IMN Meeting on Friday

IMN Update, 12 March, 2010, 47 people present
(from Principal/Director Maxandre, translated by Erik Badger from Haiti Partners)

"On the morning of 12 March, two months after the earthquake, parents of IMN students came together so that we could exchange ideas about these three points"

  1 - How each parent experienced the earthquake
  2 - What they think about reopening the school
  3 - What IMN is proposing to parents

"It was a very enriching meeting.  Parents described their experiences of the earthquake and how they've been living afterwards.  Some described being in the garden or their yard when the quake hit.  In the moment, they didn't know what they should do, they were screaming Jesus' name and running back home to see where their kids were.  When they succeeded in finding their children, they ran out into open fields.  When we asked whether among the children there were any grave injuries or other problems, they all responded that, thank God, the children weren't injured.  However, all of their houses were damaged leaving the parents on the streets.  Some among them haven't found tents to stay in.  Even worse, the aid that's being distributed isn't reaching them.  They said they only find food with great difficulty.  It's the little that they'd saved that they're living off.  Things are really difficult..."

"Regarding the question of the children returning to school, all the parents said they'd been thinking about this.  To them, children aren't suppose to spend two months at home without going to school.  Each day the children ask to return to school, the only thing being that they won't return to a school with a cement roof or a school constructed with cinder blocks because they remember how many people died.  The parents agree that they would like their kids to return to school, but how can this be done?  Won't the principal have to ask them for money?  Will the little money they paid last September be considered payment for the whole school year?  They asked many questions, many excellent questions.  Other questions they asked were whether the state was going to help the principal find the money to pay the teachers, to rebuild the school, to clean up the space.  These were excellent questions, but the principal and everyone else there couldn't respond because they understand how the state works in Haiti.  Since the earthquake, the state hasn't contacted the principals in  the district, so we can't even count on the state helping to pay teachers, or get the school back on its feet."

"So what must be done?  The parents wondered if the principal could seek help from his friends who could support the children's studies; this would permit the principal not have to send the kids home if they can't pay the school.  But if the kids couldn't pay for school, the principal won't be able to find the little money he needs to pay the teachers when they come to school.  Many great ideas were exchanged at this meeting.  The parents agreed that they were better off relying on their friends abroad than relying on the state.  Because if they had relied on the state in the past to purchase school supplies, pay teachers or rebuild the facilities, the kids never would have gotten to school."

"When Maxandre announced that the relationship established with our friends at kids4good and other friends in Chicago will begin to help rebuild the school, everyone was very, very happy; they all said a great 'thank you.'  Maxandre invited them to go visit where they're reconstructing a part of the school so they could see the work for themselves.  They understood the necessity of the kids returning to school in the coming days."

"Maxandre the then distributed to each parent an envelope with 200 Haitian dollars, equaling US$25, as described in the proposeed budget.  All the parents received this with great happiness."

"Regarding the children's return to school, Maxandre is organizing a seminar for the teachers next week and the kids will come to a large meeting set for 18 March.  After this, each student must receive supplies for them to begin to work under the supervision of their teachers."

"Friends, this was a wonderful meeting.  The parents were very happy and thankful and they asked that our friends at kids4good and in Chicago continue to stand by IMN to help it recover until it really gets back on its feet."

I truly hope you find some sense of optimism and appreciativeness, as I did,  in the voice of these Haitians!

Many thanks,
Dick Flesher