Earthquake Updates

News Flash

Wenesday, March 10, 2010

 

In The Media

While attending our Annual Meeting in Providence, RI this weekend, THP President Patrick Moynihan was invited for a friendly visit to the local NBC Channel 10 with Anchorman Mario Hilario. His interview aired at 7:35 a.m. on Sunday March 7th, and can be viewed on their website at:

The Haitian Project on NBC Channel 10 News, RI, March 7, 2010.

Thank you to Board Member Pat Newell for setting up the interview and Office Manager Colby Bowker for lending his J2ø88 Plymouth Reliant to get Patrick to the interview on time at 6:45 a.m. Saturday morning. Though running on little sleep, Patrick kept a keen demeanor and credits his interviewer for maintaining his poise. J2gMario took extra care in my presentability,J2 he said.

In related news, Tom Tracy from Catholic News Service presented The Haitian Project to the Catholic news wire with his recent article about our school:

Tom Tracy's Catholic News Service Article.

The article follows Cardinal OJ2øMalleyJ2øs visit and is written with eloquent precision. We cannot thank Catholic News Service enough for their time and talent. The story has been picked up by multiple diocesan papers.

In Haiti

Patrick arrived safely back at LCS on Monday with a seven-person medical team from Rockford, IL led by Dr. David Cheng and accompanied by THP Board Member Mickey Ingles, who is currently installing a new solar freezer in the schoolJ2øs kitchen. More details to come in FridayJ2øs update.

Patrick was honored to meet Rahway, NJ Mayor James Kennedy shortly after his arrival back in country. Mayor Kennedy was working in Bon Repos, about 10 minutes away from the school, helping Mickey install a solar-powered Mobile Maxpure water filtration system to help supply the town with clean drinking water. Louverture Cleary is proud to be currently hosting Mayor Kennedy at the school, and THP is excited to begin a welcoming relationship with the town of Rahway.

In The U.S.

We are grateful to our Board of Directors for stepping up to the plate and meeting their goal for the 2 to 1 Annual Fund Board Challenge set last September to raise $75,000. We are very grateful to the law firm of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, LLP for recently matching $4,421 of employee gifts. With this gift and the many others raised by the Board community, the goal was met and surpassed with $85,294 to add to THPJ2øs Annual Fund!

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

Almost There

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

 

While the weather here in Haiti is a bit abnormally cool and we continue to follow a para-curricular program [not the normal academic schedule], LCS life, especially in terms of students present, is quickly moving back to normal as displayed by our almost complete J2gLCSJ2 [picture above]. We have 278 students on campus this week. Hopefully we will have more than enough to complete our logo next week. Officially, schools in Haiti remain closed until first of April.

We also have a medical group visiting from Rockford, IL. We had Dr. David ChengJ2øs group split over two locations with LCS alumni medical students and LCS student translators assisting in both. More on this group's work in the Friday update.

Along with the group is Melissa Cheng who, although only 20, has been a THP supporter for six years. She started early as a promoter of the Annual Lenten Project at Boylan High School, our strongest supporting school in Rockford, IL. Today, she had the pleasure of working with ChristinaJ2øs Timoun Program [see picture above]. Here are her thoughts:

"Although we thoroughly studied The Haitian ProjectJ2øs website, we could not have possibly imagined what we found here at LCS. Today we played with the youngest kids here, who didnJ2øt seem to care that we didnJ2øt speak a bit of Kreyol; all they wanted was to be played with and be held. We played with the sidewalk chalk, acted as personal jungle gyms, and even got our butts kicked by three 10 year-olds in soccer. In the afternoon we helped teach math. As we walk away from our day, we are most impressed by the eagerness of the children to learn and the loving dispositions each of them have. In spite of the diverse socio-economic backgrounds, THP/LCS is a unified community and family."

This past weekend, we had a great Annual Meeting. The weather in Providence was also a bit chilly for me and Patrick Brun, THPJ2øs Board Chair, but the food was hot [we gathered for spicy Indian food after the meeting] and the company warm.

Most importantly, we again affirmed our mission and commitment to it. We also recently decided to embrace the charism that has fueled our success in Haiti community wide. Mary Jo LeGrand, THP Board Member who started as a Volunteer in Haiti in J2¿00-J2ø01, reflected in regard to the charism, J2gThe Holy Spirit was present, and together in community we affirmed that what we have been doing as an organization is the right thing for us, for our role in the Catholic Church and for our Mission in Haiti and in the United States. It was great to be a part of such a historic time for THP.J2

J2gBy living our specific charism, we have discovered that work done voluntarily for the benefit of others is a powerful, grace-filled catalyst for personal metanoia and environmental change. In this context, the success of our labor not only increases our sense of personal dignity and transforms the world around us, but it also deepens our trust in God and our willingness to serve.J2

J2ÉFrom THPJ2øs Charism

Follow ups will be provided as other decisions about our charism are made within The Haitian Project Community.

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

A Cardinal Day

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

 

Click photos to enlarge them.

Note: Due to The Haitian ProjectJ2øs Annual Meeting and today's special midweek update, there will not be an update on Friday.

Yesterday, Sean Patrick Cardinal O'Malley, OFM Cap, Archbishop of Boston, visited the campus along with USCCB Delegation head Most Reverend Jose H. Gomez, Archbishop of San Antonio. The Nuncio kindly arranged this visit. He felt it would add hope. And, LCS did not disappoint.

Preparation for breakfast with the Cardinal began early with LCS Volunteer Peter Ulrickson, master math teacher and baker, hard at work at 5:15 AM. Robert Moynihan, Stecie Midi (LCS Junior Staff) and Meg Smith (LCS Volunteer) helped out, making the scrambled eggs at about 7:30 AM, according to Christina's recipe [top right photo]. I did my best to pitch in on house cleaning before heading out at 6:30 AM to catch up with the entourage.

