Teams Travel to Pignon!
The Haiti Education Alliance Team
During the month of July, THEA (The Haiti Education Alliance) team worked with several groups of people while they were in Pignon and LaVictoire. Their accommodations were at the Hospital dorm in Pignon as they worked in both areas. Here is a report written about their trip by Cynthia Mudd, President:
"First of all,thanks so much for all of your prayers! We certainly could see the evidence of God working in everything from his providence of team members, giving us the faith and words to say when needed, to keeping the rain at bay for our safe travel each day. (Well, all except one day, but I believe that was God's hand, too.)
I am so thankful for each team-member. God brought such a diverse group together making it possible to accomplish so much through His strength and wisdom with just 6 of us. We knew you all were praying.
For conservation of time and space, I'll just make a list of projects/activities completed while we were there. Then share a few more things we learned after that...
Nutrition:
1. The children and widows, family and church members, THEA teachers and translators were all able to eat 1-2 good meals per day.
2. The water system in town has been down for 3 weeks. Instruction was given to make water drinkable using a bleach solution treatment.
3. Conducted a planning meeting for devising a method to collect rain water for drinking, washing, and gardening.
4. Approximately 25 bottles of vitamins and 120 vitamin packets were given for the children with specific instructions for their use. Individual Pedialyte packs were also given with instructions for their use when signs of dehydration are evident as well as following diarrhea and vomiting.
5. Training on how to build and use solar cook-stoves was provided in addition to the benefits of their use for nutrition, safety, the environment, as well as to save money.
Gardening:
6. Drip Irrigation training for gardening year-round with efficient use of water. Two of the minister/translators involved with the training and have their own gardens were given drip kits to take back to their communities, too.
7. Garden design planning meeting for optimization of space for product selection for highest level of nutrition 1st then profit (for future business opportunity).
8. Seed planting class for younger children. Each child was able to plant and water seeds in their own pots to take home.
9. Matt, volunteer team mate, taught how to make plant markers and raised beds (Where THEA's Agriculture Coordinator decided he wanted to plant herbs and onions).
Sewing Training:
10. THEA's mission team met with our sewing instructor to check on the progress and needs of Sewing Training Program.
11. The THEA Sewing Training Program classes were in session 3 times during the week with use of the generator.
12. Sewing classes were conducted for younger students which included a special service project for those they identified in their community as having the most need for clothes.
Bible Studies:
12. Joe, volunteer team mate, conducted a men's Bible study; and Gail, another volunteer team mate, led a separate one for women with instruction for use of a Proclaimer- an audio Bible in Creole which operates by solar or hand-crank mechanisms. This is a new concept especially for the women.
13. Began an ongoing women's Bible study with a Proclaimer. One of the BEST parts of the trip was when we asked the group of women who would like to lead the study. The older widows raised their hands right away and stepped forward. Love it!
14. Two Proclaimers were given to each minister/translator for use of outreach for their congregations; and one to our rehabilitation student for his family, friends, and volunteer work at the hospital.
15. The younger children were told a Bible story then were given a coloring sheet to correspond to each story. There were 4 different stories.
16. Toiletry bags and clothes were given to the widows.
Medical:
17. Conducted a meeting with the medical track students with sign-in sheet discussing the plans for the week and beyond.
18. Introduced the Medical Education Volunteer Program (MEVP) at the hospital in Pignon to the medical track students, indicating that these are just THEA's initial ideas, and with further collaboration with the hospital administration, the plans could change.
19. The 8 medical track students were given information packets on the following topics: Environmental Hygiene, Nutrition, Children's Mental Heath- especially following traumatic events, Medical Terminology and Anatomy, and more. At the end of the week, they presented their material to the community. Each student was instructed to study their 1st packet for 2 weeks then circulate the packets to the others until everyone has had the chance to study every packet. They were further encouraged to work together to make some of the modifications to their environment as described in their learning materials for greater public health. The students were very enthusiastic about these opportunities.
20. A young man fell out of a tree and presented with a wound on his arm. He was able to be treated and taught to care for it daily with antibiotic ointment, wrap gauze, and ace bandage (which we were able to supply to him).
21. A 10 year old boy stigmatized with having a disability due to a leg-length discrepancy was measured for the proper orthotic to address this concern. (We're looking now for different sized shoes (left) with 1 inch lift.)
22. Two young girls were treated with oculo-motor deficits. Caretakers were taught to continue with the therapeutic activities.
23. Word got out that Judy and Cynthia, both volunteer team mates, are specialists in rehabilitation and a family came from very far with a man who could not walk and presented as a stroke patient with further generalized weakness and slow cognitive processing. They brought him by donkey. He walked quite well with a walker requiring someone to guard his balance and give minimal cues for safety with walking and transferring to sit in a chair. He was also taught upper body exercises and to engage in activities that will help him get stronger and be useful- although slow at first. We prayed for the man and his family. They were filled with hope when they left.
24. We had about 35 pairs of donated prescription and reading glasses so we conducted a community vision screening session. The medical track students assisted with conducting this session. It was an absolute miracle that almost all the people who came were able to find a pair of glasses that could help them see better.
25. THEA's Agriculture Coordinator's mother who had a stroke about 2 months prior was seen 3 times for the purpose of teaching her, the family, and caretakers how to help her get in and out of bed, walk with a walker with wrapped knee for support, therapeutic exercises and handling, and help with dressing. Her speech was significantly impaired although she could understand what was said to her. At the end of the week, she was able to begin to move her right side and assist with self care.
Administrative:
25. All the children were registered with THEA for school in the Fall with info. such as name, age, grade, and whether they need a uniform or not. THEA's Field Director will get a list of school supplies they need to us as soon as he receives it so we can get some things here and send it. (When there are sales, we can get school supplies MUCH cheaper.) New students were added to the program- including one replacing a secondary student who moved to Port au Prince, two new orphans to the community, and one child going to kindergarten for the 1st time.
26. Updated contracts were signed by THEA's Field Director, Agriculture Training Program Coordinator, and Sewing Training Program Coordinator.
27. Program evaluations were completed.
28. Copies were made of Field Director's book-keeping.
29. Our Field Director gave us a document indicating the # of children in the 2 schools in town which do not have feeding programs for the purpose of having the info. needed to approach other organizations to help bring a nutrition program to these schools as well.
One of the things we are continually learning is how to best encourage and teach concepts within Haitian culture. We are thankful for God's mercy and grace working through our brothers and sister in Haiti as well as those who come on the trips. It was a very successful and faith-building trip.
Thanks again so much for your prayers! I thank God for all of you and your partnership in this work."
To view further details and pictures about their trip and organization, please click here: The Haiti Education Alliance
