Day 5: Hope through Education in Haiti

Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world.

​​​​​​​Nelson Mandela

Education comes in many forms – the classroom, field trips, research, experiential and experimental.  Ultimately, I believe one function of education is to provide hope that the future will be better, brighter, happier.  Over the past several days in Anse-a-Pitre, Haiti and the neighboring refugee camp, I have seen hope manifest itself through a variety of forms of education.

Hope is manifesting itself at the Sadhana Forest in several ways. First, the forest has a young enthusiastic director, Luke, who brought in building materials today for the construction of a mill.  The mill will be used to grind nuts from the Maya Nut tree, a plant species native to Haiti.  Maya Nut trees, when mature (it takes about seven years to reach maturity), produce a large quantity of high-protein nuts which when ground into flour can be used for breads, cakes, desserts, and other food items.  The education process will be both in the building of the mill as well as in the teaching on how to use the flour in the baking process. The hope for Luke is that perhaps someday, not only will the Haitians have food security from a locally sourced  product that may be exported, but perhaps even to the United States.

Hope is manifesting itself through the work of Nixon who works at Sadhana Forest as its local agricultural specialist.  Nixon studied agriculture for three years at the University, but had to leave school when his mother passed away. Nixon uses not only his formal education, but also his life experience education (he has been working in agriculture since he was 11 years old and his father was also in agriculture) to help plant and grow the forest at Sadhana Forest.  But this knowledge is not limited to the Forest, but is being exported to the surrounding area, particularly the neighboring refugee camp.  Maya Nut trees will be planted there and some point in the relatively near future, hungry mouths will be fed and food security will be established.  This will help provide a sense of security beyond just food security to that community.

Hope is manifesting itself through the work of Eddie who has long dreamed of establishing an internet café in Anse-in-Pitre.  He has worked for years to fund the project, including Indiegogo funding project.  However, that effort only brought in 19% of the funds needed for the project. Eddie remains undeterred and construction has started.  The building will have a small café and room for multiple computer users. It is a room that will not only connect Haitians students and others to the world, but will connect the world to Haiti. It will eliminate the need for Haitians to travel across the border to the neighboring city of Pedernales in the Dominican Republic for internet service.  Again, it will provide a source and a sense of security and an enhanced sense of community for the Haitians of Anse-a-Pitre.

Finally, hope is manifesting itself in the refugee community through the eagerness to learn, particularly English.  Through no fault of their own, the refugees have been displaced by government policies and forced to settle in this camp.  Despite these hardships, there is a thirst for knowledge, a desire to learn, a hope for a better, brighter, happier, and perhaps, most importantly, a kinder tomorrow.  My hope and prayer is for that thirst to be quenched.

-Phil