Today was such a mixed bag of emotional and physical experiences. Incredibly inspiring visits to the schools that have been started, built and nurtured by individuals with exemplary patience, fortitude, and divine missions…peppered with support from Mona Foundation to help them grow.  Combined with physical challenge…hot, hot, hot…75%+ humidity and dusty roads – welcome to life in Haiti.  While we are a hearty group of travelers, by the end of this fulfilling day of learning we all looked and felt like wet rags – literally and figuratively.  I have never felt as drained – and as exhilarated – as I did at the end of our tour today.

Our first stop of the day was at the Annex school of Anis Zunuzi – conducted in the home of school founders Sue and Yves.  Sue and Yves have opened their home in Port au Prince to young “street boys” in need of both education and shelter. They have a few makeshift classrooms on their property, along with sleeping accommodations for some of the boys.  They have attracted and employ teachers to conduct classes at various levels based on the need of the students – and the tuition is kept minimal enough to cover basic expenses of running the school – affordable enough for families who might otherwise have nowhere for their children to go.  The children are taught not only basic academics, but they receive “moral education” as well…they learn the basic tenets of being a good citizen of the world, the importance of kindness, self-respect and respect for others…and they have role models to learn from in the context of this school community.

It is impossible to express the depth of selflessness that Sue and Yves represent and live every day.  They see a great need and do what they can to meet that need – one child at a time.

Our next stop was at the Anis Zunuzi campus – the more formal school that Sue and Yves founded and have now turned over to a Haitian council of administrators to run. The Mona Foundation has been partnering with this school for many years to support its growth from a small grassroots operation to what is fast becoming a unique educational oasis.  The original school building is now surrounded by a soccer field, a full kitchen facility with a dining room on the way, brand new shower and bathroom facilities with running water and flush toilets (these are not at all a given in most homes, businesses and schools in Haiti), and plans for even more expansion in the near future. 

One of the lovely women traveling with us donated the means to build two classrooms at Anis Zunuzi in honor of her daughter who was tragically killed in an auto accident.  The classrooms are now in use and they have been dedicated to the young woman with placards and her story adorning the entry to the rooms. 

I had such fun getting to meet the children at this school.  They range from 2 ½ through late teens. While the older students were busy taking exams, the younger kids gathered around to get their pictures taken – some of them took great delight in learning to snap pictures of their friends, and my Flip video camera was a big hit when we captured them singing a song and them played it back – the huddle of kids trying to see themselves on the tiny screen was too cute.

Another truly classic scene unfolded as Rainn decided to play goalie with 20+ kids of all ages attempting to score on him. No dice – and he sure put up a good front defending the goal!

Before leaving we met with members of the Administrative Committee to talk with them about what they felt the greatest needs were for the school – and get their direct input on how we should be focusing our energies to help move the school to the next stage of it development.

Our next stop was at the New Horizons school run by Bernard Martinod, a French transplant and visionary who has built a beautiful school outside of Port au Prince that serves some of the small villages in the area.  The school sits on about 12 acres of land, much of which is still undeveloped but very, very scenic.  Wild horses and some cattle owned by neighbors graze peacefully nearby, and the school proper has been designed with light and color blending to make for a very cheerful environment.

Mr. Martinod shared extensive plans for expanding the school footprint to include sports facilities, additional classrooms, a cafeteria, and much more. He has been able to secure grants from the French government, the government of Guadalupe, and the Mona Foundation.  He thinks big…once the expansion plans are complete he hopes to serve over 1,000 students with affordable schooling…he has a dream.

On our drive back to our hotel, I thought about just how much these handful of individuals have been able to accomplish – in a situation that to most would seem insurmountable in the breadth and depth of challenges.  There is a bottomless well of need in Haiti – but these giving souls have said “I need to just start here”.  One child at a time.