Many, many thanks to all who have donated towards paying teacher salaries at our partner school, St Philippe et St Jacques. Despite very difficult circumstances – displacement from Collin because of gang violence, rising costs, rain and flooding as Hurricane Melissa passed by – our partner priest Markendy Jean and school principal Elissaint Míchel have managed to secure a new space for the school in the safe town of Leogane, recruit teachers and find students. So far, 125 students have registered, and they are expecting more. Because of your generosity, we have already sent enough funds to rent the new space for the school ($7700 for the year) and to pay teachers for October and November ($6168). We have enough to pay the salaries for December and January, but we need to raise funds for the rest of the school year, which will run until the end of July. To pay teachers their full salaries, we need to raise another $17,000.
We know that this is a big ask. Please be as generous as you can. Sometimes the news about Haiti seems hopeless, but the Haiti Partnership Program is a beacon of light. All over Haiti, children are being educated at Episcopal Schools, because their school has a partner in the US. We have partnered with St Philippe et St Jacques since 2007, and a generation of children has benefited. On one Sunday in Advent, we will hear from the Louis-Charles family, St John’s members who were once students at our partner school.
If you are able to donate, there are many ways to do so! A check with Haiti in the memo line in the offering plate, at the table in the gallery, online with the QR code at the table, or online here (choose Haiti Project from the drop down menu).
Thank you so much for your generosity,
Dianne Pizey and the Haiti Committee
A Letter from Rev Kesner Gracia,
Coordinator of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti Parish Partnership Program
