Sue's Blog

A space to share my adventures in Haiti and elsewhere.

[marysusancarlson]

News from Medor, Haiti

Between January and July of this year, 200 Medor students participated in an environmental education program, learning about the importance of reforestation, the responsibilities of eco-citizenship and other eco-friendly topics. In addition to their formal education, the students established and maintain a school tree nursery as well as a black bean garden that grows food used in school lunches. Students are encouraged to share the information they learn with their parents and others so that the benefits of their knowledge are spread throughout the community.

Thank you to all who implement, participate in, and support this important program.

[marysusancarlson]

Reporting a Tragedy

It is with a heavy heart that I share tragic news about Abel Dorvilne, an agronomist with Raising Haiti Foundation’s (RHF) implementing partner, the Smallholder Farmers Alliance. On October 17, 2024 Abel was in Les Cayes to purchase seeds for the Tree Currency Program (agroforestry program) when a gang member shot and killed him. Abel supervised the Tree Currency Program in two of the communities that RHF helps support, Côtes-de-Fer and Saint Jean du Sud. He also oversaw the earthquake response RHF helped fund in the community of Laborde. Abel was a community leader who spent his entire adult life assisting his fellow countrymen to improve their lives. He died while doing this. I consider him a true hero. He will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.

Abel leaves behind his wife, Elsie Verdieu, and three children, ages 1, 7, and 10. Elsie is a school teacher with a modest monthly income. With Abel gone, the family has lost its main source of income. Elsie is in urgent need of funds to pay for Abel's funeral ($5,000), school fees ($1,270) for the remainder of the school year for the three children, and funds to start a business ($10,000) so she will be able to increase her monthly income. RHF would like to assist Elsie with these expenses, to address her immediate needs and help her support her family in the future. 

Abel Dorvilne discusses how to improve soil fertility by mixing in compost. Photo taken with farmers in Saint Jean du Sud If you can help: Please donate at https://raisinghaiti.org/donate.html  (Please put "Abel's family" in the notes section.) Or Make out a check to Raising Haiti Foundation with "Abel's family" on the memo line and mail it to Raising Haiti Foundation 2513 N Quebec St. Arlington, VA 22207 If you believe in prayer, please pray for Abel Dorvilne, Elsie, and their children. Please pray for peace and security in Haiti. Thank you. With gratitude and love, Sue Carlson, M.D. Executive Director, Raising Haiti Foundation

[marysusancarlson]

News from Medor, Haiti

This summer 62 students from Medor’s secondary school took Haiti’s 9th Grade National Exam. Students must pass this exam to proceed to the 10th grade. There is great news! All 62 students passed, giving Medor a 100% success rate. The average success rate in the Artibonite Department, where Medor is located, is 83%.  Congratulations to the students, their teachers and parents, Father Frantz, and the entire Medor community for these awesome results. Thank you to everyone at Our Lady Queen of Peace for your support of the education program in our sister parish. Working together, St. Joseph parish of Medor and OLQP, have many awesome accomplishments. Thank you one and all!

[marysusancarlson]

News from Medor, Haiti

News from Medor During the first six months of 2024 the seed banks in Medor’s Agroforestry Program distributed 27,495 pounds of high quality black bean, pigeon pea and peanut seeds to 1,025 farmers.  Farmers earned the seeds by planting and caring for trees. The Agroforestry Program empowers participants to help their environment and increase their harvests and income. It is a win-win situation! Also, the seed bank is sustainable! After harvest, the farmers return the same amount of seeds they borrowed plus 10% extra! We are grateful to all involved with this innovative program!

One of the Seed Banks in Medor

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National Exam in Haiti

Haiti’s Baccalaureate exam will be held from August 5-8, this Monday-Thursday. 13th graders must pass each section of this exam in order to be awarded a high school diploma and have the possibility of attending university. Medor’s 13th graders have been assigned to take the test in the town of Gonaives. To get there they will hike a long route through the mountains, cross a river on a wooden raft, hike some more, and then rent a private card for a circuitous drive. The travel time is a minimum of eight hours. This is much longer than it took before gangs moved into the area at the base of the mountain leading up to Medor. It is no longer safe to travel anywhere near there. Please pray that Medor’s 13th graders travel safely to and from the testing site; please pray that they do well on the exa

[marysusancarlson]

Microcredit Program in Medor, Haiti

Maremene T. is a member of the microcredit program in Medor. She used the loans to expand her business, selling goods in Medor's market. Her income has increased and she can now afford to pay the school fees so that her children can attend school. How AWESOME!

[marysusancarlson]

Great News from Medor!

Father Frantz, pastor of St. Joseph parish in Medor, let us know that the school lunch program for the secondary school students began early last month. Previously it had been too dangerous to transport needed food items to Medor. Thankfully, conditions have stabilized so rice, oil, and herring could be brought up the mountain. The lunches consist of these foods along with black beans grown by Medor farmers. We are so grateful that the students have a daily school lunch, even if it is only for the last two months of the school year. For some children, this is their only hot meal of the day. We are grateful for the Smallholder Farmers Alliance for orchestrating the purchase and transportation of the food, for the cooks for preparing it, and for the parishioners of OLQP for funding this important program.  Thank you one and all!

[marysusancarlson]

Good News in Haiti

Despite the negative news from Port au Prince, Haiti, activities in the rural areas continue.

Farmers plant their crops and work in the tree nursery, as usual.

[marysusancarlson]

Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington, VA & St. Joseph parish in Medor, Haiti: Twin Parishes

This flyer is included in Our Lady Queen of Peace's bulletin this weekend. Working together the two parishes work wonders.

