Grace and St James' mission to Haiti

News from Haiti is often grim. Deterioration in security –kidnapping for ransom of ordinary citizens– has dominated recently.

First, check here for an outline of the state of education, the stage.

Then, applaud our actors, the children and teachers of St Matthew’s, on stage, who have steadfastly stayed in school and have just completed the third ‘controle’ according to the habitual calendar, outpacing the revised calendar.

Applaud too the directors Pr Dieque, priest, and Clibert Massillon, directeur, builders of a fine institution

And thank too the producers, generous and loyal donors, and join them for a sustained run

Each year we offer scholarships for the next stage of their education to select graduates of St. Matthieu. Happily we are able to add two more to this roster of promising students:

Each scholarship requires a sponsor to meet the cost. Opportunities remain open for further sponsorships/scholars. Could that be you? Contact Bonnie at bvigeland@gmail.com

The current socio-political situation is well reported here in the New Yorker and it is dispiriting. Now copy/paste this Geo Plus code into Google Maps and click on satellite view to alight at a bright spot where Haiti works

FCC6+CV Fond More, Haiti

– St. Matthew’s

Mindful of the past hurricanes, the 2010 earthquake, cholera, chikugunya, Dengue, the seemingly endless afflictions which the Haitian people have suffered, John Stifler points us to an assessment in the Florida newspapers, with some surprise, of the impact of Covid -19

Exchange rate gyrations steadying. Earlier this year there was a damaging fall in the value of the gourde against the dollar (115:1). The Bank of Haiti stepped in to fix the rate substantially below (55:1) the free market rate. The value of dollars sent home from the Haitian diaspora, about one third of national income, plummeted. The central bank has yielded to this distress by raising the reference rate to a level (70:1) near that which pertained before the turbulence began.

Clibert Massillon, director of the school, has been central to the development of St Matthew’s. Here, Meg Holladay writes an appreciation in Grace’s news letter.

Skilled teachers are not always to be found residing in the villages around St Matthew’s. Here’s the transport fleet to bring them from the nearby city of Gonaïves.

Number three recently added

Decius Kesnel, 6th grade teacher and one of the first to come to St Mathieu from Teach for Haiti (Anseye pou Ayiti) has departed, for yet further advanced training. He has had a remarkable impact on the quality of teaching throughout the school and is much beloved.

His departure is to be celebrated not mourned. A good school is a conduit for advancement of both students and teachers. Another key community function that St Matthew’s is assuming. We wish him “God speed”

Louis Wandy replaces Kesnel; he too is a graduate of Anseye pou Ayiti. Welcome!

Note trees recently planted but growing apace

The new multifunctional space is ready for la rentreé . Difficulties with procurement attendant on exchange rate fluctuations leave final finish, painting and wiring, to come. Yet it has already proved its worth: to allow distancing, the dedication ceremony was held within rather than in the sanctuary of the church across the road.

Word from Pr. Diegue is that the coming week will see the completion of the 2019-20 school year. Remember there was some loss of time due to political turmoil. There will be a two week break before the return to school for the 2020-21 academic year.

This image shows the growth in enrollment and the building to accommodate it since 2008