Update from Haiti

It's well known that Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico in the fall of 2017. That same storm also ravaged parts of Haiti including the island of LaGonave. Schools Count assisted Haiti Partners following the 2010 earthquake by helping to rebuild Institute Mixte Nao just west of Port au Prince.

Hurricane Maria sadly did a good deal of damage to Bel Platon School on LaGonave. Erik Badger of Haiti Partners has been kind enough to forward the following information on our most recent contribution to Bel Platon. Here's the latest from the school:

Hi Dick,

Here is a short video update from the principal at Bèl Platon, Tony Delus. The quality isn’t great, but I hope it conveys a bit of the daily environment at the school: https://youtu.be/slycvDZ7I5E

Also, here is another written update from Tony:

Hello friends of Bèl Platon. For now the school is still working well. All children come to school every day. Our teachers are still using the methods with the students we’ve learned at the Haiti Partners trainings. The parents are motivated as seen in the way they send children to school regularly. We have meetings every Friday during which the professors evaluate their work for the week. World Vision has also been giving us training on teaching practices that we have been implementing with the children. We still have 125 children who come to school every day.

Every Saturday we hold a study club for the students who need extra help. Recently World Vision held a training on how to treat water and the importance of hand washing. And as you see in the video, we also have an activity on sanitation and environmental protection.

You asked how the Schools Count donation will be spent. As with your last gift, it will go towards core needs, primarily staff salaries for teachers, administrators, the neighbor who keeps tabs on the school grounds at night, and the local cooks who help prepare meals (when available). Additionally, they will be used for supplies and school materials for the kids, like the ones being distributed in the video.

I’ve also attached a couple pics from the classrooms in action. Again, please excuse the quality.

Once again, THANK YOU to you and your wonderful network of supporters who continue to support this small, remote school. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to be in touch.

Gratefully,

Erik