Empowering Adult Handicapped Haitians

 Meet our new board members:

The Friends of St. Vincent’s board has two new members!

One is Diane D., a member of an Episcopal church in Florida, and a Companion of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, SCHC.  Diane visited St. Vincent’s Center several times, years ago, with Hope Lennartz, founder of Friends of St. Vincent’s.  On one memorable trip, she brought sewing machines to the campus and spent time working with the young people there who wanted to learn that trade.  Diane reports that she is happy to be back in contact again with the adults who have grown up at St. Vincent’s. 

The second is Rachel S., a member of another Episcopal church in Florida. Rachel served as a member of the Young Adult Service Corps, YASC, in Brazil for a year in 2016.  Rachel is an advocate for disability rights, and so she understands the need to follow the lead of our partners in Haiti, and to respect their path.  She is also creative with crafts and with tech: stay tuned!

Sonya Y. continues as president, bringing her experiences at St. Vincent’s in Haiti and her compassionate and imaginative approach to accompanying our friends in their work towards autonomy.  Sonya is a working artist in glass, watercolor, graphic design, and more.  She teaches classes and produces beautiful work. 

Janet O. continues as vice-president.  Janet has visited St. Vincent’s over the years, since 1997, and has also lived in Haiti as dean of a university program of rehab, educating Occupational and Physical Therapists in Haiti, FSRL-UNEPH.  She is currently dean-at-a-distance.  Happily, there is a new Haitian administration now for the university department of rehab, including two graduates of the program who are ready to lead the work of the university.  Janet will be retiring from the dean’s role before long.   

I hope this has been interesting, to hear about some of the people behind these reports!  We are aware of the privilege that we have in accompanying the members of CAHSAV, our partners at St. Vincent’s in Haiti.  It has been the joy of our lives.  We thank you, donors to Friends of St. V., for all the good made possible by your gifts.   

During the quarter ahead, we will continue to send contributions so that CAHSAV members can pay for their internet, for vocational training or high school, for the  services of a part-time nurse, and for “maker” activities in preparation for selling products at the festival at St. Vincent's on Dec. 3, the International Day of the Handicapped Person.  (That is the original name of this festival.)  They will also plan and carry out their annual meeting when they celebrate CAHSAV, on Dec. 31 and New Year’s Day, which is Haitian Independence Day.  

We’ll be contributing, as much as we are able, to completing the construction of the Samuel Elizaire Pavilion which will provide an office for CAHSAV, a gathering place for the children (who like to be with the older residents), and a workshop, an atelier, for the maker activities of CAHSAV members. Once again, stay tuned!  

Thank you for your faithfulness in this important work!  

Friends of St. Vincent’s

Links:

• Friends of St. Vincent's website