Haitian Project News

by Dan McDonald (THP Volunteer)

Jean Zidor Dufrense, or just Zidor to his friends and colleagues, is a man of many gifts and talents. From his time as a sizyèm student to his current role as one of the school’s prefects of discipline, he has used these talents to enrich and strengthen the community here at Louverture Cleary School. In all cases, he is a great example of a Louverturian. After spending a full seven years at LCS, Zidor graduated in 2007 and returned in 2009 to join the Junior Staff. As a Junior Staff member, Zidor lives on campus and serves on the LCS discipline team. In exchange, he receives a university scholarship to study Computer Science at the Ecole Supérieure d'Infotronique d'Haïti, as well as a stipend and room and board at LCS.

by Tim Scordato

For years the Flanigans, a generous team of father and son, have been supporting THP and bringing help to the people of Haiti. The father, Peter Flanigan, a successful businessman turned philanthropist, and the son, Dr. Tim Flanigan, are specifically drawn to Haiti because of the “resilience and wonderful nature of the Haitian people,” as Dr. Flanigan stated. “They have the ability to continue to struggle against adversity, have joy amidst hardship, and generosity amidst poverty.”

In 2007, Peter read about the difficult conditions in Haiti and wanted to see first hand how he could help. He asked his son, who is Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Rhode Island and The Miriam Hospitals, if he would join him on a visit to the Missionaries of Charity Orphanage and Malnourishment Hospital. Fortunately for THP, Dr. Flanigan, who is also a professor at Brown University School of Medicine, mentioned the trip to fellow faculty member Dr. Ed Wing, who was working on creating a medical exchange program in Haiti.

by Hyppolite Wahite Frick

My name is Hyppolite Wahite Frick, a Philo student at Louverture Cleary School (LCS). I live in Port au Prince with my family. Fortunately, God helped me to integrate into one of the greatest and charitable schools of the country. I have been supported by LCS for the past seven years. The education that I have received will help me to change my country, and possibly the world. 

John F. Kennedy’s quote summarizes the philosophy of LCS, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” That makes LCS different from other schools in Haiti. Other schools teach their students to better their own lives, while LCS taught me to change my country so that I can better my life.