atlantan communities.  It was an exciting exchange of ideas fueled by the desire to build bridges with Haiti.  We are so excited to see these ideas come to fruition!  God was clearly present at the meeting and guiding all of us in the many ways that we might be a blessing to others.  Chris and I are grateful for the chance to learn more and look forward to continuing our involvement." Chris and Kristy Gordon

Donations for Hurricane Matthew victims

As we see the damage to areas of Haiti from Hurricane Matthew, we weep for the children of Haiti and we look for ways to help. We recognize help must be led by the Haitian people and that our help is in solidarity with the people of Haiti, not to rescue or offer charity. Haitians better understand their needs and the ways to address those needs respectfully within their culture.  Organizations and agencies that have a track record of working with the people of Haiti to solve the complexities of problems within Haiti are listed below. These are reliable agencies that are working Haitian to Haitian, providing on-the-ground support and relief.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) provided funds to MPP to build the EcoVillages in the Central Plateau.  Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., focuses on the long term recovery of disaster-impacted communities, involving affected communities in the identification of needs, priorities, approaches and mechanisms for response while reflecting their dignity and initiative, building relationships, strengthening effectiveness, and avoiding duplication and waste of time, talents or resources. http://pda.pcusa.org/situation/hurricane-matthew-response/

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) also provided funds to build the EcoVillages and to build the school.  UUSC is working with our on-the-ground partners to meet the humanitarian needs of marginalized groups overlooked by other relief efforts and to begin laying the groundwork for sustainable recovery from this disaster. http://www.uusc.org/hurricane-matthew-relief/

Cindy Corell, PCUSA Mission Worker in Haiti, writes, “Do your research before donating to any organization to make sure that they will not participate in unethical relief or development. All supplies that are needed can be bought in Port-au-Prince, where the hurricane had very little impact...:” Cindy also recognizes the following agencies as doing excellent work on the ground with Haitians.

This link will help you purchase goods for your Haitian partners from Haitian businesses. : 100kjobshaiti.org  This list allows missionaries, charities, NGO staff, and concerned individuals to purchase from stores in Haiti and not compete with Haitians by bringing in donated goods.

Safe and secure, with a clear vision of where they belong

When we traveled in Haiti in April 2016, I was caught off guard by the images of children along the sides of the roads.  Children of all ages, some as young as 5, walking hand-in-hand, along curving mountain roads, miles a day, to get to school.  These children were enthusiastic, they carried their bodies tall and confident, they were wearing a school uniform and they knew where they were going. They knew someone had sacrificed and cared and believed in them enough to dress them in the school uniform that said You Matter and You will have a future. These children walked in stunning contrast to the children along the side of the road wearing tattered rags and standing, staring, waiting, nowhere to go, no options for their futures. And I recognized the power of the school uniform in Haiti: tangible evidence that you belong and you have work to do.

Our children in Le Ecole Communautaire des EcoVillages de Colladere now have uniforms! They have a safe place to live, safe water to drink, a school to attend. Their families survived the great Earthquake, moved to build their homes in the EcoVillages, planted crops, and worked hard to be sure these children are safe and secure and belong.

Help us reach our goal?

We are at 80% of our 2016 fundraising goal of $45,000.  Thank you for your generosity in bringing this school to life through your donation of funds, books, sewing machines, goats and so much more.  If you have space in your budget for charity this fall, please consider a donation.

Women to Women

In a show of love and concern, women’s groups at Good Shepherd Presbyterian and Emory Presbyterian assembled personal gift boxes for women in each of the 60 households of the EcoVillages. 

These gift boxes contain a hand mirror, a colored bandana, a small box with soap, clothes pins, a pair of gardening gloves, a large colorful tablecloth, a solar stake light, a pair of oven mitts, a 2-sided sponge for scrubbing and wiping, two small colorful microfiber towels and 2 cloths, a small sewing kit with twine and needles, small notepads with sharpened pencils, and a chapstick.

A Kitchen instead of a walkway

New Kitchen Started.  Before this year, parents assembled meals in the walkways of the school.  Now, a kitchen has been partially built.  Parent volunteers are harvesting beans from the school garden that they have cultivated and are starting to prepare hot meals for the kids.  Children cannot learn when they are hungry, so this is a vital step toward their educational goals.

School opens with new classrooms and new library books!

School’s Open.  The school begins its third year with enrollment at 140 students in Pre-K through 5th grades. 

New Classrooms. Two more classrooms have been built this summer, funded by the $25,000 construction grant from Presbyterian Women’s birthday offering.  We are closer to our goal of having a separate classroom for each grade.

New Library. During August, members of North Decatur Presbyterian Church bought 120+ books written in Haitian Creole.  Ranging from pre-K to 4th grade reading levels, these books will supplement the 2 workbooks (one for math and one for writing) currently in use.  These books will enrich learning and start a school library.