The tour included a walk through the neighborhood and visit to the house we are building in the community. LCS students dazzled the Canterbury Tales of guests with their language abilities [top left photo] and Christina's Ti moun (children from the zone in LCSJ2øs developmental program) stole hearts with their songs. There is no doubt that the delegation came to see a school and went away having met a village--the THP village.

Early preparation and team work made it a wonderful day. I think you can see that in all of our faces--students, bishops and deacon.

After the school tour, we left the school and went to Archbishop Miot's grave, where I proudly told the Cardinal that the tombJ2øs cross was lettered by our very own Volunteer, Kristen Zeiler. After that, we presented a land purchase idea on behalf of the Local Church. It was a short, but distinct privilege to address Archbishop Gomez and Cardinal O'Malley on such an important matter. Patrick Brun and I are hopeful that this plan will come to fruition.

Today, I will have the pleasure of assisting Archbishop Gomez as he celebrates the Holy Eucharist for the Missionaries of Charity community from around Haiti, whose Mother Superior (Mother Teresa's fourth successor, I believe) will be present.

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

100 Longest Yards

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

 

Click photos to enlarge them.

In support of our brother school, Saint-Louis de Gonzague, and the Brothers of Christian InstructionJ2øs intent to re-open as soon as possible for not only the school's 1,200 secondary students, but another 3,500 students from the Port au Prince area (including students of the public secondary school in GonzagueJ2øs neighborhood) we took on the job of replacing 100 yards of the school's perimeter wall which fell in the quake.

The rubble removal required loading 7 to 8 tons of broken cinder block and concrete into large sand trucks by hand, one shovelful at a time. Don't be fooled by picture number two. That piece of equipment arrived late in the day (without Patrick Brun's pushing, we would not have had it all) and mostly removed the remaining 30 feet of teetering wall.

We started with a team of about fifteen. Lucky, Christina helped us to recruit a second team of 8 men from the neighborhood. I learned on this job that I am a lot older than I was in 1996 when I began heavy construction. The work of facilitating the Brothers' connection with the 82nd Airborne and Lt. General Keene was a bit easier and more suited to my age.

Again, this work not only moves Haiti forward in the recovery, education being a priority -- it provides jobs!

Patrick Faustin (LCS Head of Maintenance) and his maintenance team, along with Volunteers Peter Ulrickson, Jonathan Kennedy, and John DiTillo, did a great job leading the effort.

Patrick Brun, THP Board Chair and graduate of St. Louis Gonzague, articulated the excitement found in this relationship forming between LCS and SLG, J2gSt. Louis Gonzague brings 150 years of history, challenge and education to Haiti. There are a lot of Brothers from SLG that have given their lives to Haiti and are buried here now. The match with Louverture Cleary School now is perfect. There is a lot now that SLG can learn from LCSJ2øs charism of work. Yesterday I was speaking with Brother Sarell, who has been a leader in getting the school reopened, about LCSJ2øs charism of work. When we finished talking, he looked at me with a smile and picked up a shovel.J2

J2gItJ2øs extraordinary that Louverture Cleary could help St. Louis Gonzague to reopen and the students of these two schools can work together,J2 Patrick Brun went on to say. J2gIt announces a better future for Haiti.J2

This past week, we also had the visit of Kurt Daviscourt, Brian Jones and Mike Smith from Seattle, WA. They are experts in building rehab, particularly buildings damaged in seismic events. Their findings fell in line with those of the past experts. They spent three days examining the buildings and designing repairs. We now have a set of detailed plans for renovations. We will be reporting the details of their findings in terms of scope and cost of repairs after the Facility Committee and the sub-committee of engineering experts review their work.

The best part of the team's visit was making J2ghouse callsJ2 to the homes of staff and community members. The result: 4 families back in their houses--and simple repair ideas for two more. This is what Haiti needs most--small groups of experts to provide house inspections and repair recommendations. Our experience suggests that a large percent of the housing still standing could be occupied as is or with minor [in terms of cost] repairs.

Hopefully, we can get the international community to focus more on this aspect of HaitiJ2øs needs soon.

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

A House is a Home

Friday, February 26, 2010

 

Click photos to enlarge them.

Photo 1: The Dorcy House Project: The base is done with the walls to go. The roof will be made of wood and corrugated metal.

Photo 2: THP President, Deacon Patrick Moynihan; LCS Head of Maintenance, Patrick Faustin, and LCS Manager of Donated Resources, Madame Deshomme at the newly reinforced wall at the Deshommes family home.

It is a great pleasure to send these preliminary pictures of our current work to help our community recover and transition into improved housing. We are not only making up for the loss, but moving our community toward a better quality of life.

We have one project completed--a wall reinforcement for one our staff. This makes her house safer and removes a dangerous hazard--a lot of people were killed by falling walls during the earthquake.

We have one house rebuild underway [Dorcy House Project pictured above] and we are working on the plans for two more. We are planning to do ten houses in total--more if there is the need and the funds. For building material, we are using both concrete block and a concrete block and wood combination. In both cases, the roofs will be wood and corrugated metal for now.

Housing is a top priority. Thanks to the funds provided by our community and to the years of building experience we have, we are off to a sturdy start.

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

A Crowd on Campus

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

 

Click photos to enlarge them.