[marysusancarlson]

News from Medor, Haiti

The following is included in today's bulletin at Our Lady Queen of Peace church in Arlington, VA: "Electricity powers our everyday lives. Many of us awaken to alarm clocks and reach for phones, which have charged overnight. We brew coffee and open the fridge for the creamer. We flip switches in rooms as we pack our work and school bags. Our brothers and sisters in Medor awaken and prepare for school or work, too, but without electricity, without appliances, without charged devices. One element of OLQP’s mission in Haiti is to help provide solar energy. Solar energy powers the rectory, which allows Father Frantz to use the recently installed satellite Internet equipment. He is able to communicate with us and others much more easily now. He no longer has to walk an hour to the “phone tree” to get an Internet connection.  But, a recent assessment of the solar equipment in St. Joseph parish found that the rectory is the only location where the solar equipment is operational. Solar electricity is no longer available in the computer lab, parish clinic, church, and convent. We are waiting for a proposal and budget to bring solar electricity back to these important buildings. As we advance toward Good Friday, consider fasting from electricity for an hour, in solidarity with our sister parish, St. Joseph. Consider supporting the Haiti Ministry with your time or talent, and with a monetary gift. Thank you! God bless!"

Father Luckson, previous pastor of St. Joseph parish, poses with the solar panels on the rectory roof.

[marysusancarlson]

Agroforestry Program in Medor, Haiti

This paragraph was in Our Lady Queen of Peace's bulletin today: "Most of us don’t think twice about using trees for shade and buying the abundant produce in the grocery store. Our connection and access to trees and plants is relatively simple. In Medor, Haiti, many families consume what farmers grow on trees and they need the trees to build structures and as fuel for cooking.  Trees and crops are essential for life in Medor, but deforestation and natural disasters have left Medor with poor soil and decreasing water tables. Medor’s agroforestry program works with farmers, empowering them to plant trees and coffee for food and income, to find sustainable sources of fuel, and to learn and implement modern farming techniques that protect and renew the land. Farmers in Medor are even experimenting with new crops (macadamia nuts/cabbage/cotton) that can potentially thrive in the difficult terrain! This week, as you shop for produce or share a meal with your family, consider the farmers in Medor. Support the Haiti Easter Drive so that farmers can continue planting to supply the necessities of livelihood in St. Joseph’s Parish."

[marysusancarlson]

News from Medor, Haiti

This message was in today's bulletin at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Arlington, VA. "Many of us who grew up in the United States were blessed to receive excellent educations from well-funded schools. Investing in teachers and schools for our brothers and sisters in Haiti gives them the opportunity to realize the same growth through education that many of us have been fortunate enough to experience, developing both academic skills and learning lessons in responsibility, patience, collaboration, communication, and community. Thank you for your continuous support of the 3,200 Medor children who now know to read, write, grow food, use arithmetic for budgets and plans, and overall, to work together. Thank you for supporting their growth, discovery, community building, and businesses. This week consider how your education has helped you shape the world. Consider learning more about, and supporting, education in Medor, Haiti.  

[marysusancarlson]

Helping the People of Medor, Haiti

It is a privilege to invest in the people of Medor because the community stretches everything they get to accomplish marvels. For example: -$40 purchases school materials for four primary school students -$100 purchases a pruning knife for 25 farmers -$500 pays half the cost of developing an environmental education manual for the secondary school -$1,140 pays the annual salary of a primary school teacher who educates 30 or more students -$5,000 pays for one year of primary school education for 89 students WOW! If you would like to help, go to https://membership.faithdirect.net/givenow/VA271/6766

[marysusancarlson]

Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington, VA is Twinned with St. Joseph's in Medor, Haiti

Through the twinning relationship Our Lady Queen of Peace helps support the education of 3,200 children, grades k-13 in Medor. It also supports an agroforestry program that empowers 1,000 farmers to plant trees and increase their harvests.

[marysusancarlson]

Gratitude

During this season of Thanksgiving we reflect on our gratitude for our Medor family. We thank them for their prayers and for allowing us to learn about their lives, their joys, and their challenges. We are grateful for the parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Peace (OLQP). Thank you for your love for the people of Medor. We are thankful for the twinning of OLQP and St. Joseph parish. Thank you, God, for empowering us to love and serve each other.

During this season of Thanksgiving we reflect on our gratitude for our Medor family. We thank them for their prayers and for allowing us to learn about their lives, their joys, and their challenges. We are grateful for the parishioners of OLQP. Thank you for your love for the people of Medor. We are thankful for the twinning of OLQP and St. Joseph parish. Thank you, God, for empowering us to love and serve each other.

[marysusancarlson]

Haitian Farmers Plant Trees

Farmers who participate in a Smallholder Farmers Alliance Tree Currency Program help the environment by planting and caring for trees. AND they earn crop seeds, livestock and training so they also increase food security for their families and communities. We are grateful to everyone involved in this important program. Thank you!

[marysusancarlson]

Medor Children Plant Trees

One of the many awesome aspects of the agro-forestry program in Medor, Haiti, is that everyone in the community can participate in tree planting. Even the children join in! There are primary and secondary school environmental education components to the agro-forestry program. Students learn about the importance of reforestation and then put their knowledge into action by planting trees. We are grateful to the Smallholder Farmers Alliance for implementing Medor's agro-forestry program, to all the participants for their wonderful work, and to Our Lady Queen of Peace and Raising Haiti Foundation for funding the program. Thank you!