A Time of Thanksgiving for Haitian Outreach
The Fall is a time to thank our volunteers, generous sponsors and donors. As we secured the 82nd Sterilite tote and anticipate their arrival at St. Marie in Haiti, we the Advisory board have an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude to all who have helped us achieve a successful year!
Despite the pandemic, political unrest and another earthquake in Haiti, our volunteers, sponsors and donors, gave us the inspiration to move forward. Haitian Outreach would like to thank each and every one of you here in writing, but the list would be too long. This year has seen a substantial growth in the number of volunteers, both individually and groups joining in our mission:
“Education of the Haitian Children is the Way to an Independent and Healthy Haiti.”
The only reason we can do this work and succeed is because of You: Our Volunteers, Sponsors and Donors!
We would like to highlight the youth who volunteered with us this year, as they are our future
Thanks to our youth volunteers
This year Haitian Outreach offered a St. Bernard’s High School student an internship opportunity. Jacob, a graduating senior, was the first student to participate in this pilot program. He was there in June to help move bins into classrooms in the church hall- ah to have that strength again!
We also had a local group of teens partnering with the Lion’s club join us as well. Boy, can these young people work, no sore backs or knees for them!
Also joining us were teens and adults from Young Neighbors in Action (YNIA). This is a summer service experience for adolescents’ grades 9-12. The group of 9 was made up of juniors and seniors, a seminarian student and adult chaperones. This energetic group from Douglas, Mass. joined us for 2 mornings.
Youth volunteers in Haiti
On the ground in Haiti, the youth in our program are now assisting us with the backpack program. Olivier translates for his father, YeYe (Indric) who is our team leader. Diego, a university student, has become our computer instructor to the sisters and set everyone up on Zoom so we could communicate. We can now meet with the sisters remotely!
Also in Haiti are Magdala, a former Haitian Outreach student, who presently works at our Lalue school; Katiana who is a university student in our program; and Naiki, a current student, who started school at age 16 with the help of a generous sponsor. This group will help deliver the backpacks and take photos for us this fall, as we were unable to go to Haiti this year.
In all, because of these young people both here and in Haiti the future is bright with hope and goodness.
Again, please accept Haitian Outreach’s heartfelt gratitude, the gratitude of the Daughters of Queen Mary Immaculate and all our primary, secondary and university students whom we assist to learn and grow.
Paula Lanson and Pauline Aliskevicz 2021
Locally, we offered St. Bernard’s Confirmation class to come work with us as part of their community service. Lindsey volunteered to come and work with us. She was so much fun to work with. Her energy was infectious as she worked in the backpack room, filling the backpacks with clothes, coloring books and essentials.
We have to mention our youngest member of Haitian Outreach, Isaiah, 9 who came with his grandmother weekly. He was such a big help and zipped round the packhouse with this great big smile.