This weekend, we were happy to see the largest collection of our students since the day following the earthquake. Unfortunately, the continued lack of understanding of the natural role of aftershocks in the earth settling, a misunderstanding complicated by radio commentary, caused some parents to come back this morning [we had a second aftershock last night] and get their kids to rethink a bit. However, we are still strong at 181 students. Over the weekend Hubert (LCS Principal), Zamy (Prefect of Discipline) and Betsy (LCS Volunteer) prepared for us a modified, but near full schedule from 7:00 AM to 2:40 PM--just an hour short of normal. The campus is alive again. It is great to see, feel, and hear the heart of the school pounding again. It is taking real courage and discipline to make it through the aftershocks; however, more and more students and staff are coming to understand that, much like other areas of the world such as California and Japan , we will have to learn to live with the gremlin below.

When asked how he feels about the re-opening of the LCS community, Jules Jean Arnold, a Philo (12th grade) student, replied, "First we must try to understand our circumstances and then adapt to our new life. We cannot stay in fear forever."

To accommodate the crowd, today we set up seven tents. Six of those replace the classrooms taken off-line as we wait for repairs on our oldest classroom building. It is possible these will also provide housing at night as we move back to our normal student body of 348. The seventh tent is for the Timoun Program, which serves small children ages 3 and up in LCSJ2øs neighborhood. It will serve as their J2gnappingJ2 station as we expand the program to longer hours and provide more support in the neighborhood, especially to the poorest families. Patrick Brun helped to source these tents from the Italian aid agencies working in Haiti . Vivia Italia!

In the United States , our community continues to rally support for our mission to rebuild and move forward. It is no coincidence that as our Board of Directors comes to formal discussion on Charism, the unique spirituality of THP which propels us in our efforts to serve, we have seen countless examples of joyful and spirit-filled J2gyesesJ2 . With a pure heart of service and without concern about interruption to daily life, so many have come together, and we give thanks. In Portland , Oregon , one person, at the last minute, took the opportunity to share his birthday, bringing people together in support and raising thousands of dollars in for The Haitian Project. All Saints Parish in Portland hosted a Mardi Gras dinner fundraiser, leading into the season of Lent with almsgiving. On the East Coast, the St. Paul J2øs choir in Cambridge , MA also came together in a unifying effort to raise support in honor of their member in Haiti , Volunteer Betsy Bowman. In thinking about all the gatherings, too long to list here, we are reminded that our work is part of a plan beyond our comprehension. With humbleness and gratitude, we give thanks for all the work those in the widespread THP community offer to help rebuild Haiti.

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

What You Do for Others

Tuesday, 02/19/2010

 

Click photos to enlarge them.

Sorting food from the Colombian Red Cross into colorful cartoon character bags that were found at Catholic Relief Services. The food was distributed today to the neighborhood and the students who are going home for the weekend to bring to their families. Inside the bags are rice, beans, chocolate, tomato paste, and other non-perishables.

Thanks to the connections developed by Steve Keppel [J2ø03-J2ø04 LCS Volunteer, J2ø04-J2ø05 LCS Director of Projects and Co-founder & Head of Economic Growth Initiative for Haiti] with the Red Cross of Colombia, we had ample food to share with our community near and far. We distributed three hundred 20 kg bags and fifty 20 kg boxes of food to those in need of support. We also received tons of food for the school as well.

We are truly one America!

In humble gratitude, we are again thankful that Patrick Brun was able to come through to arrange for all the logistics and trucking to get such a large quantity of food to the school for distribution.

The colorful bags came from Catholic Relief Services. They are a little miracle in themselves. The first thought that crossed my mind when we were informed of the food was, "How are we going to distribute the food in an orderly and dignified manner?" I had seen these bags used in the market place for food purchasing. But, I had no idea how to get 300 to 400 of them. To work on another matter, I stopped at CRS, and as I headed around the side of the office building for my meeting, I ran into a box. It was full of these bags--exactly what we needed. God provides. I asked for the bags and the rest of the story is in the picture.

I also want to point out that weJ2ÿstaff, students and volunteersJ2ÿcarried these bags to the houses in the neighborhood and handed them directly to families, in the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul. There were no lines, shoving or question as to who received the food support. It was given to people with whom we live and work daily, in an orderly and dignified manner. I mention this because we had denounced a disorderly ad hoc distribution done on our street two days before. Those involved in the earlier distribution took notice of the order and dignity of ours. In fact, the leader of the other distribution came in person to state that he now understood our concern and criticism of what had transpired on Wednesday. Sometimes it is not just what you do, but how you do it.

It is important to note that this food is more economic assistance than simple hunger relief - as we have stated previously, there is no real food shortage. The supply is in place at all levels, from wholesale to local markets, for those who have the funds to purchase it. This is why THP/LCS continues to look for ways to employ members of the community in the relief effort. We will be reporting on our house-building project next week. This program produces not only housing, but also jobs, making a double impact. We appreciate the relief funds that have been donated for housing and look forward to reporting on that effort.

As told in our last update, parishes, schools and organizations have made a substantial impact in contributions. Since the earthquake, 14 organizations,13 parishes and 15 schools have given to our school or our school's relief efforts. Among our parishes, All Saints (Portland, OR), St. Bernard's (Newport, RI), as well as Queen of All Saints and St. John Berchmans (Chicago, IL) pulled resources together quickly for significant second collections and parish fundraisers. Energized high schoolers from Bishop Ireton ( Arlington , VA ), Central Catholic ( Portland , OR ) and Boylan High ( Rockford , IL ) have done an astounding job gathering support from friends and loved ones. These high schools have been in solidarity with the students of LCS throughout the years through school wide collections, offering the benefits from their dances, and much more. We're encouraged that they remain in strong support with their peers in Haiti now. We'd also like to give special mention to St. Charles Borromeo Elementary School (IL) who raised twice the amount for schools their size and Biloxi Public Schools (MS) who came together as a district to raise funds.

