Rural Empowerment Haiti. Shields Sundberg

Shields Sundberg

Our time has been too short!  Today was our last full day, and it is evident this group could easily stay longer. There is much more to do and see; plus, we have made poignant friendships inter and intra group. This evening, the hospital staff prepared a special send-off; Dr. Thony affirmed how wonderful it has been to have here this kind, engaged, and fun group.  He also made our group t-shirts.  What a show of support.  While there is a remarkable amount of joy and laughter here at ASB on an ordinary day, it is especially nice when students visit...they lift the spirits and remind (us all) there is a new generation who will work hard to change the narrative and build capacity.  I could not be more proud of each member of our group individually or of the group as a whole.  Honestly, I have never traveled with such a committed, grounded, and respectful team.  They stepped in and up.  It was beautiful to see the way they bonded with each other...

Today began with a beautiful sunrise, a gentle breeze, and an inspiring visit to SEE FANM MACHE.  Once again, this group defied expectations:  every student was ready at 6am, with supplies for a long-ish journey to Morau--the deepest point we have yet traveled inland.  A Haitian anthropologist named RoseMarie Cassignol Chierici founded Haiti Outreach Pwoje Espwa 20 years ago.  That organization, know as H.O.P.E., tackled health first and now supports fully  Alyans Sante Borgne (ASB), the hospital and mobile clinics.  Last year, Dr.  Thony, the medical director of ASB, developed a broader program called SEE AYITI ( S ante,  E dukation,  E konomik) to spread the model we employ for health to other arenas, namely education and economic activity.  One of the first efforts has been to create a market for and by women in remote areas--SEE FANM MACHE! All of this is to explain that our group was the first to visit the market....

Today, we focused on folk culture from a few vantage points.  After a long sleep and a good breakfast, we set off for the storied local caves.  Joining us was a few friends (Ronel & Romeo again, but also Patrick, who knows truly everything about this region.)  We went in to the caves with clean clothes and mild trepidation, and we emerged unbelievably dirty and empowered!  In between, we walked amongst the various "rooms" where Native peoples (the Arawaks) hid from Columbus (so the story goes) and peasant leaders hide, still, when political feuds become violent.  The caves proved a peaceful place to visit; we even had a brief moment of silence in the total darkness, listening to water drip.  Most of us felt we could have "zenned-out" for longer.  It was as close as one can get to an almost biblical quietude!  I was impressed with the group; it was an adventure that required some grit ;)  Locals think of the cave as a cathedral of so...