Half-Way There

After 2½ years, we are halfway to our goal of establishing a self-sustaining school to serve the EcoVillages and the surrounding area.  At this point, we have half the classrooms we require and more than half of the agricultural development required.  We are on track to meet our goal. 

Bags are filled and packed.

We are waiting to board our flight now. Our bags are filled with school uniforms for the students. Our hearts are filled with hope. 

Our minds are filled with budgets and options.

Listing, listening, learning

A delegation travels to the EcoVillages next week to listen and learn. On Wednesday 13 April four representatives from the Atlanta Church Group arrive in Haiti. They will meet with the leaders of MPP to set goals for the upcoming period. They will see the school and meet with the school director and absorb the joy of children learning. 

Follow our News blog to see updated photos and posts as they travel. Hold the hopes of the community in your hearts as they seek ways to change the futures for so many. 

Party for Haiti!

Registration has been extended to March 1 to include YOU! Come join us as we celebrate a very positive and exciting project in Haiti.  Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-the-caribbean-a-fundraiser-for-the-haitian-eco-villages-school-tickets-21134983304.

TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN – MARCH 5, 7 TO 10PM

Please Join Us!

You are invited to TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN:  A Celebration of the Haitian Eco Villages School on Saturday, March 5, 7 to 10pm at Decatur Art House.    All are welcome who have a heart for service and education. You can support our Haitian brothers and sisters striving for self-sufficiency, the flourishing of the eco-villages, and the thriving of the eco-village school - and have a little fun too!  Please register by March 1 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-the-caribbean-a-fundraiser-for-the-haitian-eco-villages-school-tickets-21134983304

What’s Up with Those Goats?

December 12, 2015 –

Now in its second year, the Holiday Gift Program is off to a great start.  North Decatur Presbyterian Church sold 5 goats 2 Seed kits and 3 bags of seeds at their Alternative Gift Mart last weekend.  Emory Presbyterian and Good Shepherd Presbyterian will be offering goats and seeds for sale each of the next 2 Sundays.

Last year’s donations provided 20 goats to the villages in the Spring of 2015.  There are now 47 goats in the program due to successful breeding.  It is estimated that once the herd gets to about 200 goats, the program will provide needed cash for the school and sustain itself.

First discussed during our trip in October 2014, it was suggested that the parents could start a livestock program to benefit the school.  The “revolving model” for this program starts with the recipient of a pregnant goat. The first offspring goes to the school and the 2nd offspring to a community member not in an eco-village, and then they get to keep the future offspring.  

So last year at Christmas time, we created the Holiday Gift Giving Program where givers can purchase an animal or seeds to benefit the school and the donor gets a card to give as a gift.  This model has been a successful holiday tradition to benefit third world people and made popular through organizations like Heifer Int’l.

When you travel through rural Haiti, you’ll see goats all along the side of the road usually tied to a tree or a cactus.  The people raise goats for their meat and many of the meals we were served during our visit in Haiti featured goat meat.  Raising goats for breeding and later sale is one way that parents are able to contribute to the funding of the school’s operations.

MPP encourages collective care of animals in each village.  So whatever animals we end up funding, they will be equitably distributed throughout the villages.  

To purchase a goat or bag of seed to benefit the Ecovillages people, see Becky Evans @ North Decatur PC, Kathyrn Hornsby @ Emory PC, or Ginger Stapley @ Good Shepherd.

- Article submitted by C. Calia

Holiday Livestock and Seed Gift Program

Give a Goat. Help the EcoVillages families support their children's education!

What better way to make Christmas meaningful than with a gift from Seeds

of Hope?  You can be a part of a growing holiday tradition by investing in a

sustainable future for the families of the EcoVillage School in Haiti.

Instead of material items, choose to honor your friends and loved ones with

gifts that help struggling Haitian families provide for their children's

education.  Every goat or bag of seeds given by you this Christmas is an investment in

helping the EcoVillage families grow their crops and livestock, with the

proceeds going towards covering the operating costs of the school. 

2015 Goal

2 Male Goats per Village; 1 Goat per Family = 12 Male Goats and 60 Female Goats

Thank You!

Here's are examples of how your gifts will be spent. 

$1000    Dairy Cow

$ 650    Stud Male Hybrid Goat

$ 350    Male Smaller Goat

$ 120     Female Hybrid Goat

$100      Seed Kit - with tools

$ 20       Bag of Seeds

You can click the Donate button below to access the paypal site.  All donations are processed through our member church and go directly to support this program in Haiti. If you would like to make a specific donation, please email your wishes to sowseedsofhope@gmail.com.  Thanks for making wishes come true!

Are You Overwhelmed Yet?