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

The Magnitude of Work

Tuesday, 02/16/2010

 

Click photos to enlarge them.

The photos illustrate before and after cleaning up of the rubble from Jean Wisly Antoine's (1999 LCS Graduate) house. No one was hurt in the collapse, but Wisly and his family lost their home. Through relief support, we provided Wisly with labor from the Santo Trash Company as well as the LCS staff, students, and volunteers to clean the space. Patrick Brun arranged for the trucks to haul away the rubble. It became a monument for how our physical work can change a situation for the better and nature will not control us.

ItJ2øs hard to even imagine, let alone accurately calculate, the amount of human work that it is going to take to clean up the thousands of small, medium, and large buildings that have fallen during the earthquake. To give you a sense of scale, it took fifteen workers 2 days, shoveling 8 hours per day, and sending out twelve 5-ton trucks to clear one small one-family house that was across the street from our school. At the Cathedral, we worked for a week with heavy equipment and trucks 5 times larger than what we used at WislyJ2øs and we were able to clear only 75 % of the rubble from just the CathedralJ2øs office building. We hope to finish that job this week. There are definitely collapsed buildings larger than the Archdiocesan office building and ones smaller than WislyJ2øs house, but that should give you some sense of the sheer magnitude of work it is will take just to clean the Port au Prince area, let alone rebuild it. This work is something that Louverturians not only know, but are prepared to do, because we have always seen and understood that Human work is essential for Haiti J2øs progress.

There is a certain complexity to human work, especially very difficult and physical human work, in a people that has sufferedJ2ÿfirst under slavery and then later under political oppression. The past makes suspect the requirement of work, and casts a dehumanizing pall over it. Fortunately, at Louverture Cleary School weJ2øve been able to emancipate work. WeJ2øve been able to find in it, especially that which we do for others (no matter how dirty or difficult), true dignity. Through work we become more human ourselves as we make the circumstances for others more humane.

Still, there is an amazing amount of work to be done.

Other Updates

Our nine volunteers from the U.S. are now on a 3-day retreat so that they may be spiritually and physically renewed before entering back into the work that lays ahead. We have also been joined by John DiTillo, who was a THP/LCS Volunteer last year. John gave a quick and heart-felt J2gyesJ2 to the idea of returning to Haiti last week and staying through June. He is a great addition to a team he already knows well as he teaches and offers experienced support through the end of the school year.

Louverture Cleary School continues to operate without any significant problems related to our water, electricity or food supply. We are grateful for the countless people who participated in funding and installing such strong water and solar electric systems.

We plan to resume as normal as possible classes on Monday, February 21st. This week will be somewhat slower since it is a customary national vacation time in Haiti . In our community we will strike a balance between work and vacation so that those working hard will find the rest they need before classes resume.

Patrick Brun and I are working with the Nuncio for the reopening of Saint Louis de Gonzague School, which serves a large population in Haiti . If we are successful, Saint Louis de Gonzague will be able open their doors to not only their own 1200 students but also 3500 other students collected from a number of other schools affected by the earthquake.

LCSJ2øs full reopening will certainly be a joyous day, but Patrick Brun and I almost look forward to the reopening of Saint Louis de Gonzague as much as our own school. It will certainly be something to celebrate for the city of Port au Prince.

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

Calm in the Storm - A Month Later

Friday, 02/12/2010

 

Click photos to enlarge them.

THP Volunteer Kristen Zeiler paints the grave markers for the deceased Archbishop Most Reverend Serge Joseph Miot and his Vicar General, Reverend Charles Benoit. J2gToday was a day to mourn the dead and celebrate the living,J2 says Kristen.

Today, the nation held a day of prayer, fasting and mourning. The most obvious impact of this observance of the one month anniversary is the lack of chaotic traffic. Indeed, a certain calm has enveloped the city, allowing for much needed rest and reflection. Services were held all over town. Bishop Dumas celebrated the Eucharist at the mass burial site of the earthquake victims. This particular placeJ2øs history began with bodies being left there from the time of Duvalier and before. So, it is a complex symbol of multi-generational importance. This most recent great sorrow may provide a way to finally recognize the years of suffering by allowing for a memorial to be constructed at this location. The latest victims having united everyone in sorrow, we may now be more ready to move ahead as a nation united.

This moment of calm also allowed for Kristen Zeiler to finish the grave markers for the deceased Archbishop of Port au Prince, Most Reverend Serge Joseph Miot, and his Vicar General, Reverend Charles Benoit. These are odd times and we are called to do things beyond our expectations. I continue to be impressed with the response of our staff, volunteers and students to these diverse calls to service. I am also impressed by the response of the vast community that supports our mission together in Haiti.

In her own words Kristen shares:

"Driving outside it looked like a Sunday. Women and men dressed up in white led their children to the local churches and outdoor worship areas. Never before had I noticed how many churches there are on the busy National Road 3 outside our school. The painting itself did not take long to finish, and for the first time I saw graves of the men whose names I had become so familiar with. The site was respectfully set up. One large white cross stood behind the two small crosses and graves. Thank you for sharing your gift of life; rest in peace. Today was a day to mourn the dead and celebrate the living."

We will finish today with a communion service. I am confident that we will find new energy tomorrow--a fruit of today's solemn work.

We are contacting the Red Cross for tents to replace the housing and classroom space that we lost by taking two of our campus buildings out of use. This is in preparation for more students coming back after next week. We plan to re-open on Feb. 21, having observed the governmentJ2øs one month hiatus from formal schooling.

