Update on the Ile A Vache New School Construction Project
Posted by Deon Morgan
We broke ground on the new Good Samaritan School in June 2010 during my first visit to Haiti with Michael Beans (newly appointed Tortola Club PHF). The Project Engineer spoke of an eight week construction period, which at the time nearly gave me a "heart attack" as we had not got all the funds in place! At the time we had perhaps $60 to $70K in the pot, about half of that needed. I must admit that I thought the proposed contract period a little ambitious bearing in mind the logistical difficulties of transporting materials in dug-out canoes several miles from the mainland, then moving the materials about a mile or so from the beach to the job site either in donkeys saddlebags or carried by people. Whilst in the village I had been persuaded to sponsor the local football teams strip in exchange for a commitment that the team members would help transport materials to site, hopefully this will have been remembered.
Site commencement was delayed by several weeks until the Contractor could mobilise, then the autumn brought the Caribbean severe weather in terms of hurricanes and rain, followed in Haiti by Cholera from which several people on the Island have sadly died. As the island has no proper roads, materials movement stopped until the mud had dried out because of fear of braking the animals legs. Additionally an unforeseen challenge was getting delivery truck access to the dock in Les Cayes, which has been overworked with incoming aid, presumably because the Port au Prince dock was out of action following the Earthquake.
Rotarian Kert and I have been managing the project stage payment schedule where we have to forward fund the job, however try not to expose ourselves to too much up-front financial exposure, until the work catches up. Our $20K stage payment made by Treasurer Julien in November hit the rocks, when the Haiti Bank changed their Intermediary Bank without telling anyone, and even with the direct help of Director Joyce, it took some two months to get the payment into the hands of the Contractor. This plus the Christmas holiday resulted in the work on site stopping until the funds could be delivered and work re commenced.
Site commencement was delayed by several weeks until the Contractor could mobilise, then the autumn brought the Caribbean severe weather in terms of hurricanes and rain, followed in Haiti by Cholera from which several people on the Island have sadly died. As the island has no proper roads, materials movement stopped until the mud had dried out because of fear of braking the animals legs. Additionally an unforeseen challenge was getting delivery truck access to the dock in Les Cayes, which has been overworked with incoming aid, presumably because the Port au Prince dock was out of action following the Earthquake.
Rotarian Kert and I have been managing the project stage payment schedule where we have to forward fund the job, however try not to expose ourselves to too much up-front financial exposure, until the work catches up. Our $20K stage payment made by Treasurer Julien in November hit the rocks, when the Haiti Bank changed their Intermediary Bank without telling anyone, and even with the direct help of Director Joyce, it took some two months to get the payment into the hands of the Contractor. This plus the Christmas holiday resulted in the work on site stopping until the funds could be delivered and work re commenced.
During the Autumn of 2010 we were the successful recipient of Rotary District DAF grant 39 (Donor Advised Fund) where money received by District for Haiti support has been directed towards community service projects especially focussing on Education. This $51,000.00 grant was a "God-Send" as far as I was concerned, as I was very unsure where the balance of the project funding was to come from.
Director Cate has been working for months on our ongoing Matching Grant Application and has overcome several very difficult and frustrating challenges to get this far. This grant application covers the costs for the kitchen, latrine and water cistern. Only this week Cate has been advised that Les Cayes Club evidently have the maximum of five current Matching Grant Projects underway, and until they have completed one, and finalised all the documentation we cannot get funding consideration to our application!
In terms of really Good News! As recipients of a DAF Grant (Rotary Donor Advised Fund), our Club is required to retain interest in our grant funded project for several years following grant payment, and I presume this means providing practical and financial support if we can. Committing future Presidents and Boards to costs is obviously to be avoided as we cannot foresee what future Club priorities will be. Therefore Cate and I were charged with the task of trying to find support funding for the school going forward.
We considered the options, including Bill Clinton's Foundation or perhaps Dolly Parton's Dollywood Foundation both of whom are focussed on Haiti. In the event I discussed the matter with PADG Michael, who in 2009 through his recommendation to the Aqualia Foundation of Bermuda, had originally provided us with a $25k challenge grant to start the fundraising for the school construction costs. With Michael's ongoing help we applied to the Foundation for school operational costs support funding, and just prior to Christmas were delighted to receive word that the Aqualia Foundation would commit $15,000.00 per annum, for the next five years to support operational costs. The first cheque was Presented from Aqualia to Michael Beans on behalf of the Good Samaritan Foundation in December. This grant totals $75,000.00 and is a huge achievement for the Good Samaritan Foundation, who can now afford to employ the additional teachers needed for the enlarged school where they anticipate increasing the student numbers from around 65 to perhaps 200 or so. Remember the Foundation also want to feed the kids with one good meal every day, to ensure that they get one, and of course encourage regular attendance.