Our group left the MPP compound this morning, said our good-byes and headed back to Port au Prince.  As we compare notes on all the meetings of yesterday, it's pretty clear that all the leaders at MPP and the Ecovillages are on the same page.  We've seen much progress and discussed plans for ways that the children can get fed and the teachers to get paid.  At the same time, it's apparent it's going to take a while to get there.  Where's all the money going to come from to build more classrooms and fund operations until the school is self-sufficient?  It's too overwhelming to think about that and so I revert to thinking about one step at a time.

Along the road back to the city, there is an endless stream of humanity.  A few people travel in cars, some on motorcycle and the majority are walking.  They walk to get to market carrying what they can to sell.  Or perhaps they're returning from market with a few items they've purchased. There is dust everywhere kicked up from the dirty roads.  Congestion on the road is so bad a times that it's a miracle that more people are not run over.  At the same time, we observe that they are well groomed and wearing shoes.  We don't see any evidence of starvation.  It's a tough life and it's hard to see how it could ever improve.  It's overwhelming.

After our return to Port au Prince, we go out for a "fast food" lunch.  I had brown rice, chicken, vegetables, bottled water and a beer.  It cost $6 and the food was tasty.  We had planned to be tourists for the day but learned that there were demonstrations on the route to the place we wished to visit.  The gatherings are in response to the recent elections and we have been warned to stay clear in case things get out of hand.

Instead of touring, we gladly go to the home of Cindy Corell who is our mission co-worker in Haiti.  The house is lovely and comfortable.  This little oasis is a welcome break from the chaos of the streets on the other side of the wall that surrounds the house.  I can't help but think of all those people we passed on the road that will not get a break from the difficulties of their daily existence. 

Somehow though, I don't feel depressed or discouraged.  I think about all the wonderful people I've met these past few days.  The people of the village, the people at MPP and our PCUSA friends that live and work in this country.  Memories of the smiling children at the school make me smile.  The friendliness of our interpreter Marc and our driver Bernado is in stark contrast with our perception of the hardship of this life.  The people here are respectful, grateful and hopeful.  When I think about that, it can be rather overwhelming.

submitted by C. Calia

Answering the Key Questions

From the outset, the intriguing part of this development project is that it's run by the local people.  They designed the school, hired the teachers, and engaged the community.  It's not just a place to park their kids for five hours a day.  They have a vision to make this a model of a great primary school that is self-sustaining and run by Haitians.

Over the past two days, we heard the story several times that the people of the Ecovillages lost everything in the earthquake and they came to the Central Plateau to start over.  They have little.  We can help by raising the funds to construct the building but what will happen when we're gone?  How will they afford to pay for continuing operations?

To answer that key question, we started by asking the executive board of MPP about their long range vision for sustainability.  They have clearly considered this issue and have discussed solutions.  The first step is to develop the agriculture on the school property.  We saw the beans that have been planted, the peanuts that have been harvested and a tire garden being built.  Once the plantation (which is what they call the fields around the school) is developed, it should produce enough food to feed the school children.  In Haiti, the biggest meal of the day is lunch and these children will be well fed with nutritious food grown by their parents.  They will grow up knowing where the food comes from; and importantly, the school will not have to use money to buy food from the outside.  This is ambitious and will take time but could be a "game changer" when it's completed.

Even with a fully developed plantation, however, how will the teachers get paid and the school materials get purchased?  The answer may be goats and crafts.  A goat breeding program was started last year with funds that we provided from our donors.  In all, 20 goats were purchased and now there are 47 goats.  The goats are not kept at the school because there's no pen.  The goats are kept by the families in the villages with the understanding that the first offspring goes to the school and the second goes to another family.  With further purchases and breeding, we hope to get goats to allthe families that have children in the schoolwhen there are enough goats, some can be sold to provide income.

Another idea that was discussed was using the skills of the parents to start a local craft industry.  For example, they have identified 8 women in the Ecovillages that know how to sew.  If we can find and deliver sewing machines to these people, they can make school uniforms and other clothes to sell.  The parents can contribute a small amount of money to buy uniforms and pay tuition.

Once the school has classes through 8th grade, establishes a lunch program, and has students pass standardized tests, the school board will apply for accreditation from the government.  This may be a few years down the road but we can see that they have a vision, a plan and the energy to pull it off.  Our partnership is a critical piece of the plan.  A Partnership with one vision, clear roles and lots of exciting possibilities.

-- submitted by C. Calia

{pictured below is the view of the school from the main road.  there are over 20 acres dedicated to growing food for school lunches)

Indicators of Progress

We finally reached the day that we have been anticipating for months.  The visit to the school was to be the highlight of our trip and it did not disappoint.  The children were at recess when we arrived.  They immediately mobbed anyone with a camera and started posing.  DeeDee's iPad was popular because the children could see their pictures right after they were taken.