Update on the status of our Louverture Cleary Students

A month after the earthquake, we have been able to interview the 219 students (out of a total of 358 students) who have returned to participate at LCS at some point in the past weeks. Two of these students lost a parent during the earthquake. Regarding housing, 29 studentsJ2ø residences collapsed during the earthquake and the houses of 126 students sustained some damage, leaving 71% of those who have returned to school with a housing problem. Students whose homes collapsed or are severely damaged continue to stay at LCS on the weekends. All of our 23 teachers have been contacted; one was injured during the earthquake and is recovering in the hospital.

Update on Relief Activities

Through its Earthquake Relief fund, LCS/THP has been able to significantly help its staff and the surrounding community following the earthquake. 12 of our staff now have stable housing after their homes were destroyed. In addition, we were able to help pay for the funeral of the husband of one of our cooks who passed away. We have been supporting the Hospital Saint Francois de Salles in Port-au-Prince by building a new gate for their dispensary as well as funding three of our medical students to provide medical care at the hospital. To assist the Memphis Medical Mission relief team, we have hired six graduates, one as a driver and five as translators. Finally, we have hired seven men from our neighborhood to clean up rubble around the area as well as to rescue important documents from the Cathedral and the ArchbishopJ2øs residency. To date we have spent a total of $9,215 US in our relief efforts.

Your Support

We have had a spectacular response from donors who continue to propel us forward in our unshaken mission to rebuild. Since January 12 we have received contributions from 915 donors, 240 of those being loyal current donors who have remained with us during this pressing time. We are also grateful for the encouraging number of the new 589 donors who have also joined us in our work.

We would like to give special thanks to the corporations and foundations who have generously contributed including Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, McGuireWoods LLP, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, LLP, Goodwill Industries, Shapiro Capital Management, LLC, Zeta Associates and McCauley & L'Europa LLC.

THP has received and continues to receive from an amazing web of parishes, schools and other organizations throughout the United States who have given generously through organizing fundraisers or by digging deep into their pockets. We will have more coming later on these invaluable activities that have been occurring to support Louverture Cleary School and the mission to rebuild.

Please continue to keep in your prayers those closest to our LCS community:

In loving Memory:

Marin Forde J2É LCS Class of 1998, LCS Librarian 2004-2009
Gabriel Marie Pierre J2É LCS Class of 2002
Ruth Alcenat J2É LCS Class of 2006
Berkely Pierre J2É LCS Class of 2006
Sabrina Louis Jeune J2É LCS Class of 2008
Ismaul Geslus J2É LCS Class of 2008
Gesline Laguerre J2É LCS Class of 2009

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

Making the Rounds

Tuesday, 02/09/2010

 

Today, Patrick Brun and I took the leadership of the downtown contingent of the 82nd Airborne to tour the destroyed churches and schools of the Archdiocese. We were contacted by Major Farmer who is interested in helping the community by removing rubble from locations that can be community contact points for food distribution.

It is getting a little easier to move around town due to some progress in rubble removal. But, just when you think you have mastered a driving route, it gets closed again. Also, just when you think you have sensed the dead for the last time, a new place sends reminders.

The Military is slated to help us to get at one of these reminder memorials at the Hospital St. Francois de Sales. They will clear a fallen building at the back of the pediatric ward, which once removed will give the opportunity to more carefully attend to a space that is currently a tomb for over 100 children.

People in the streets remain amazingly willing to laugh at any improvised humor thrown their way. I enjoy walking and randomly greeting those we meet as we deliver our students and staff to community service points. We continue to make minor repairs, put in gates [our maintenance staff are real heroes], burn trash for the hospital, translate and provide medical assistance through our team of LCS alumni who are advanced in medical school.

We have finished much of the Cathedral and Archdiocesan work. What is common to each of these diverse locations is that we have inspired courage in and brought energy to every location we have worked. Each is a happier, cleaner and more efficient place for our involvement.

Peace,

Patrick

Making other rounds, The Haitian Project appeared in the Boston GlobeJ2øs Metro section, capturing quite well the spirit of perseverance and optimism we embrace here in The Haitian Project Community.

J2gWe have to act like weJ2øre not going to disappear tomorrow, but look ahead 200 years from now,J2øJ2ø Moynihan says of Haiti. J2gWe canJ2øt forget the dead, but their sacrifice will be honored by what we do moving forward.J2øJ2ø

To read the full story follow the link below or for a PDF of the released paper edition with photos you can open the enclosed attachment:

Click for Boston Globe Article

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

The Sublime in the Rubble

Friday, 02/05/2010

 

Click photos to enlarge them.

Although the important focus continues to be on supporting medical relief activities and feeding the hungry, to really rise up as human beings we must also make progress in the sublime areas of life. Thanks to Patrick BrunJ2øs assistance, we arranged for 3 commercial-size end loaders and several 5-ton sand trucks to remove the rubble of the Archdiocese. In the process of hand sorting through the remains we are finding archives and artifacts significant to the Church.

With us in this effort is a man named Angelo who is the leader of a 7-person trash company. We put this company together before Christmas to help create employment and outreach in our local neighborhood. Yesterday Angelo pulled from the rubble the official document signed by John Paul II naming Joseph Serge Miot the Arch Bishop of Port au Prince. Bishop Miot died at the moment of the earthquake when the force of shaking thrust him from the balcony. (Special Note: Yesterday Kristen Zeiler, LCS Volunteer, was commissioned to write the Bishops name on the cross that marks his grave). Today, as youJ2øll see in the picture above (left), Angelo handed the retrieved document to the Papal Nuncio for safe keeping. Last night, when I showed the document to Christina, and she carefully placed her fingers on John Paul IIJ2øs signature, I realized that the document is not only historically important but also contains the signature of a person who is soon to be canonized a Saint.

