Empower Haitians With Disabilities Now!

The hearts and minds of our Haitian partners are resolutely preparing for a positive future! Despite the challenges Haitians have faced over the last three months, the handicapped members of our partner organization,CAHSAV, have faced those head and heart on and have accomplished much. 

First, classes for our scholarship recipients continued online for several weeks in early September. When that was impossible due to the closure of schools, our students kept studying and reviewing lessons on their own with the help of a resident tutor and each other. Their brailleurs and specialized cell phones, purchased with GlobalGiving funds, allowed the blind students to practice reading and writing assignments.

Secondly, the dream of CAHSAV members to start a vocational education program has begun. A curriculum was developed that includes business management skills such as positive work ethic, practical mathematics, integrity, and creativity. A cooking course will include technical skills related to hygienic food preparation, safe handling of cooking tools and following recipes. The vocational education program is intended for not only CAHSAV members, but also students at the school co-located with the CAHSAV residence. One CAHSAV member completed a culinary class and provided proof that such training could be beneficial not only to her but to the entire CAHSAV community and the younger handicapped students.

Finally, despite the chaos of insecurity, sporadic water, and sporadic electricity impacting the life of CAHSAV and their supporters, a haven was built on their campus in which the students could practice their business and cooking skills. In July, a mini-restaurant named Bar Resto was constructed on the campus and over 50 primary school students attend classes. It offers a sanctuary of camaraderie and accomplishment for not only CAHSAV members who make the food offered, but for the primary school students, faculty and administrators to enjoy a safe space away from the insecurity happening outside.

The funds GlobalGiving has provided over the last quarter contributed to these miraculous accomplishments given the horrendous gang violence, basic resource scarcity, exorbitant inflation, and governmental paralysis. Our CAHSAV community continues being a beacon of hope amidst the darkness of Haiti at this time. We and CAHSAV thank you for contributing to this light.

Although life in Haiti has been excruciatingly difficult during the past quarter, the good work of our partner organization, CAHSAV (the adult residents of St. Vincent’s Center), has continued.

At St. Vincent’s Center, the primary and middle school day students have been unable to come to class due to the threat of gang violence as well as exorbitant costs for gas. The adults and residential children live on campus behind the security walls. The walls have been compromised in recent weeks by gangs, however, they have already been repaired to keep everyone as safe as possible.  

Through it all, CAHSAV continues to actively contribute to St. Vincent’s by aiding the caregiving staff, comforting the younger children, and working with the administration on accounting and other duties. They raise the spirits of the staff whenever possible, including giving Mother’s Day gifts to the women who clean, cook, and care for the young children.  

Even though most schools are closed in the Santos area, the adults continue to persue educational activities, including the students directly supported by this project who have low vision or blindness. They have been meeting with their tutor to further their studies and increase their proficiency using the braillers. 

While waiting and watching for a better security situation, work is underway to start the first vocational training class at St. Vincent’s, taught by members of CAHSAV. Once school reopens, six middle school students will begin a semester-long internship at Bar Resto, the small restaurant that CAHSAV manages and operates on St. Vincent’s campus. Youngsters with blindness, deafness, or physical challenges will be shadowing the adults with disabilities during their daily activities:

• Setting up
• Cooking
• Serving
• Receiving payment
• Cleaning up
• Keeping inventory
• Replenishing supplies 

Through this project, Friends of St. Vincent’s sends financial means to: 

• Support the campus nurse who is monitoring the health of all residents
• Supplement residents’ daily meals of rice or corn porridge with fresh vegetables and milk
• Provide stable internet for the adults to continue their studies
• Pay the tutor for his continued support of the adults

We are proud to be partners with this dynamic group of adults with disabilities who are staying the course, supporting the life within the institutional walls of St. Vincent’s Center. Better days are ahead for all of Haiti, and when the school reopens with a full program, CAHSAV will be ready.

Links:

• How Haitians Survive Gang Violence & Kidnappings