"Handing Up" through Microlending

Moreau Bernado is a student in Life’s Path school who is fortunate to have a generous sponsor to help him and his mother. Without help from his sponsor, Moreau, 3 years old, would be unable to attend school.
In our efforts to alleviate poverty and help create a self-sufficient community, Life’s Path is beginning a micro lending program. Moreau’s mother, Ena, will be one of the first recipients to receive a micro loan.
Due to a medical condition, Ena moved from far up in the mountains down to Cyvadier. Ena lives alone with one of her sons, Moreau, while her oldest son, Ronalson, 8 years old, lives with family in Cap Rouge. Living on limited resources, Ena could not afford to bring both children with her. From Cyvadier, Cap Rouge is an 8 hour walk on rocky, muddy terrain up the mountainside.
Ena rents a small, dilapidated home that looks as though one strong gust of wind could blow it down. She receives help to pay the rent from what little her family can give. As a child, she attended school for a short time until her declining eyesight would not allow her to continue her education.
When I asked what she looks forward to each day, she replied, “God has blessed me with two boys who rely on me for strength and hope.”

When the idea of a micro loan was introduced to Ena, she said that she is grateful to God that Life’s Path is able to help her so that she can someday bring Ronalson home with her and Moreau.
She hopes to starts a business selling staple items such as rice, spaghetti, sugar, and oil. Her future dream is to have a safer home for her children. She would love to own a tent that may be possible to place on families land in a nearby town.
Boiled breadfruit is the family’s dinner for this evening. Moreau and Ena eat once a day, sometimes every other day, depending on what they can find. Most of their food source comes from nearby trees of breadfruit, mangos, or coconuts, depending upon what are in season. See video of Moreau at www.youtube.com “lifes path cyvadier”
With your generous help, support, and great blessings Life’s Path is able to help teach and provide families such as Ena and Moreau with opportunities they may never have otherwise.
Please help us make a difference by sponsoring a child or donating to our micro lending program so that we can continue to help families become self sufficient.
If you already sponsor a family and would like to offer a micro loan to them, please email us for more information at
board_of_directors@lifespathhaiti.org
THANK YOU for your prayers and support!

The story of the Starfish.....

There was a wise man went to the ocean everyday to do his writing. Each day before beginning his work, he would walk along the beach.
One day, as he was walking, he saw a young man who was moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself and walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer he saw that the young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the startled wise man.
The young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
The wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

Perseverance against odds and criticism of others is the hallmark of value-based idealism, as is refusing to accept failure. We hold in our hands the power to change a life or a circumstance, today, right now. We can all make a difference and together we have the power to inspire others, sometimes significant enough to make a major impact.

To witness the power of children in action is most inspiring. Many times it is our youth who put into action the values in which we have instilled – but have failed to act on ourselves. The world depends on our youth to lead the way.

July, 2011

 

 I left Haiti less than a week ago, which seems both a moment and a lifetime ago. On our laundry room floor are flip-flops covered in dust from Haiti. If I wanted to, I could throw them away…and yet I don’t want to throw them away because I don’t want to forget any of the tiniest details that remind me how fortunate we are to have been born into a country abundantly wealthy in so many ways.  Over the last year, I have seen little progress towards rebuilding in Haiti. As we drove up and down hills, through crowded side streets and crowded main thoroughfares, we could still peer into buildings like full scale doll houses. Five story buildings still standing but instead, standing as eight foot tall piles of rubble. The damage, so random – three buildings destroyed, one standing untouched.  The people of Haiti are remarkably resilient. As much as possible, they have been trying to go on with life. On the sidewalk in places, you can buy fruits and vegetables, a bottle of coke, used clothing, or even a cell phone charger. Small children walk down the street with old anti-freeze bottles filled with water from a nearby river or stream. Women, often have their arms full of goods, as they balance large baskets on top of their heads weighing more than we can ever imagine lifting!

I lost track of the number of tent cities as we drove through the city of Port-au-Prince. Some of them hold hundreds, most hold thousands. They spring up everywhere that the rubble is not piled and there’s room to hang three corners of a bed sheet or tarp. Children wander – some lost, some orphaned.  In Haiti, there is a culture of passing children from family member to family member, often losing track of them or hiring them out as domestic workers and not going back to get them. Many children – even in orphanages – have parents out there somewhere, although they have not truly parented the child. The children are beautiful beyond imagination. They are regal, full of dignity and poised for greatness. Their poverty is a momentary, light affliction, because these children have a destiny. 49% of Haiti is 14 years old or younger. I see the future of Haiti in the children…… hope for a brighter future. When I grow tired and discouraged in the battle to help the children in Haiti, I have my conscience to wrestle with knowing how the people there struggle from day to day just to drink clean water and eat. I remind myself each day that we can do a small part to make a difference….one life at a time.