Continuing the cleanup, Peter (LCS Volunteer), Jon (LCS Volunteer), Angelo and his 6 partners took on the Sacristy of the Cathedral. Since the earthquake, it has been turned completely upside down. People are scavenging through the church for materials such as wood and other useful items for rebuilding their houses. Overall, this is not a problem, as the church has always done what it can to give to the poor. Unfortunately in the process, however, people were starting to take down the cabinetry in the sacristy. By cleaning up the sacristy, we restored proper respect to the building and made it impossible for people to take from this particular sacred space. We recovered several other church furnishings in the process and moved them to safe keeping.

At the completion of our work today, by having the right equipment and making real progress, it was like going from animal-survival to human living: A sublime experience to be sure.

In addition to the relief funds, we are thankful for the funds that have been provided for the Church for its recovery as well. To provide context to the situation, think of what it would be like to lose the Archbishop, the Vicar General, the Chancellor, the Secretary, every downtown parish, both seminaries and several seminarians and priests in less than a minute.

We are proud to be able to come to the aid of the Church in this very difficulty moment, but we also continue recognize the supreme value of life over all else. We continue to support three medical activities each day, as well as provide maintenance and organizational support for Hospital Saint-Francois de Sales on a daily basis.

Again, I cannot say how much I appreciate, personally, communally, institutionally. Patrick Brun, Chair of the Board and our man in Haiti. Without him we would never be able to achieve the long list of activities that has made THP/LCS a household word in Haiti.

Thank you again for your continued support. Your help is the help we have to give Haiti. We look forward to sharing with you another special update on Tuesday followed by our regular Friday Community Update.

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

Undaunted

Wednesday, 02/03/2010

 

Patrick Moynihan and Minel Lofficial (from LCS's Office of External Affairs) sign a check to provide aid for staff members working on recovery from the earthquake.

As you can see from the picture, we have begun to distribute direct aid to staff and people in the neighborhood who are in great need because of the earthquake. LCS grad Minel Lofficial, Director of the THP Office of External Affairs, has interviewed each staff member to ascertain if they have any extraordinary needs. Housing is the most common need along with medical and funeral expenses. Neighborhood needs will be assessed in detail this week.

We continue to have 15 guests on the school property. Most are student family members and alumni. Some of the alumni are involved in our community service and medical service projects. We will be using relief funds to help those without housing to find a place to stay.

I want to thank those who have contributed to the relief fund which so far has reached over $90,900.

We have closed the circle on the "Step Down" hospital. We had our first official meeting today. This will be a great service to Haiti, and will provide meaningful employment for our alumni [especially those who recently finished with medical and nursing school] and will be a great place for our students to serve.

Today, after discussing several topics with the senior leadership of the 82nd Airborne, including the removal of deceased patients as well as rubble from the Diocesan hospital and the excavation of the Archdiocese archives, the Major asked, "What is it your group does here again?" I answered in one word, "Serve."

Increasingly there is a widening gap between the reality of LCS and that of the city environment. This is not cause for alarm; it is just a noticeable fact. It is largely due to LCS getting back to normal more each day, not the city getting worse -- We are moving forward much quicker in terms of recovery. This is seen most obviously through the students and staff who are back inside buildings and our ability to provide service to others.

Each time I leave campus, I "plunge" into the cityscape. Traffic is tough, clogged with NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), press and military vehicles -- a lot like 1996. It is dusty beyond belief with some lingering odors that keep us conscious of the nearly 200,000 who have died. Back home at the school, it is like coming out of the rabbit hole.

Our hope is undaunted. But we may have to hang the sign, "Pardon our mess while we rebuild," to explain the seriousness of our focused faces and preoccupation with the immediate needs of our community.

On a lighter note, I heard today that Sean Penn is about town. Since we do not have TV, I had to get that news from the U.S. Military. I guess he had been where I was standing only moments before I arrived.

Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers. Your help is the help we have to give our students and community who are dedicated to rebuilding Haiti. We will provide you with the next update on The Haitian Projects progress on Friday.

Peace,

Patrick

Our community has received the news that another one of our graduates was lost during the earthquake. Please remember Ismal Geslus, and all our graduates who have passed away and for whom we continue to pray:

Marin Forde LCS Class of 1998, LCS Librarian 2004-2009
Gabriel Marie Pierre LCS Class of 2002
Ruth Alcenat LCS Class of 2006
Berkely Pierre LCS Class of 2006
Sabrina Louis Jeune LCS Class of 2008
Ismal Geslus LCS Class of 2008
Gesline Laguerre LCS Class of 2009

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

Relief

Monday, 02/01/2010

 

Building On Our Strength:

As we channel more of our efforts to direct relief in Haiti, we have great news from within the walls of the school as well. We currently have over half of our student body on campus, around 187 students. This is a jump of 50 students in just one weekend. The students, who have been timid about returning indoors like everyone else in Haiti affected by the earthquake are all living inside the dorms. I do not believe we could be on a better trend for officially reopening formal school classes when the government allows Port au Prince schools to reopen.

Direct Relief In Haiti:

Our students, staff and volunteers continue to intensify their service to the community. Our neighborhood Timoun Program is going in full force. This program started up earlier this year to serve small children ages three and up in the neighborhood, providing them with a hot lunch, structured games, etiquette classes, art, reading and writing classes as well as movies for fun. Additionally, we have removed the rubble and the trash from our neighborhood in Santo 5 and 7 and we are ready to go back to the National Road 3. The National Road remains uncommonly clean and stands as encouraging evidence of the success of our past work in keeping this public area free from trash.

