Blogs from Haiti, Central America Caribbean - page 10

Along with Concern Worldwide program for the poor children of the SA camp, they are instituting an adult literacy class. Two classes each with 25 students will run each week day afternoon. Training 100 people in the camp in first aid; will be completed on Monday, 31 May 2010. Each participant will receive a certificate and cash for work payment. Anticipated use of these personnel as key part of ongoing health monitoring and health education plan. ... read more

To continue the story surrounding the camp. Next to the camp is the SA school that has been operational for many years. School suffered damage, as well as did the large SA church on the grounds. School re-opened for its former students in April. However, classes, by necessity are held outdoors under tarps. For awhile, this was good - as the day I toured and took pics. However, the rainy season has begun in full earnest, which will make conditions very hard. ... read more

Going back to a previous thread of thought. You will notice the number on the shelter in the pic attached. It corresponds to a registration number for the family residing there. This represents the original registration data. UPS donated a tracking system that has been modified by the SA to include data relevant to the household and to identify the head of the household. This has been transferred to a plastic card produced and used for distributions. Scanning this card immediately identifies the family and their data. We hope to add more data as we go along. For example, gathering health data, clinic visits, meds, etc. One of the real time benefits of this will be to 'see' health issues early on; for instance, a malaria outbreak, children's diseases, etc. Every effort is being made to ... read more

Some of you may have heard about the demonstrations here in PaP. They generated from a government run camp in the center of the city. Residents there are extremely upset with conditions and services. This is quite far from where I stay and also DHQ. Just wanted to reassure everyone I am safe. At the gated entrance to the hotel, there is an armed guard stationed. Just a reminder of the potential for violatile reactions. For several days, NGO's (Non Government Organizations) were told to remove any insignias from vehicles...just in case. We complied and that recommendation has now been lifted. I am safe...doesn't mean I'm not appreciating the prayer coverage you are all giving me!... read more

First let me say - the traffic here is insane! Whatever SA pays our Haitian drivers, they earn every penny! Apparently, it is standard operating procedure to have one hand on the wheel and the other on the horn. They just blow the horn and keep on going. Sometimes, I just close my eyes (and pray). Most of the daily travel is in a van from the hotel to DHQ. However, I have been doing some road trips to various other SA Corps east, west, and north of PaP. Those trips are in a large truck loaded with mattresses and boxes of Numana (food) for distribution to SA schools and to communities surrounding the Corp church. More about these trips and pics later. Favored mode of transportation appears to be taptaps. I believe almost every pickup ... read more

May 26 - on the road again - this time to Saint Marc, which is a port town north and west along the coast from PaP. Again, damage to the roads are considerable. . You do get some glimpses of the sea as you drive along. Also, see scrawny cattle grazing on what we back home would call 'scrub land'. Tried to get a pic, but they were too far away. Image from the day: a young boy in a bright red shirt tending a small herd of cattle through the brush. Damage to roads is a major factor and much work is being done to repair and make more passable. Whole long pieces of it are simply scraped aside in piles. Road crews are working hard here to re-establish this main thoroughfare connecting Saint Marc ... read more

To continue the story of the camp. In partnership with World Concern, they are providing a safe area for the small children of the camp to participate in supervised play. In connection with the government, Concern is seeking to provide accreditation to teachers for school for these children. Schools in Haiti are self pay, so these children would not be able to participate in a regular school program. It is hoped in this way to bring these children up to standards and provide an opportunity they would not otherwise have for education.... read more