Give a man a "goat"

In Jacmel, Saturday is the only day that farmers bring their livestock down from the mountains to sell at market. We woke early Saturday morning and drove the flatbed truck to Deye Kamaya, Jacmel to purchase our goats! I had no idea what to expect; however, I did know that I would be "hiding" in the truck while prices were negotiated! If an American "blanc" was seen at the market, prices could double! We arrived in Deye Kamaya around 7 am, where we were greeted by cattle, pigs, horses, and hundreds of goats. I had visions of negotiating a price and buying the goats from one "goat" farmer...I had no idea that the goats would be bought from many different farmers and prices had to be negotiated EACH time! What I thought would be a one to two hour venture ended up taking most of our day! I sat in the truck watching as each farmer came walking down the dirt road with their livestock tied to ropes. I had a crash course in goat science, the men explained what to look for to determine the health of a goat. Although our goats were loaded into the back of our flatbed truck, most animals were strapped to the back of a motorcycle!! 
We arrived back at the house where we unloaded each goat and tied them to a tree while waiting for the families to come. Once everyone arrived, the "goat giving ceremony" was opened with a prayer and applause from the grateful recipients. I was very moved by their gratitude. We explained that the goats were being donated by American families and they were NOT to be eaten!! We asked that each family donate one goat back to us in a year so that we can "pay it forward" and help another family in need!

Food Drive

     The aftermath of the earthquake left thousands of Haitian families without food and shelter. In March, I received a phone call from my Haitian friend who began telling me that he was trying to find a way to help the people in his community feed their children. He had made a list of families who desperately needed food.
         Ironically, the next day, I received a call from my Aunt Lorraine who works at a grade school. She began telling me that the first grade students in her school were very concerned about the people of Haiti.
       Sometimes kids don’t understand everything they see on the news. Sometimes tragedy doesn’t make sense to them. These first grade students at John L. Hensey school began asking what an earthquake was and wanted to see pictures of what was going on in Haiti after the earthquake. They wanted to do something to help!! 
     The students challenged each classroom in the school to bring in their change to help the earthquake stricken country that they had read so much about in the local newspaper. The class had a goal to raise $300 in this school wide fundraiser. The students made posters to hang throughout the school and kept a running total throughout the three week collection time. The students far exceeded their goal by collecting $1022!!
     Knowing my involvement with the people of Haiti, my Aunt called to ask for advice about where I thought the money would be best served. I offered several suggestions, and also told her about the phone call I received the day before. I had a trip to Haiti already planned in April in order to do some research on my own project that I was working on. Knowing this, my Aunt and first grade teacher, Olivia Seaton, decided to donate the money for a food drive for the people of Cyvadier.
     During my April trip, I took the money collected by these generous children, and bought a pick-up truck full of rice, beans, oil, and soap! The food was broken down and distributed to the families of Cyvadier who so desperately needed help.
     I wish I would have had a tape recorder with me when the food was distributed. My friends explained to the people how the money was collected by first graders and how they wanted to help make a difference in their lives! The people of Cyvadier began clapping their hands in appreciation for all these children had done for them.

A HUGE thank you to the first grade students, Miss Seaton, and John L. Hensey school for your generosity...you have made a difference in this world!!


   

Make a Difference!

     I have a passion for helping others, I sometimes have a tendency to take on more than I can handle! I have spent this year traveling back and forth to Jacmel, Haiti in an effort to begin a program which will enable Haitian men, women, and children to learn how to manage and maintain their own lives so that they can provide basic needs for their family.  The situation in Haiti is overwhelming,  but one that I feel compelled to help. I believe that by destroying people's self-reliance we encourage dependency. I also believe that we can eliminate poverty through human actions; that basic human needs can be met; malnutrition can be alleviated; and all people have a right to a sustainable livelihood.

    Although, not everyone has the opportunity to reach this part of the world, I am confident that together, we can make a difference. I ask you to share your creative and innovative ways of raising awareness and financial support for this cause. I consider it a privilege to serve along side the people of the Haiti. In the midst of utter poverty, the people of Haiti have taught me much about resilience and hope while empowering inspiration to follow one's passion.