Manje & Dlo: dwa moun nan pratik/Food & Water: Human Rights in Practice. Shields Sundberg

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 (Sante, Edukation, Ekonomik) 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. We arrived--after driving, walking, and crossing rivers--to some festive music and a bustling outdoor market. While there, we bought Hugo and Shields some flip flops, Akshay bought some home-made soaps for everyone in his family, and my dad bought a basket of food that we carried back to the hospital. Some of the kids helped prepare dinner with the wonderful cooks here: rice and beans, beef, fish, and a delicious sauce.

Our readings, as well as our activities, for today related to the concept of "manje." The word means many things in Haitian culture: food, eating, and even affection. Leyu led a thoughtful conversation tonight about these many meanings and the various ways food relates to power here. The power to prepare food, offer food, and even withhold food. There is of course also then Haiti's relationship with the international community that began, literally, with a battle over food (sugar) and power. As their teacher, I have absolutely loved the chance to see these kids make connections between what we see and what we read. I believe we have managed to sneak in nearly a full course on Haiti!

It is not all work....I promise ;) As I write, the kids are singing childhood songs after eating home-made pizza.

Tomorrow, we head to Cap-Haitien for the day.

you will note that there remain many men in the women's market...we have explored women's complex situation from a number of perspectives. We are working hard to understand and get our minds around (and support change relating to) women's roles.