Archived Updates Starthrower Foundation and Mentions in the Media
On the Road in Haiti :: The Start of Starthrower
Although tourists eagerly embrace Haiti's island-mate, the Dominican Republic, when they think of Haiti at all, it's not as a sun and surf destination, or the world's first black republic, but as dirt-poor, voodoo-practicing, AIDS-ridden country formerly ruled by the Duvaliers.
Full story and pictures at Snapshot Journeys Haiti
Photo: On the bridge over the River Massacre, the border crossing between Dajabon, DR and Ouanaminthe, Haiti
Winter 2007-2008 :: Funds needed to pay tuition for students in Haiti. Please make a donation or support Starthrower Foundation via the Fundraiser Shop
Due to the volume of Haiti and Starthrower Foundation information archived in these pages, you may find it easier to enter your search term(s) and search this site, the Starthrower blog or the web.
Sharon Gaskell's Updates from Cap-Haitien, Haiti
Sharon Gaskell, Starthrower Foundation founding director and main field worker, phones or emails updates from Cap-Haitien when possible.
* For February 2007-Current updates, see Starthrower Foundation blog.
* Updates prior to February 2007 on this page and archives.
* For Email Updates notification :: See email form.
[Photo: Illiomene J-F, newly sponsored student in Sen Rafayel]
January 18, 2007 Cap-Haitien
Hello Everyone!
We seem to be retuning to normal (whatever that is) after the Christmas break. Most of the kids have returned from 'en deyo' (the countryside) and report cards are starting to come in. Now we begin to set up tutoring sessions for those with problems.
Good news! We are now connected to a communal 'transformateur privé' (private transformer) which gives us a little more electricity. Not much on a regular basis, but we did have hydro Sunday, Monday and Wednesday night from about 7 p.m. til morning. First time in 9 years to have hydro all night! This is a strong current also, because we are now able to use it to pump water from our well. This will save on gas for the generator. We had a small flood Monday as the pump was left running all night. With the generator, it is impossible to forget the pump due to the noise. Lesson learned.
Wisky D. and Denis E. (apprentice mechanics) have been working with Jack this week as their Bos has temporarily closed the garage because his child is sick.
Tentatively, we have visitors coming in March (no dates yet) so we are painting the bedrooms.
I sometimes forget the 'mize' (misery) with which our staff and students live. Joceline's brother died Friday and the funeral was yesterday. She came in to work this morning with a hoarse voice and tears in her eyes. The throat problem is from crying, she told me, so I made a pot of tea with three different herbs, added a little honey and suggested she sip it throughout the day.
Jack's niece Sindel (6 months old) died December 22, and Will S.(12) died the same day. Will was the brother of Evaldine, one of our Sen Rafayel group. We had paid for him to go to the hospital in Pignon last summer as he was bleeding from eyes, nose, ears and mouth. Mme. S. asked, but we are unable to pay for the funeral. Will watch that situation as she could end up in prison if the bill is unpaid.
Edwina had an appointment at the hospital yesterday. They had to dilate her eyes for the exam (first time she'd ever had them dilated) and then they sent her out in that bright sun without cover. Edwina was in agony when she arrived here. We brought her inside, put cold cloths over her eyes, and fed her. Abel biked to the market and bought sunglasses for her and I donated my sunhat.
The hospital is on grev (strike) most days as nursing staff have not been paid for 9 months. Edwina was lucky.
Must go --5 minute warning [email shut-off] has been sent
Blessings
Sharon
January 8, 2007 Cap-Haitien, Haiti
Hello, Everyone!
The Haitians have an expression which carries many levels of meaning:
"Woch nan dlo pa konnen doulé woch nan soléy"
(The rock in the water doesn't know the pain of the rock in the sun)
I hear from so many people who are 'rocks in the water (those who have water for every need) who believe charity is the only solution for the 'rocks in the sun' (the poor of the world). Starthrower Foundation believes in social justice, not charity. My message on the home page and our Mission Statement explain this philosophy in more detail.