Beyond our immediate neighborhood, we are working with three medical groups each day. Through the Memphis Medical Missions, located on Santo 19, we provide have been providing their doctors a vehicle and driver for transportation, as well as 5 of our students who are able to serve as Kreyol to English translators. The Scripps Medical Group has been providing medical care at the St. Francis De Sales Hospital, and we have been able to provide alumni students as translators and medical students transportation and some meal assistance for the group where they are staying at the Papal Nuncios residence. Additionally, our students continue their work at the Missionaries of Charity where they translate and provide other service activities.

Because of our vantage point, along with our involvement with Catholic Relief Services, the Arch Diocese of Port au Prince and these three medical activities, we have been able to pull these groups together to discuss the creation of a step down hospital at Santo 19, attached to where the Memphis Medical Group is working. Here, patients who have already received immediate intensive treatment will continue with their needed care. Now, of course, it is in their hands to make this vision of a step down hospital a reality. Should this work out, we will send our students and volunteers to help as translators, compassionate care givers, and physical therapy assistants.

Finally, downtown we are also participating in the excavation process for the Arch Diocese, whose building has fallen into rubble. Patrick Brun and I are working with the groups involved in the demolition to sort materials and recover important archived documents.

IJ2øll continue to keep you posted as work with our neighborhood and these medical teams progress. The next update will be coming to you on Wednesday.

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

Another Step Toward Normalcy

Friday, 01/29/2010

 

Picture 1: Marianna is delighted to play with her friends in the neighborhood, and take care of her puppies who have grown so much since she left in early December.

Picture 2: Mikhaila has jumped right back into her usual routine helping her mother Christina and the LCS students with the lunch program for the neighborhood kids.

Picture 3: Timothy says J2gEven though IJ2øm enjoying sleeping in later, IJ2øm looking forward to resuming a normal school schedule.J2 Robert is eager to get started on some of the many demolition and construction projects in and around the school.

Picture 4: Christina reports that itJ2øs J2gso good to be back here.J2 When she got out of the car on Santo 5, there was a crowd of grinning children and neighborhood women waiting for her. The kids mobbed her with hugs and kisses, and the women eagerly led her around the zone to see their houses J2É those that sustained serious damage and those that did not.

When she heard about the earthquake, Mariana Moynihan (9) reports that her first thoughts were just single phrases about the people and place she was suddenly worried about, J2gthe volunteers J2
the ti moun (small children) from the neighborhood J2
. The school buildings J2
the students ...J2 Though they all wanted to drop everything and get on the next flight, that wasnJ2øt possible right away. They wanted to be in Haiti to help, but also just to be there at such an important time with their Haitian family and friends. The kids report that they never doubted for a moment whether or not they should come back. For them, living in Haiti is totally normal, and not being there in a time of crisis was the totally unnatural thing. Now that theyJ2øre back, theyJ2øve settled right back into their Haiti lives.

Today, ChristinaJ2øs back to work with her boundless energy chasing 40 little kids around the playground every afternoon, but thereJ2øs something even sweeter now about watching Christina smother these children with so much love and affection.

In the days after the earthquake, volunteer Betsy Bowman reported that the neighborhood children and families would the volunteers every day when Christina and the kids were returning. J2gI donJ2øt think some of them believed us when we promised them that they would come as soon as a plane would fly them here.J2 she says J2gHaving them back now is just one more step toward normalcy for all of us.J2

Thank you to all the members of The Haitian Project CommunityJ2ÿold and newJ2ÿfor your continued support and prayers. With the collected resources, persistence, and strong Haitian Project Spirit, Louverture Cleary School continues to push forward. We look forward to sharing with you our next update at the start of next week.

Peace,

Patrick

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

The Moynihans: A Joyful Reunion

Thursday, 01/28/2010

 

The Moynihan Family returns to Haiti can be seen at:

Haitian Project Slideshow

Please check in the following days for more pictures.

Yesterday afternoon, the Moynihan family was finally reunited at their home in Haiti. Christina (Patricks wife), Robert (16) Mikhalia (15) Timothy (13) and Marianna (9) had been in the U.S. for Christmas break and were preparing for their return to Haiti when the earthquake hit. The Moynihan clan has been living in Haiti since July, and has lived in Haiti for several other extended periods since Patrick first became Director of THP in 1996. The family works as a unit, and now with Patrick, Christina and their children all back in one place, the Moynihan factor returns enabling the LCS community to maximize its impact. Patrick will continue his work to manage the school and reach out to the business community in Haiti, while Christina will move forward in her well-formed ministry to the neighborhood, working especially with mothers and their children. The four Moynihan teens bring not only the sense of family and family values to the LCS community, but they also offer a significant amount of support and add to the schools spirit as they exude what it means to be a joyful Louverturian.

After a joyous reunion, Patrick Damus, (LCS Campus Ministry and Community Outreach staff) expressed, The Moynihans all coming back showed me the charity they have for all of Haiti, the neighborhood, the LCS staff and volunteers. At this important time, it showed us that they love us and believe in us. They are a great reminder to our community of what we can do through our school.

In being rejoined with his family, Patrick shared "I was so proud to see Marianna arm-and-arm with her friends on Santo 5 (the schools street) and Christina surrounded by the people she has made part of our family life. With her here, I will be four times more effective."

Others can attest to the joy and comfort this family brings to the neighborhood when they hear the cheerful calling of, Christina!! Marianna!! and the other Moynihan names coming from small children and adults alike as the Moynihans pass through the streets of the neighborhood.

