Konbit Pou Potapiman

 

On behalf of the KPP Board of Directors, we hope this update finds everyone in good health. And you are finding creative ways to adjust to the demands of Covid-19.

2020 started with a bang. Our first luncheon for year-end 2019 was a success. In March 2020, a new board of directors was elected. Several projects were ready to go or in the planning stage in addition to our regular activities. We were flying high, excited, and full of enthusiasm. One of our exciting projects was the School Garden.

This project was submitted for funding to the non profit organization One World Group Oxted of London, and in February 2020, the funds were approved. Four (4) schools were chosen for the project: Ecole Nationale de Figuiers, EFA de Port-a-Piment, Ecole Nationale de Potus, Ecole Notre Dame du Rosaire, as they all have access to land not currently in use. By March 20, 2020, much work had been done such as, lecture sessions, field preparation, enclosures of the fields, planting of different seeds, watering… The work was performed by the students accompanied by Agronomist Gerdy Francois and Agronomy Student Laurent Parollo, all under the supervision of the schools’ principals.

               

Then without warning, the world was blindsided by Covid-19. As we all know, Port-a-Piment was not exempt; all schools had to close their doors and the commune was officially on lockdown. And the goals of this project to impact the lives of the children in the areas of education, economy and nutrition came to a screeching halt.

Discouraged, yes! but temporarily. Defeated, never!

As the saying goes, we were down but not out. And this spirit was exemplified by 7 individuals who refused to accept the verdict that all was lost.

At the Ecole Nationale de Potus, the gang of 7: Boasze Hyppolyte (Principal), Jean Jules Musac (Teacher), Gerdy Francois (Agronomist), Laurent Parallo (Agronomy Student), Carl-Henry (Student), Sheevenson (Student) and Kensley(Student) stepped forward and said defeat, “not on our watch.” They took it upon themselves not to allow all their collaborative efforts to go to waste. That decision led to tremendous challenges because of the precautions necessary in dealing with the virus. The number of student participants was reduced from 73 to 3. And to make matters worse, nature was not cooperating. The area was experiencing a drought.

Again, Hooray for the team.

To irrigate the fields, the gang of 7 rolled up their sleeves and hauled countless buckets of water from the river which is about 1 to 2 miles away. They had to sprinkle the water by hand on each plant to keep the heat from scalding them. That process had to be done for 2 fields; one is 360 square meters and the other 350 square meters.

As of this writing, the gardens are growing relatively well. Already, tomatoes, sweet peppers and other crops are starting to show. Before long, the other crops (corn, eggplant, beets, bananas, okra…) will be ready for harvesting.

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

It can be said, the gang of 7 “snatched victory from the jaw of defeat.” The date to re-start this project hopefully is right around the corner. Once the authorities give the OK to reopen the schools, we hope to restart the project as we take the precautions necessary to deal with Covid-19.

Excitement is in the air again. As the gang of 7 has demonstrated, “where there is a will there is a way.”

Covid-19 is on the rise again, especially in the Americas. When possible, Stay Home! Follow the official guidelines of the authorities. Keep Safe!

 

Y. Sidney

 

By now, we all know what the experts have been saying: COVID-19 will not be going away anytime soon. Faced with this dilemma, we have no choice but to adapt. As we follow the guidelines to protect ourselves from this virus, life must go on. We all need to find ways to protect ourselves when we must leave the safety of our homes. When we are home, we must find ways to keep in touch with our loved ones, friends and also find innovative ways to keep our minds busy so we can keep our sanity.

No matter how this new lifestyle has impacted us, most of our brothers and sisters in Port-a-Piment do not have the luxury of staying home on lockdown for a prolonged period of time. And for their lives to go on, they must leave their homes to find the means to survive. They cannot work from home; they cannot file for unemployment benefits or wait for a government stimulus. They must rely mostly on themselves and/or hope for assistance from a helping hand.

In order to help mitigate some of their risks, the KPP Board of Directors, together with KPP members on the ground, have taken 2 initiatives:

1- Face Masks: Six (6) local seamstresses were contracted to fabricate 1,000 face masks. On April  24th 2020, KPP members started distributing the masks to the general population. In addition, another 1000 face masks were ordered for patients and visitors use at the hospital. Materials have been purchased and provided to the workers.

   

 

2- Hand Washing Stations: Five (5)Buckets with water and soap were placed strategically throughout the town to encourage hand washing.

   

These initiatives were funded from donations made in honor of the late Dr. Roger Malebranche. 

In our last update of March 29, 2020, we had announced that, with funds also donated in honor of Dr. Roger Malebranche, KPP had purchased needed supplies for the Radiology Department of the Hospital of Port-a-Piment. A 17×34 cassette, 500 X Ray films , 4 Laser Toners and 5 Cartridges have been delivered to the Hospital Administrator and Medical Director in Port-a-Piment

           

  

Our special Thanks go to the family, colleagues and friends of Dr Roger Malebranche for their invaluable contribution.

KPP would like to take this opportunity to also thank all the first responders, medical workers, essential workers all over the world who have sacrificed so much to keep all of us safe. Every day, they walk out of their homes, they put their lives and the lives of their loved ones on the line to make sure that at the end of this nightmare, we  still have a world to live in. Also, our special thanks go to our supporters and KPP members who are part of this distinguished group.

Stay Home (when possible)! Follow the guidelines of the authorities. Keep Safe!

Y. Sidney

 

 

 

On behalf of the KPP Board of Directors, we hope that this note finds you in Good Spirits and even better in Good Health.  As we adjust to the new challenging environment, we want you to know that we consider it a privilege to have YOU as a supporter. We are reaching out to provide you with an update on the steps taken since the official announcement of the Coronavirus COVID-19 entry in Haiti.

 

1-The KPP Children Library in Port-a-Piment is now closed until it is safe for the kids to return.

 

2- All schools of the commune of Port-a-Piment have closed their doors. A project of  “Jardin Scolaire “undertaken at 4 different schools in the town of Port-a-Piment and the village of Potus with the support of KPP has also stopped due to the coronavirus outbreak.  

 

As of March 20^th, 2020 much work had been done: Lecture sessions, field preparation, enclosures, planting of different seeds, watering…. The work was done by the students accompanied by Agronomist Gerdy Francois and Agronomy Student Laurent Parollo,  all under the schools directors’ supervision with the support of KPP. We will continue to provide the necessary support to maintain the fields.

 

3-, KPP is proud to announce that the X-ray Cassette purchased with funds donated in the honor of the late Dr. Roger Malebranche, has been delivered to the Port-a-Piment Hospital.   The remaining materials such as X-ray Films and Toners   have been entrusted to a cargo ship for delivery in Haiti.

 

4- We maintain close contact with the KPP-Haiti members while encouraging them to follow the recommendation of Haitian Health officials: https://mspp.gouv.ht/newsite/?p=6725

 

As we are learning how to survive and thrive during the COVID-19 outbreak  we are maintaining  close contact with our members in Port-a-Piment.  Despite the havoc that the Corona virus is causing all over the world, our work must continue.  We are asking our members and supporters to be cautious and to take all necessary precautions to remain in good health.  We are urging you to follow the guidelines of the US Health authorities.   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html