We have now taken on 6 more students from Sen Rafayel who had been on our wait list and who have been directly affected by recent flood damage. There was enough money to back pay entrance fees (frais) and fees for their 1st trimest. Hopefully, more funds will come in by February, so we can pay tuition, etc. for the balance of the year.
1) Illiomene J'F (b.18.05.85; photo) :: Both her parents died when she was young, and an uncle who had taken her in died 6 yrs ago. She's been staying with a family in Sen Rafayel who have now lost everything in the flood that occurred the week before Christmas.
2) Philomise D. (b.30.05.85) :: Her mother is dead and the flood took away her father's garden (jaden) and pig (cochon).
3)Shounoune J. (b.15.02.90) :: Father is dead, and since the flood when mother's small wooden house (bwa kay) was destroyed, they have been sleeping in a ditch beside the ruins.
4) Raphael M. (b.24.10.89) :: Both his mother and father are dead, and he's been staying with an aunt who has now lost all her chickens goats in the flood.
5) Berline P. (b.27.03.90) :: Both her mother and father are dead. Her brother has been trying to send her to school, but now has lost all his garden.
6) Ganel D. (b.26.10.89) :: Both parents are alive but ill, and their garden and chickens are now all lost.
So many more people suffered serious losses in this recent flood, which apparently didn't rate a mention in the national press, or due to holiday schedules, went unreported. Please help us help them.
Modeline J. needs a tumor removed. I had returned earlier than planned to try to arrange the surgery. She will have the surgery in Milot but is not yet strong enough, so we are prepping her with protein powder donated by Mme Lucie, and Vitamin C donated by Mme Cindy, and multivitamins donated by Mme Jan. That these donations that are vital for the life of one young Haitian came from donors in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Colorado shows what we can accomplish when we work together. Thank you, all! We are setting up infirmary rooms for Modeline's post-op in our 2 attached outbuildings. Anyone who has seen our video has seen where Modeline lives. She would die of post-op infection if she had to do her post-op there.
Dieugrand came in this morning (Sunday ) after church. He is absolutely devastated because someone stole his bike while he was at church. He worked so hard to save the money to buy it.
On a lighter note, Abel, Jacques and I travelled to Labadee on January 2, where we met with Mme. Cindy and her family. They had brought us 7 backpacks loaded with donations including the much needed Vitamin C. Cindy also brought pictures of her and Paula and their families and friends, showing them all packing Christmas boxes for our students. Those pictures are now displayed on the door to our office, so now everyone here can 'put faces to some of the names' of those who have been working so hard to help them.
We need to make preparations for our 2 young men who will finish Philo this year and want to study medicine in Cuba. If anyone can research the teaching hospital in Havana, Cuba, and send the contact name and email address, I would appreciate it.
I am told a lap top with wireless capability will allow me to send photos from a digital camera and will not require an account with internet supplier. I can use 2 locations here that have wireless coverage for patrons, so we just need the lap top. I will price them when I go to Ft. Lauderdale in February. We have so many wonderful photos saved on our new camera that I would love to send you all.
I leave you with another Haitian expression ::
Ti Poule pa mande plim li mande lavi.
(The little chick doesn't ask for fancy feathers; He just asks for life)
New Years blessings!
Sharon
December 17, 2006 Cap-Haitien, Haiti
Hello Everyone,
Several things have been happening over the past few weeks that have made it difficult to contact you all. If anyone is waiting for me to reply to an email, it will be a while longer.
The situation in Cap-Haitien has been tense, with bandits stopping tap taps and robbing the passengers. Also there have been 3 kidnappings in Cap-Haitien this past week or so, with the kidnappers now using taxis to abduct their victims. And when a Haitian warns me against using tap taps and taxis, I take it very seriously. I am fine, though, and have enough food at the house to last for about a week.
Today I came to town by taxi with Jacques (his wife nearly died this week). I had just loaded my emails at the internet cafe, then the system crashed, and all the phone lines went down, so I could not read any of them. I managed to buy a new phone card, though, so I've passed on this update via my cell phone. We've still got no hydro.
