Dear friends,don’
My visit to Haiti is rapidly coming to a close. The medical team left yesterday. We had 3 very successful clinics and saw 551 patients. We accompanied 2 patients to the hospital who may have died without this access. We trained 6 traditional birth attendants in danger signs of complications of pregnancy and some techniques they can use to ease a woman’s birth experience.
And we also made many new friends! I don’t want you to have the impression that we are “all work and no play”! Our last day was travelling up the mountain to the small community of Lakadonie, where some of the best coffee is grown. There a volunteer teacher teaches 70 children ages 4 – 8 in a one room “shelter” with only one remaining wall and no roof, with a view many would pay millions for -.We have provided them with a dry toilet there, as the result of the success of selling Haitian coffee, but they continue to need our support to maintain the health and safety of their children and families. We will continue to reach out to them with our hygiene education and our upcoming home composting toilet program. The the team went for a hike and a swim in a natural made pool and waterfall – a highlight of trip!
Now I am in Port-au-Prince at St Joseph’s Family Guest House. I visited Marcorel’s family’s orphanage yesterday, and met with a group from Vermont that is travelling up to Duchity tomorrow. We are exploring ways in which our work can complement each other and ways to help move development in Duchity along. I also met with the members of another Duchity-based youth organization called CLAID (Club Literaire for the Advancement of Duchity) about establishing a library in Duchity. These young people have already drawn up the architectural plan for a building! And I almost forgot, a meeting with Ernst Louis, president of FNJD (National Youth Federation for Development) on building partnerships…
Today I am off to Hinche, on the Central Plateau, to visit my friend, Fr. Fritz, and see another part of the country. One more day of meetings tomorrow, and then I leave for home and the ccccold!
Hope you are all well. Your continuing support of Youthaiti’s work is crucial for us to continue to help provide sanitation and hygiene for thousands of people, and help build the capacity of young Haitians who dream of a better life for themselves and their communities. Thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts.
love
gigi
