Florida resident David Casey has been traveling to Haiti for four years, working alongside Vermont Haiti Project on efforts to establish a vocational training center in the rural village of Duchity. As he plans a return trip to Haiti, Casey talks of the goals, the plan, and the needs. Dear Family and Friends, I will be returning to Haiti to do volunteer work, for my fifth consecutive summer, on June 8th. Before I ask you for a contribution to help support my efforts to affect change in a small community in the poorest country in our hemisphere, I would like to share several thoughts that have been percolating in my brain since my last trip there. I first went to Haiti the summer after the devastating earthquake of 2010. Before I went, I recall some well-meaning but grandiose thoughts about the potential impact I could have. Riding in the back of a pickup through Port-au-Prince my first day was a lesson in instant humility. I witnessed a teeming hell of desperation, squalor, and utter hopelessness. I was daunted: How can one person make a dent let alone a difference? VHP recently received wonderful news from Sister’s of Mercy: The organization has chosen to fund VHP again for the next year, in order to to continue the Biosand Water Filter program! The annual grant, valued at 10-thousand dollars, comes thanks in great part to Sister Susan Fortier, VHP board member. "I was hoping it would come through again this year, and this is amazing. Alleluia!" Vermont Haiti Project has been involved in the BioSand filter program, partnering with Pure Water for the World, since 2007. "We are so grateful to the Sisters of Mercy for keeping this important program going," said VHP spokesperson Tim Singer. "Most importantly, it puts clean water in scores of homes in both Port au Prince and rural areas. Furthermore, it keeps several people employed! We're very proud of the work that Patrick, Mannou and Despagne have done with the filters." Vermont Haiti Projects benefit concert and fund raising party - scheduled for March 29 - will feature many fine items available for silent auction bid. The bidding will take place exclusively at the event, starting at 6:30pm at ArtsRiot in Burlington.
Our thanks to all of the regional and national businesses (below) for donating goods and services in support of this important cause: Mark your calendars for a night of music, comedy, food and drink-- all designed to support the people and programs of Haiti! Vermont Haiti Project (VHP) is pleased to be hosting this evening of fun & entertainment: Saturday, March 29 - 6:30pm ARTSRIOT 400 Pine Street Burlington, VT Featuring:
$25 (Students $15) More event details coming soon! Please save the date... Join the Party... Tell all your Friends! Vermont Haiti Project is pleased to announce the addition of Marisa Massery, to its board of directors. Massery is from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and is currently living in Port au Prince. She first traveled to Haiti in 2003 and has been visiting since, including recent trips with VHP. She brings to the organization experience working in Port au Prince, Desab and Duchity. She graduated in 2009 from Providence College with a degree in Humanities. She is currently spending time in Haiti working for “Three Angels Children’s Relief." Massery is dedicated to "exploring the 'plight' of the Haitian people and how it is truly the plight of the world. I thrive on creativity and am passionate about music, singing, world cultures and exploring spirituality." Massery strives to be authentic in her relationships with her Haitian friends- "to act intentionally and with grace, all the while learning about the human dignity that the people of Haiti and all people of the world deserve." "We're so happy to have Marisa on board," said VHP spokesman Tim Singer. "She adds an important component of youthful ideas and energy to our board." Added board member Kimball Butler, "Having Marisa based in Haiti is such an advantage for us in accomplishing our ongoing work." Once settled into her new position, Massery plans on contributing a regular blog to this web site, outlining the latest news and developments in Haiti. Happy Holidays to all of our Vermont Haiti Project friends and supporters! Looking back on VHP’s 2013 progress, we are immensely proud of the continued success of our long-term programs that benefit the people of, and communities in Haiti, while strengthening our cross cultural ties. You can read more about our 2013 program updates HERE. In order to continue our successful track record of maintaining small and realistically manageable grassroots community programs, we ask that you PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF HAITI FOR 2014* (* For those of you who have recently donated, many thanks!) Click the READ MORE link (below, right) to learn more. An Update of VHP Programs by, Tim Singer - VHP co-founder and Board member My wife, and fellow board member, Augusta and I just returned from Haiti. We were so happy to see all of our friends and associates, and even happier to see the progress of the programs that VHP has helped to create over the past several years. After settling in, and spending some time at the "Tchaka Inn" in Port au Prince, our first stop was in the village of Desab: The first place we visited, back in 2006. I'm pleased to report that the medical clinic, founded by VHP in 2008, is still serving hundreds of villagers who otherwise would not have access to health care. Thanks to another USA organization- Stone by Stone - who took over supporting the project in 2012, the Desab clinic operates regularly with a local doctor, nurse, and health care workers. As for the programs still under VHP's watch, please read on.... Attention VHP Friends and Supporters: Enjoy some great food, drink, music, and waterfront atmosphere, while helping a great cause. Tuesday, September 10 - 5:30pm Vermont Haiti Project and the Skinny Pancake restaurant are partnering to raise money for our programs and communities in Haiti. For one night only (Sept. 10, from 5:30-closing), ten percent of the take for all food and bar bills will go directly to Vermont Haiti Project! Live music, along with photos and information about Haiti and VHP, will be featured throughout the night. The Skinny Pancake is located at: 60 Lake St Ste 1A, Burlington, Vermont 05401 (Map) "Like" us on Facebook to stay updated on event information, and feel free to spread the word! Hope to see everyone there! For the second consecutive year, the Rotary Club of South Burlington has made a generous donation to Vermont Haiti project, for use in VHP's Ecole Foyer D'Espoir school and community center program. As for the organization's continuing commitment to VHP, Matthew Johnson said: "This donation of $1,500 to fund a Haitian teacher’s salary for a year continues the connection between the Vermont Haiti Project and South Burlington Rotary. Members of both groups have visited the Ecole Foyer D’Espoir primary school whose students will benefit from this contribution. VHPs frequent contact with the school and its local community demonstrates this year’s Rotary motto “Peace Through Service”. Dedicated to support of local, regional and international organizations, the South Burlington Rotary appreciates the ongoing work of both the school in Haiti and the Vermont Haiti Project." Many thanks from VHP to the South Burlington Rotary Club. If you would like to support the school, or any of VHP's Haitian-run programs, please see our program page or donation page. Tomorrow, March 22, is World Water Day. Please keep Vermont Haiti Project in mind. Over the past three and one-half years, our staff in Haiti has installed over 300 Biosand water filters. They are also responsible for regular maintenance of the filters, and education on the importance of healthy drinking water. Thanks to the program, several thousand people in Port au Prince, as well as rural regions, now have access to clean, safe water for drinking, cooking and bathing. Support of this program has come from organizations such as The Sisters of Mercy, The Rotary Club, and individual donations. "With recent outbreaks of Cholera in Haiti, we can't emphasize enough how important this program is to VHP, and the people of Haiti," said organization spokesperson, Tim Singer. "What we take for granted in the US is a valuable, and much harder to obtain, commodity in Haiti. |
Archives
June 2019
|