Provide Technology for Haitian Students

As we near the end of another year, we are thankful for the many educational opportunities your support has provided. We are thankful for Acerneau, an alumnus of Les Bons Samaritains in St. Marc, who is helping with our wiki project in Haiti and provided the picture heading this report.

We are thankful for the opportunity to share our unique project with others. We have presented our project at a recent Bill and Melinda Gates sponsored education conference in New Jersey.  We also presented to a local Lions Club and will be presenting to an educational technology conference in Lancaster, PA.  A copy of our presentation can be found in the links below.

We are thankful for the support of local media personalities through the years.  WJTL’s Lisa Landis, WTPA’s Ed Coffee, and recently WITF’s Tim Lambert have given their time and talent to help mentor our students and help them promote our project.  You can find out more about Tim Lambert’s work with our project in the link’s below.

Our Palmyra students have recently held a fundraising project selling coupon books in the hopes of raising enough money to sponsor a student at our partner school in Haiti, Les Bons Samaritans. Sponsoring a student makes our connection with our schools in Haiti even more meaningful.

If you are looking for an opportunity to make a lasting impact in joyful and industrious student’s lives, please consider a donation to our project for yourself or a loved one on #GivingTuesday (Tuesday, December 1, 2015) or throughout the holiday season. Sharing the word about the good being accomplished at our sister schools in Haiti are also so appreciated.

Wishing you many moments of joy and thankfulness this holiday season,

p.s. GlobalGiving now offers the opportunity to purchase tribute cards as holiday gifts for your loved ones. Tribute cards allow you to give directly to our project, while also sending a note to let your loved one know that they have inspired a charitable donation during this season of giving. These notes can be sent via email, printed at home, or mailed directly to the recipient.

Links:

• WITF's Tim Lambert Visit
• Our project presentation
• Please like us on our Facebook Page

Les Bon Samaritians (LBS) School was born in 2001 to educate the poorest of the poor in St. Marc, Haiti.  Central to the school’s operation is instilling character, integrity, and a longing to be good stewards of Haiti’s future.  Since 2001, additional schools have been built through the Mortel Foundation’s leadership espousing the ideals of LBS.  The schools have not only educated and inspired a spirit of giving back; they have also become the largest single provider of employment in St. Marc.

One such story of giving back can be found in LBS graduate, Acerneau.

Acerneau was among the first students to be enrolled in the LBS.  He was a beneficiary of our computer instruction and is now helping our Palmyra-Haiti Technology Project from Haiti.  You can get a sense for Acerneau’s passion and desire to help others below…

I am passionate about computers.   That is why my hobby is to stay in St. Marc and work with my computer to discover new things about technology and to share that with others. In St. Marc, I like to see young people like me work for a better Haiti. My family is poor but there is love and hope, which makes us smile.  I do not want to leave my city, I want to participate in its development.  I am thankful for Les Bons Samaritians, the Mortel Family Foundation, and those that have contributed to helping us. They have instilled in me a desire to give back.  I am greatly indebted and want to help the other students at Les Bons Samaritains in any way that I can.

Acerneau has been noted for his local blogs and Facebook page promoting the efforts of LBS.  His AA LBS Facebook page can be found below.  As a new school year starts both in Palmyra and in St. Marc, we are inspired by and look forward to Acerneau’s increased involvement in our program. We feel blessed to know that Acerneau’s exposure to technology at LBS and his involvement in our Palmyra-Haiti connection has bloomed into a true advocate for promoting and growing the good things that are happening in Haiti! (One being the annual Flag Day celebration at LBS celebrating and instilling pride in Haiti - pictured below)

As you can see, your support is helping many eager students! Without it, Acerneau’s passion, would not be possible.  We encourage you to continue to help our program by sharing upcoming bonus donation events including:

• Global Giving’s 30% Bonus Day on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 beginning at 9:00am EDT  ($70,000 in matching funds available!)

• Microsoft’s #YouthSpark Final 100% Bonus Day on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 beginning at noon EDT  ($75,000 in matching funds available!)

• Giving Tuesday, December 1, 2015

 Thank you!!!

Links:

• Acerneau's LBS Alumni Facebook Group
• Our project Facebook page