The rain has stopped, and it's very hot now. Six of our kids have eye infections. There's a particularly nasty bacteria going around right now. One girl has shingles, an infected urinary tract, worms and anemia. These multiple infections are what many of these kids deal with every day. Four have serious dental conditions (I'm sure one needs a root canal, and our dentist has disappeared so no idea how he is going to get help).
Two groups of visitors stopped by to say hello -- Jan, Anne, Jane and Ben from Colorado, and Jen and Elizabeth from Ontario. The Colorado group were driving a 4WD vehicle I had never seen before. If anyone has any information about it, let us know. I believe it is a Pinzgauer, and they said it was really great for getting up the mountains. They raised funds in the U.S. to buy it, then ship it to Haiti. These vehicles cost about $15,000, and from what I saw, they would be ideal for this terrain. However, as a lone woman in a high profile vehicle, I think I would be a target. Better to save for a less flashy used truck to haul supplies.
[Editor's note: I found two sites: SwissArmyVehicles and PinzgauerCanada, which says:
The Pinzgauer, affectionately referred to by a few as the "Hummer Hunter," has been produced by the Austrian firm of Steyr-Daimler-Puch since 1968 and is available in four-wheel and six-wheel drive configurations. The vehicles imported into North America by Pinzgauer Canada.com were built to specifications required to meet the needs of the Swiss armed forces.]
The cost for a one-year Imagine Canada database access has been donated by a board member (Thanks, Cindy!) so we can now begin searching Canadian corporations for grant opportunities.
Christmas break is just starting, and the kids will be off school until about January 8. I hope the break will be 'uneventful'.
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard all year to help us help these kids and their families, and to all who are working on fundraisers to continue the work. A Merry Christmas to all, and the best for the New Year.
Kenbe,
Sharon.
November 30, 2006 Cap-Haitien, Haiti
Hello Everyone,
I arrived safely back in Cap-Hatien in the rainy season, and it's rained nearly every day. The temperature hasn`t dropped yet, though. That will happen closer to Christmas. Until then, it's really humid.
On Monday at 1 p.m., the hydro came on! Everyone was in a euphoric state. The power went off again at 5:30p.m. That four and a half hours is the longest block of hydro since last March. We charged phones, I ironed and made toast. We even plugged in the fridge. Those in our neighbourhood who bought into the private transformer (transformateur privee) have some electricity daily. We paid into it but NOW are told the wire (fil) to hook it up will cost another $1500 Haitian dollars (about $220 US). It is always something.
Abel is somehow managing to work full time and go to school. His Philo classes are from 3-8, so he works from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., then packs a lunch and goes to school.
Two boxes arrived from Pennsylvania and we have distributed the clothes. We are saving the candy until Christmas for a special treat. As you know, kids, especially malnourished kids, shouldn't have many sweets, but for Christmas, well, that's special. Much gratitude to Mme Cindy and her community for their continuing support of our 'Starfish' here.
The little digital camera I purchased in Ft. Laudable is amazing. Brother James (Fre Jimps) has the capability to send pictures from a camera via his computer. I will try to send some pictures when I can.
Many students currently on the waiting list are showing up here at Lakay Fondasyon hoping that we can sponsor them. The fees for preimiere trimest are due by next week on the final day before exams begin. Students who haven't paid fees will not be able to write (konpoze) exams, thus losing the year.
Marlene is determined to apply for nursing again at the hospital next summer, and I am looking for options for her in the interim. Right now, she is doing some work for us in the office and will take a 4 month computer course beginning in January. We are still seeking a sponsor to see her through 4 years of training.
Fritz was very happy when I gave him the money for his paintings. I will bring more of his work back with me in the spring. If anyone would like to order something special from him, please let me know. (See catalog paintings) As well, he works with a metal artist and a wood sculptor, so I am looking into helping them find markets.
Until next time, Pi ta
Sharon
November 16, 2006 Orangeville Ontario
Hello Everyone!