Updates from Patrick:

A Well Executed Plan Pays Off With Power:

It is great walking around the campus at high noon and hearing the "beehive" sound of the inverters putting power away for the coming night from the solar panels. Having gone solar over the past six years has helped us greatly.

Electricity means light, fans and water--all three essential for campus life. We are appreciative of Mickey Ingles, Ace Mullen [deceased], Sue Williams, Steve Pelegrino, Loras College groups, Bill Derry, Joe Altenhoff, Scott Hill and all the men of the Rockford Men's Group and the donors that help make our solar power plant possible.

Many Hands Make Work Light:

Christina Crow and Elizabeth O'Connell have headed back to the U.S. They came to LCS at a very important time. Their addition to the team on the ground was critical to moving forward on the immediate objectives. I feel like we are an octopus. Thanks to our veteran team, we are moving on several fronts at the same time. As Betsy Bowman, volunteer teacher and constant photographer, said as she sat at the make-shift laptop set-up on the ledge behind me to help with an update, "Now, I see how you multitask." I also want to point out that Reese, Colby and Tim continue to turn out the work at home, less visible, but immensely important for our progress.

Students, Relief and Service:

We have completed a survey of students who are at the school right now. We will be providing some general comments on the status of our student body by the end of the week. We have spoken individually with each of the 130 students on campus [a little over 1/3 of the student body] about their situation at home. We have also started interviewing staff about their families and immediate needs. We have started to dispense direct aid for housing, medical, funerals, and getting people back to business [small market sellers who had a wall fall on them and their wares]. With Christina back, direct aid to the neighborhood will increase exponentially.

Thank you for your continued support.

Peace,

Patrick

The Haitian Project has operated without interruption for over twenty years. Having worked through boycotts, hurricanes and political upheaval, we know from past experience that the cost of operation will increase greatly during this crisis. We all also know there is no more important time to keep up our mission than now. Whatever the increase in cost, we are committed to continuing to house, feed and educate our 358 students as well as provide direct aid to the hundreds of families who live around our school. We are proud that our students, staff and volunteers are already engaged in the relief effort. More than ever, they need your support.

Donations can be made online at:

www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

Working Without Adrenaline

Wednesday, 01/27/2010

 

This wall must come down. As we prepare to remove another major section of wall, we snapped a picture of the LCS Compost Song. We contacted Elizabeth Guertin Mason [THP Volunteer 03 J2É 05] because she wrote the song and spent days painting it on the wall. She will get a chunk of the wall in the mail soon. The corrugated roofing used for the temporary fence will not go to wasteJ2ÿit will end up a roof on a house in our neighborhood soon. Tin roofs have made a comeback in Haiti for obvious reasons.

We made the turn last Saturday and things continue to settle into a more workable pace. We are now running a middle distance race, not a full tilt sprint. We are turning our focus to reclaiming our students from the chaos. Today, Philo students [17 to 19 years old] have enthusiastically agreed to go look for their peers. They have accepted the call to be fishers of men and women.

Things are better, even in the city. How do we know this? Well, a box of frozen chicken is priced just as it should be given the change in exchange rate and we can buy the amount we need at the normal location. I spend a lot of time on the roads, traveling by both private and public transit. People are moving. I enjoy moving with them.

Also - our students are thinking. My makeshift office is in the library in deference to the working internet connection in that building. I like it because I am accessible to the students. The other day, a Philo student stopped by and asked, J2gCan I ask you a question?J2 Fortunately, I had the grace to push back from my work and say, J2gYes, of course.J2 I was prepared for a personal question about scholarships or some sort. Instead, he asked, J2gDo you think the Marshall Plan could be something that could be used by the US as a model to help Haiti?J2 How they are thinking. I returned to work 15 minutes later only out of sheer discipline.

Our volunteers continue their great work in the community, and we are, as ever, infinitely grateful for their presence and support. The below reflection is from volunteer Mary DeAgostino:

J2gLast week, I accompanied students to volunteer in direct relief efforts. After taking some to translate at a local clinic, I began to realize that my role at LCS has not changed as much as I had previously imagined. Talking with them at the end of the day, seeing their confidence swell at their successful work, answering their fervent queries about words they had struggled to translate, I was filled with pride at their excitement and realized: I am still a teacher. While I have personally provided relief by tending wounds and preparing large meals, it is ultimately not my place to rebuild Haiti but to give the young people of this country the necessary knowledge and support to do so.J2

Oldest Notre Dame Alumni to serve THP/LCS: As part of the three independent surveys made of our buildings, Architect Eduardo Chamorro, Hon. FAIA from Nicaragua. By no coincidence, he is ND class of 1958. God provides. He is also the head of a 5 year old university in Haiti. I look forward to making connections for the future. His conclusions, in a nutshell: J2gYour buildings are strong, but your program is stronger. Duplicate yourself.J2

While the sun is out most of time, the shadows are still prevalent. Yesterday, we attended the funeral of Edia Paul Louis, sister of Esaie Paul [LCS 05], Esther Paul [LCS 02 and current LCS operations head in Haiti], and Edelyne Paul [LCS 99 and former LCS employee]. Edia is survived by her husband, Bury, and two children. It is Esther that I am hugging in the Der Spiegel photograph.

Please remember our graduates who have passed away and for whom we continue to pray:

Marin Forde J2É LCS Class of 1998, LCS Librarian 2004-2009
Gabriel Marie Pierre J2É LCS Class of 2002
Ruth Alcenat J2É LCS Class of 2006
Berkely Pierre J2É LCS Class of 2006
Sabrina Louis Jeune J2É LCS Class of 2008
Gerline Laguerre J2É LCS Class of 2009

Peace,

N