I have recently been talking with Michael Beans about how the Good Samaritan Foundation school can become self funding beyond the five years of support provided by Aqualia. He has been developing plans to employ ex school students with creative flair to apprentice with local artists and craftsmen, the GSF then helping with the export and overseas marketing of the five types of Haitian art to the tourist destinations of the Caribbean , even perhaps the BVI tourist markets. This initiative is at an early stage, however I feel has real commercial prospects of success.
In closing, I would also report that during the last six months and with the help of Pastor Phelix, Michael's Co President at the Good Samaritan Foundation and the Les Cayes Rotary Club, we have been distributing the Districts' $25k food aid grant to the displaced families from Port Au Prince now living on the island which we received in June. Treasurer Julien has been regularly sending $5k wires to Les Cayes Club, following receipt of accounts and purchase receipts from the previous stage payment, which at the end of the project must be returned with a report to Barry Rassin in the Bahamas who helped secure this original funding from our District.
Finally, finally! I enclosed two photographs received today from Pastor Phelix of the latest school construction. Just look at the piles of materials on the ground, and think about how many canoes and transport trips from beach to site this must have taken!
Best,
Stephen Chair Haiti Projects
Director Cate has been working for months on our ongoing Matching Grant Application and has overcome several very difficult and frustrating challenges to get this far. This grant application covers the costs for the kitchen, latrine and water cistern. Only this week Cate has been advised that Les Cayes Club evidently have the maximum of five current Matching Grant Projects underway, and until they have completed one, and finalised all the documentation we cannot get funding consideration to our application!
In terms of really Good News! As recipients of a DAF Grant (Rotary Donor Advised Fund), our Club is required to retain interest in our grant funded project for several years following grant payment, and I presume this means providing practical and financial support if we can. Committing future Presidents and Boards to costs is obviously to be avoided as we cannot foresee what future Club priorities will be. Therefore Cate and I were charged with the task of trying to find support funding for the school going forward.
We considered the options, including Bill Clinton's Foundation or perhaps Dolly Parton's Dollywood Foundation both of whom are focussed on Haiti. In the event I discussed the matter with PADG Michael, who in 2009 through his recommendation to the Aqualia Foundation of Bermuda, had originally provided us with a $25k challenge grant to start the fundraising for the school construction costs. With Michael's ongoing help we applied to the Foundation for school operational costs support funding, and just prior to Christmas were delighted to receive word that the Aqualia Foundation would commit $15,000.00 per annum, for the next five years to support operational costs. The first cheque was Presented from Aqualia to Michael Beans on behalf of the Good Samaritan Foundation in December. This grant totals $75,000.00 and is a huge achievement for the Good Samaritan Foundation, who can now afford to employ the additional teachers needed for the enlarged school where they anticipate increasing the student numbers from around 65 to perhaps 200 or so. Remember the Foundation also want to feed the kids with one good meal every day, to ensure that they get one, and of course encourage regular attendance.
I have recently been talking with Michael Beans about how the Good Samaritan Foundation school can become self funding beyond the five years of support provided by Aqualia. He has been developing plans to employ ex school students with creative flair to apprentice with local artists and craftsmen, the GSF then helping with the export and overseas marketing of the five types of Haitian art to the tourist destinations of the Caribbean , even perhaps the BVI tourist markets. This initiative is at an early stage, however I feel has real commercial prospects of success.
In closing, I would also report that during the last six months and with the help of Pastor Phelix, Michael's Co President at the Good Samaritan Foundation and the Les Cayes Rotary Club, we have been distributing the Districts' $25k food aid grant to the displaced families from Port Au Prince now living on the island which we received in June. Treasurer Julien has been regularly sending $5k wires to Les Cayes Club, following receipt of accounts and purchase receipts from the previous stage payment, which at the end of the project must be returned with a report to Barry Rassin in the Bahamas who helped secure this original funding from our District.
Finally, finally! I enclosed two photographs received today from Pastor Phelix of the latest school construction. Just look at the piles of materials on the ground, and think about how many canoes and transport trips from beach to site this must have taken!
Best,
Stephen Chair Haiti Projects