As I count down the days until I return to Haiti, I've been very busy making arrangements and speaking to groups around southern Ontario. Last week, Pat [board chair Pat Materiuk] and I visited King's College, University of Western Ontario in London, where Pat and I spoke to two first year classes (90 in each) and one third year class. David [board youth liaison, Dave Materiuk] helped with the final presentation. We talked to them about travelling to Cap-Haitien next summer to fulfill their credit placement requirement. These students can receive a full credit toward degree following a placement of one month. Anyone interested in more information about a placement with Starthrower Foundation will contact Pat. She will then meet with them and do all the preparation work.
As these classes were in the evening, Pat had scheduled daytime meetings at John Paul II High School to speak to groups from various grade levels. And a big Thank You to Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School students, chaplain Brenda Holtkamp, and teachers Jane Finney and Hannah Burza. Last Friday, after the final of four presentations, I was presented with a cheque from the Assisi Society.
Mme CIndy In Pennsylvania is making two presentations at local organizations, and showing the video, which was made this past summer in Haiti. Cindy is putting the video on DVD and refining to 15 minutes. (Thanks, Cindy! Editing video is a huge task!)
Last Sunday, I showed the video to a gathering at the home of Ann, in Caledon. It was a very enjoyable afternoon with many new faces asking questions about Haiti and our work there. And on November 23rd, Harmony Natural Health Clinic, in Orangeville, will hold an open house. Bev [board secretary-treasurer Bev Fleming] will be there with the Starthrower Foundation display, and will answer questions about our work in Haiti. Dr. Wendy, the owner of Harmony Natural Health Clinic, will be enlisting sponsors for her marathon run in January.
Terri Holden, a personal trainer at Fit for Your Life, in Orangeville, is holding a Christmas get-together fund raiser for Starthrower (date to be announced). Terri will be showing either the video or the shortened DVD, which Cindy will be sending to us here.
Thanks to those who purchased some of the art works [catalogue list has been amended to show those works still available]. I know that Fritz, the artist, will be very pleased to receive payment for his works, which will help make this Christmas a very special one for him and his young family. Thanks, too, to those who visited Abel at Lakay Fondasyon last week, and dropped off protein powder and vitamins.
Bev and I have also been busy trying to arrange shipment to Haiti of the donations sitting here in Orangeville. Last Saturday, four students from Robert Hall Secondary School, two students from Orangeville District Secondary School, and our amazing accountant, Nancy Pratt, and her daughters, Samantha and Jennifer, arrived at my place at 9 a.m., and we packed donations until 3 p.m. Approximately two-thirds of donations are now packed, labelled and ready to go. It will not be possible to pack the remaining donations before I leave. We have been offered space to ship half a pallette (28 cu.ft/12 banana boxes) and three boxes of ring notebooks, on a shipment leaving Canada for Cap-Haitien this weekend. This very generous offer comes from another NGO working in Cap-Haitien. It allows us to send backpacks, vitamins, pencil cases, T-shirts, socks and some toothbrushes. We still have roughly two palettes to be shipped. Bev is looking into other arrangements for these boxes. We believe the best route would be to send the remaining 40 banana boxes by either truck or air to Ft. Lauderdale, then ship by sea to Cap Haitien. We have found a reliable, and not too expensive shipping company in Ft. Lauderdale. Bev is currently searching for a trucking company to donate the cost of transport from Orangeville to Ft. Lauderdale, as well as a preferred rate from an air carrier.
I leave Orangeville on Monday, November 20th, and arrive in Cap-Haitien on Wednesday, November 22. Thanks to generous donations received to date, we currently have funds to keep all programs going until March 2007. Donations made between now and February, which are needed to keep operating beyond March 1, will be transferred to me in Haiti.
The Starthrower Foundation annual general meeting will take place early in the new year. Those of you (or someone you know) in southern Ontario, who would like to be considered for a position on the Starthrower Foundation board of directors, please contact Bev for details using the email form.
