Creating Community and Going Beyond to Build a Better Haiti
Community plays a big role in the success of The Haitian Project, especially since many members of the Haitian staff and all of the Volunteers live together at the school. “THP has put together nine volunteers, from all over the US, who don’t know each other, mixed them with the regular Haitian staff as well as new junior staff, and asked them to work and live together in community,” reflected Meg Smith, 2009 Volunteer. “We all have the common goal of creating a successful, sustainable learning environment, but, in order to make it work, we all need to get to know each other.”
Starting with the physical space, after weeks of hard work LCS Staff and Volunteers transformed an area that was once three rooms (staff kitchen, dining room, and an office) into one beautiful, open community room, where Staff and Volunteers come to cook, eat meals, relax, and get to know each other.
Once the office was cleared out, three walls were demolished. While the masons rebuilt the doorways, painting and clean up commenced. A fresh coat of paint and door screens opened up the space while new book shelves and a TV shelf made the room homey and inviting.
Wisgeuerby Bellegarde, LCS Junior Staff, enjoys the new area because “there is more space to eat and come together. In the past, Volunteers had their own kitchen upstairs where they would cook and eat on the weekends. Now, we share more of what we have together."
The community room is used most often during meal times. Tables are set out to fit as many people as possible. People come early to meals to talk and stay after meals to dance, listen to music, play board games and cards, and discuss what they have been reading.
“Both the Staff and the Volunteers are a foundation of THP. The community room is a welcoming place for the people who make up the community to just have fun together. With all of the renovations, everybody is more inspired to spend time together in the community room,” commented Samantha Russell, 2009 Volunteer.
In order to help everybody get to know each other, another initiative was started in August soon after the Volunteers arrived, through which each US Volunteer was paired with one of the Haitian Junior Staff. The pairs are known as community partners. Through the community partners, “the Staff and Volunteers can quickly learn the best of what each other has to offer in support of the community. Human resources are our most important resource, and the connection between partners can only improve THP,” commented Patrick Moynihan, THP President.
When asked about community partners, LCS Junior Staff Stecie Midy said, “I am excited to have someone that I can feel close to in the community. The partners will help everybody share their culture and get to know someone else’s culture. I hope it will be a memory from LCS that I can always take with me.”
Midy is one of LCS’ newest Junior Staff. The Junior Staff program began with support brought to THP from Fr. Roach. Starting in 1998, Fr. Roach’s three parish community provided funds so LCS could offer its own graduates an on campus job, which included support for their education. Meet the six new LCS Junior Staff members for this year:
Rony Amilca, 20, graduated in 2009 and would like to study electrical engineering. He wants to work at LCS to bring his contribution to the community with an overall vision of rebuilding Haiti. As an LCS student, he learned how to discipline himself and respect others. He hopes to eventually work for an engineering firm in Haiti and continue to support his community at LCS.
Marjorie Mombrun, 22, graduated in 2007 and is studying education at CREFI so that in the future she may contribute to the education of Haiti’s youth. She applied to be an LCS staff member because she wants to give back to the community that gave her an education. After university, her goal is to obtain a master’s degree and teach.
Barbara Jean Paul, 23, graduated in 2008 and is studying law at the state university with the goal of promoting peace and justice. As an LCS student, she learned how to live in community and plans on using that background to excel in her work.
Kencia Pierre, 20, graduated in 2009 and would like to study administration because Haiti needs people to effectively manage its resources. She wants to be at LCS to help others and be part of a new hope. As a student at LCS she learned that women can do just as much as men. Her sights are set on the corporate world of administration after finishing her degree.
Stecie Midy, 19, graduated in 2009 and plans to study administration. She applied to work at LCS because LCS is a place where people work together toward a common goal. As a LCS student, she learned to be tolerant and helpful to those who are in need. After university she would like to administrate an institution such as an orphanage, school or hospital which develops a person’s academic, physical and mental well being, especially in children.
Alberte Luc, 22, graduated in 2007 and is studying business administration because she wants to help improve administrative enterprises in Haiti. At LCS, she works in campus ministry and teaches religion. She enjoys being a staff member because she wants to help others as she was helped when she was a student. As an LCS student, she learned how to understand and support others in their endeavors.
The U.S. Volunteers and Haitian Junior Staff work very closely together on a daily level. Moynihan considers them the engine at the center of the community and said, “I cannot imagine where we would be without the volunteers and junior staff. They are both the models and guides for our students,” Moynihan said.