The children are all nicely dressed and look healthy.  Once back in the classrooms, we were able to visit each class, talk to the teachers and greet the students.  The children are all very nicely mannered.  School starts at 8am and lasts 5 hours.  To serve K-4th grade, they converted the storage room to a class for the 2nd grade.  One of the large classrooms has a partition down the center to make separate classrooms for 3rd and 4th grade.  The newest classroom that our group helped to build is now the Kindergarten.  The classrooms are decorated and the children have materials to work with.  The children don’t get a full lunch but they did get a snack that included bread, peanut butter and milk.

Our group spent some time with the principal of the school and the MPP representative that oversees the school's operation.  These two men work in cooperation with a parent committee that makes the decisions about the school.  We're not sure that we could call this committee a School Board, but it functions at least like a PTA.

Today, there were parents building a tire garden next to the school building.  It was explained to us several times that the parents must commit time to working at the school for the children to attend.  There is evidence that some agricultural development has occurred on the school property and we hope to hear more about that when we meet with the MPP executive committee tomorrow.

We've learned that we'll need to get the school serving through the 8th grade to receive government support.  The children will also need to demonstrate competency on standardize test.  So, while we have a way to go before the school can be accredited, we have come a long way.

-- submitted by C. Calia

The Send Off

Our group rose early on Sunday to worship at St James Episcopal Church which has a service in English. (There are five of us traveling together including myself (Chris Calia) and Ginger Stapley from Good Shepherd, Pat and Deedee Murphy from North Decatur and Frank Dimmock from PCUSA World Mission Agency.)  The 8:00 service began around 8:15 with about 8 people in attendance.  Over the next 10 minutes or so, more people wandered in until there were around 25 worshippers.  The service was similar to the Catholic mass that I grew up with. Ginger was asked to do a scripture reading. 

One of the worshippers was our old friend, Suzette Goss-Geffrard (pictured), who helped the original group from Atlanta that traveled to Haiti in search of a mission project.  There was a short fellowship time after the service and then a 30 minute van ride back to the hotel to prepare for our trip to the Central Plateau.

The weather for the ride to MPP was wonderful and we got a great view of the countryside.    As we rode up to the Central Plateau, I'm thinking about this passage we read from the Book of Prayer:

And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do.  To love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.  To him, to you and to the Holy Spirit.  Be honor and glory now and forever.  Amen.

Haiti Trip -- What to Expect?

Several people encouraged me to write about what I expect from my first trip to Haiti so that I might compare my expectations to my perspective when I return.  Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and so that conjures up images of a primitive place with unsanitary conditions.  The news media focuses on stories of dysfunctional and corrupt government, rampant disease and civil unrest.

But my limited international travel experience suggests the it's never what you see in news stories.  They do have modern conveniences such as electricity, bathrooms and internet.  Photos from past trips show people that are cleanly dressed and smiling.  In fact, all my friends that have been to Haiti have loved their experience and most have made return trips.

So, is Haiti a hopeless wasteland or a tropical paradise?  I suspect it's somewhere in between.

My journey is a mission to observe, learn and relate.   The people who have made our travel arrangements will make every effort to see that we have a good experience.  The Haitians in the villages and MPP know that we are about the business of building a school that is for them.  I'm told that they are looking forward to showing off what they've accomplished.  I am anxious to learn of their progress.

What I expect is to make new friends, see new places, learn new things and return with a new perspective on the world in which we live.

Haiti Trip -- How to Prepare?

Monday, November 09, 2015, 5:49 AM

It's with great excitement and trepidation that I anticipate my first trip to Haiti.  This is not only my first time to Haiti, but my first international mission trip of any kind.  After years of supporting others through financial contributions, supplies, and prayers, it's my turn.  Even though I've had much time to contemplate the trip, I still wonder "how do I prepare?"

First, there's all the physical things such as what to pack.  I've got my wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and insect repellent.  I've diligently taken all my medications and read all the safe travel warnings.  I've talked to people who have been to Haiti before and gotten all the good tips.  Don’t drink the water.  Stay with your group.  Keep your money out of sight.

In my heart, I know the real issue I have is being way out of my comfort zone.  I typically avoid third world countries, places where the people don't speak English, and cultures different than the US.  In this case, I've got all those things and more. 

The thing that helps me to face my fears is knowing that the work we're going is so important.  Our purpose on this trip is to check on the status of the school we're helping to build in the Ecovillages, meet the people responsible for implementing the plan for the school, and help shape future phases of the school's development.  That's a tall order but it's critical that all our donors and supporters know that their money and efforts are making an impact. 

So, while the physical preparation is important, it is the easy part.  How best to prepare to meet with people you've never met and who don't speak your language to discuss a project as complex as building a school from the ground up?