Until next time, kenbe red,kenbe pa lage
Sharon
November 2, 2006 Orangeville, Ontario
Hello Everyone!
Two fundraisers took place in the past few weeks, and we are grateful for the monies raised. In the United Kingdom, Francilien completed his second marathon this year, with proceeds to go to sponsoring student(s). Here in Orangeville, Janice, the owner of As We Grow, did a wonderful job on the (Loonies* for Haiti Day (*loonies are slang for Canadian $1 coins featuring the loon). Janice was totally organized, worked steadily all day, and encouraged every customer to donate. As well, she is donating a percentage of sales for the day. Fundraisers are doubly valuable, as they also serve to raise awareness for our efforts and for the extreme poverty in Haiti. A big Thank You! to all who worked so hard.
As many of you know, a partial list of students on the waiting list has been posted. We have only paid first trimeste fees for this year. The students will need help at Christmas in order to continue and be eligible to write exams, then pick up reports needed for 2nd and 3rd trimeste. Currently, we have no money for them. Only those in Lycee or apprenticeship are paid for the entire year.
Marlene D. was not accepted into nursing at Justinien [local hospital], and she needs a sponsor to complete her education at inivesite prive (private nursing schools). She has secured information from 2 schools. The tuition for each is $9000 Haitian ($1,300 US) per year for 4 years. Since the practicum takes place in Port-au-Prince, she needs another $300-$500 US for travel and living expenses. If she doesn't find a sponsor, everything stops for her. Why have we supported her the last 6 years if not to make a difference? If you know someone who could see her through 4 years of nursing achool, it would be wonderful. Another donor has come forward for both Elorge and Frandy starting next year, and will see them through medical school in Cuba for as long as it takes.
We have not yet found the resources to ship our donated supplies from here to Cap-Haitien, though we continue to look for someone who is able to help us with the shipment. Receipt of Bev's letter to the Governor General of Canada's office asking for help with shipping was acknowledged, with the comment to 'allow 6 weeks minimum for a response'.
In part, Bev said:
"After much research, we have found a shipping company in Fort Lauderdale which can ship safely to Cap-Haitien and through customs. The cost is $8.00 US per cubic foot. We estimate our supplies are about 80 cubic feet. The challenge is to truck the supplies from Ontario to Fort Lauderdale, and to pay for both the land trucking and the ocean shipping. We can use student volunteers to pack the shipment here."
It's now 5 months and counting, and there's been no further word. As well, Bev continues to send letters of enquiry to organizations and individuals who might be able to help.
Abel (in Cap-Haitien) tells me that we have a problem with the beans we have been distributing. Because we purchase in quantity before I leave, they are now full of ti bet yo (little bugs).
I plan to return to Haiti on November 20, and then stay for 4 or 5 months (March, April 2007). With the funds currently available, I will keep the house open for December, and keep the food program going as long as possible. As well, I will take Fritz the proceeds from all his paintings that have been sold by that time. {See paintings catalog).
Kenbe, Blessings,
Sharon
Please help sponsor these children . . .
If you would like to help these Haitian young people, make a donation via Paypal ::
See Previous Updates . . .
For earlier reports from Cap-Haitien, go to archives:
We recommend books that give insight into Haitian life.
(See books links).
Here's an excerpt from one such book to illustrate only one of the reasons Haitian families have no money to pay for their children's schooling.
From 'Mountains Beyond Mountains', by Tracy Kidder, about Paul Farmer and his work in Haiti.
. . . [Most peasants] had their black, low-slung Creole pigs, which they kept like bank accounts, to pay for things such as school tuition. But in the early 1980s, they lost those as well. Alarmed about an outbreak of African swine fever in the Dominican Republic, afraid that it might threaten the American pork industry, the United States led an effort to destroy all the Creole pigs in Haiti. The plan was to replace them with pigs purchased from Iowa farmers. But these were much more delicate, much more expensive to house and feed, and they didn't thrive. Many peasants ended up with pigs at all. 'When school started the year after the slaughter, enrollments had declined dramatically, throughout the country and around Cange . . .
