Report of Linda’s mission to ISGF Project in Haiti - January 2012

Linda Bates, former World Committee Member from Canada, has just returned from the ISGF International Development Project in Haiti with team members from Canada, CASEGHA  and other parts of the USA. They were working at the school in Grison Garde, Northern Haiti, which was started in 2008 (see this link). Travelling at the same time were Medical and Dental teams from USA and Canada who were supporting the Clinic in Grison-Garde.

The project teams have been raising money and providing supplies for the projects and arranged a one week work party to complete the next stage of this project and assess the future needs.

Chairs for the school were bought locally with the financial support from "Edith Rankin Church, Kingston, Canada" and shelving was assembled to house many of the items including books which had been sent. Tables and benches were erected and desks were repaired, classrooms and the upper part of the school painted. Clothing and water bottles for the children was organized and extra garments made.

The school library was a major part of the project with walls being painted yellow, book shelves constructed and painted white and window frames blue giving a bright and cheery room.

On the last day there was an official opening of the new library and the different sections were explained to the teachers.

A special “thank you” goes to the Norwegian St George’s Guilds for their financial donation towards the library and the "Limestone District School Board" and "CUPE 1480" for their donations.

At the end of a week 81 chairs were placed in the classrooms and arrangements had been made to purchase 100 chair desk combinations for the older pupils and 119 more chairs for the remaining students. The kindergarten room and two other rooms had been re furbished and various supplies for the teachers to use left ready.

It was not all hard work as the group also found time to interact with the children often playing games with them. The Canadian team also donated medical supplies to two other clinics in the area as well as working on a second school on behalf of ISGF.