Provide Technology for Haitian Students

Dear Friends, 

As we welcome the season of spring, our project members continue to raise awareness of the digital divide that exists between developed and underdeveloped countries. Our project members also continue to support their peers in Haiti by helping them build and maintain their academic growth through technology and the connections it provides.  

Project members, hoping to raise awareness of the digital divide, interviewed Theresa Feaster, the coordinator of hockey operations at Providence College (see link below). Ms. Feaster, through innovation, character, and hard work, was hired by Providence College in October 2016; becoming one of two women to be the first to serve as a full-time members of an N.C.A.A. Division I men’s hockey coaching staff. Students especially enjoyed hearing the successes and accomplishments of Ms. Feaster, a former Palmyra resident.

Awareness was also raised in an Lebanon Valley College (LVC) website article which featured Cara Dowzicky, a LVC student who used her French minor to translate a Skype Session for us with Acerneau, our project leader in Haiti (see link below). Cara beautifully captured the potential future success of our students in her quote, “I think showing students about the small or big things they can do, that can change everything. If you give that one student the right motivation, they can go out and change the world.”

At a recent community event called “Palmyra Pride Night”, 0ur project members raised awareness of the support and efforts to close the digital divide with Haiti (see pictures below). Here we educated and connected with both longtime supporters of our project and others who were learning about our work for the first time.

Once again this winter, our project members sold coupon books to sponsor Carl as he advances to his second year of preschool in St. Marc, Haiti. One of Carl’s teacher aides, Adeline, is one of the first students our project helped to support many years ago.

Two friends who just returned from a visit to our Haitian schools were “amazed and delighted” by the opportunity to see the good being accomplished there and by the joy that overflows from the students coming to school in their uniforms, so eager to learn.

Our project leader in Haiti, Acerneau, created a video (see link below) demonstrating technology in action at our schools. The global connection the computers and Internet connectivity that your support provides, opens so many learning opportunities for these eager Haitian students.

We are grateful to GlobalGiving for giving us another opportunity to magnify your support. On Monday, April 3rd beginning at 9:00am EDT, Global Giving will begin a “Little by Little” Matching Campaign where $50,000 of matching funds will be available to apply a 50% match for donations up to $50. This match enables a $10 donation to become $15, a $25 donation to become $37.50 and a $50 donation to become $75. This support is providing educational opportunities to very eager, hardworking and grateful Haitian students!

We are so thankful to have you partnering with us to help our students in Haiti and to help foster compassion, caring, and connection with our students in Pennsylvania.

Links:

• Student interview with Ms. Feaster
• LVC article of our Skype session with Acerneau
• Acerneau's video creation using our technology

Dear Friends,

While giving a presentation about our project to a forum of senior, pre-service teachers at a Pennsylvania college this month, we were delighted to find out that one of the college students had visited our schools in Haiti in August! Abby met Acerneau, our project leader in Haiti, connected with students from our schools, and experienced the sustainable impact the schools are having first hand! You can sense the joy of this reconnection between Abby, Acerneau, and the schools as you view our Skype session provided by the link within this report.

During the presentation, we Skyped with Acerneau, who updated us on happenings at the school as well as giving the participants a virtual walking tour of the Good Samaritan School~ thanks to the Internet connection your support provides! Our Palmyra Haiti Technology Club officers then conducted interviews with some of the pre-service teachers to gain their insight into the importance of closing the digital divide. You can hear their interviews by clicking on the link provided within this report.

We continue to be thankful and impressed by the realization that the effort to collaborate, connect, and educate through this project brings many blessings to those who participate. From the students in Palmyra that grow in leadership opportunities, web design, collaboration, humanitarianism, etc...to the students in Haiti that are so grateful for the excellent education, technology, and opportunities they receive, to the many others that have connected to our project ~ including you.  

In this season of thanksgiving, we are especially thankful for the excellent upcoming giving opportunity. On Tuesday, November 29th, GlobalGiving’s #GivingTuesday campaign will apply a 50% Match to all donations up to $1,000 per donor! The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has generously provided $500,000 in matching funds for #GivingTuesday. The #GivingTuesday Matching opportunity will begin November 29th at 00:00:01 EST and end at 23:59:59 EST (although donating early is best because matching funds run out quickly!) In addition to this huge matching opportunity, all new recurring donations made from #GivingTuesday through December 31st will be matched at 200% up to $100, on the fourth donation!

Any effort to support and share this unique opportunity to help eager, deserving children in Haiti through the #Giving Tuesday campaign is so appreciated!

We are thankful for these wonderful connections through your ongoing support.

Links:

• Brief video of our Skype session
• Our student audio interviews
• Our project Facebook page