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Published: April 18th 2007
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Bria, Haiti (returning with needed gifts from Canada)
Annie & I would like to start by sending out a warm thank you to all those who helped out this past February in donating all the incredibly needed items for the small village of Bria, Haiti. On April 14th 2007, after sailing in the night before, we had the incredible experience of personally distributing everything, face to face, to the villagers.
Facing us was a sensitive challenge of trying to distribute all the articles we had in a fair manner, since we did not have enough of everything for everyone and these people can use, and need, so much (although the totality of what we brought from Canada weighed over 300 lbs and took 5 hockey bags to carry..). We also wanted to be careful not to overstep our bounds, and to respect the fragile state of this village. Wanting to do the best we could of the situation, we invited Protège Vilmé ,the town Casec (village elected chief) onboard before going ashore, in order to discuss how he would like to go about this matter. With a short term plan in hand we loaded the skiff and headed
As we distributed the collected items we brought back from Canada.
As we distributed the collected items we brought back from Canada. for the shore. Happy to see us again, the villagers greeted us along there shore line. With the skiff ashore, all hands were kindly helping us unload everything toward a clean patch of grass near by, where we could settle ourselves for distribution.
With all on shore, and most of the villagers surrounding us, and with the chief at our side, we started to unpack and hand out with so many shouting MWEM BESOIN SA (I need that). We had carefully sorted and labeled things prior as we did not want things to get out of hand. We expected somewhat of a frenzy, but who wouldn’t?!?! They were being offered items that they greatly need or wanted, for such a longtime, without the possibility of getting them for themselves… Wouldn’t you go a little wild?!?!
Anyways, the items were sorted by category… Children’s clothes were sorted by size and sex… toys were together… items for women (sewing kits, hair brushes, hair clips, first aid kits, toothbrushes and paste, etc..) to another side… and items for men (shaving kits, flashlights, watches, tools, etc., were to yet another side. We also made a very special bag which we handed to
As we distributed the collected items we brought back from Canada.
As we distributed the collected items we brought back from Canada. the village teacher, which contained some 30+ school workbooks, about 100 pencils, sharpeners, erasers, glue, rulers, geometry sets and a big book of stickers with a red pen for the teacher to correct the homework.
Since there were so many people and we couldn’t handle all at once, we distributed to the crowd by groups. We started with the elders, then with the men, handed out some toys to the kids and finished with the women and children.
Some of the moments that touched us most were:
The moment we took out the soccer ball!! The kids roared with cheer!!!, They finally have a soccer ball to play with.
The elder ladies that got pairs of glasses and thanked us, with one saying she would finally be able to thread her needles again and read her bible.
This older man asked us, just so politely…. “Misye blanc….tanpri…mwenmenm bezwen koupe bab” (Mister white man….I beg of you…. My beard needs a good shave). Annie put together little packages containing two shavers and a bar of soap, which we gave him with a smile.
Anne noticed this shy little boy hiding behind his mother not asking
As we distributed the collected items we brought back from Canada.
As we distributed the collected items we brought back from Canada. for anything. She took a small box of HotWheel cars out and squeezed her way through the crowd to reach this little boy. When she spoke to him and said “Tonton, vini ici” (Little guy, come here..), he just shied away and hid behind his mother. His mom tapped him on the shoulder, and as he looked up at her, he saw the box of cars that she was handing him. When he finally realized that they where really for him, he reached out to take them, she gave him a wink and he ran off with the cars smiling.
One little girl was so happy, smiling ear to ear, with her skipping rope, that she couldn’t stop laughing.
We handed out such items like; watches, flashlight, tools, scissors, sewing kits, shaving kits, tons of clothes shoes etc etc...
The last thing we handed out was a large Ziploc bag containing some forty or so packets of seeds. Carrots, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, melons, beans and much, much more. This invaluable gift will allow the community to be a little more self sufficient and will provide, with their personal effort, food in the long term. This gift comes
As we distributed the collected items we brought back from Canada.
As we distributed the collected items we brought back from Canada. to the community with a challenge though…. to grow these fruits and vegetables despite the extremely harsh environment. We look forward in visiting there garden in future visits.
Once the distribution was complete, we took a walk through the village as they wanted to show us some of the changes they had made since our last visit.
A new building (hut) was built for the teacher to live in, right next to the school. Prior to this house being built, the teacher would walk 45 minutes through brush and mud, everyday, from the nearby community of Grande Anse, to get to the school. This house was constructed by the community, for the community. A great step in a great direction for progress in this tiny town.
We revisited the school where everything is coming together (hard to work on island time, but patience always prevails). The Casec has solicited the aid of a local carpenter for the construction of the new school, which will take place in due time. A variety of construction supplies (tin for roof, wood for structure, etc..) are being finalized and gathered, and transportation to the town are being arranged.
The only
As we distributed the collected items we brought back from Canada.
As we distributed the collected items we brought back from Canada. things we see missing now are some much needed benches and tables (or pupil desks) so that the students can have proper working surfaces. At the present time, they crouch down and sit on logs or rocks as the teacher addresses the blackboard. Perhaps, in a future endeavor, they will benefit from these items.
In any event, it took a while for us to get back there, but it feels great to have finally succeeded in finalizing this first quest. If anyone were to ask us if we’d do it again, our answer would be… YES! MOST DEFINITELY!!!
Again, we thank you, and all the people that received your items thank you for your generosity.
Small efforts that make big differences Annie & Eric
In Haiti,
www.WeBeSailing.com
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hakuna matata
non-member comment
great to see the great things we could de
i must admit I thought nothing could beat the nice pictures of the sea or the amazing pictures of mountains etc... but to me it s great to see the smile and the hope you brought to those people !! if we all brought smiles like that instad of pain the world would be a better place!! keep sheering on, you both look great, hope all is well ! see you soon and keep spredding the goodness...xxx yves, christina and meaghan