P r a x i v i s t P r e s s
Marist College
Spring 2011
S p e c i a l E d i t i o n - H A I T I
1st Row -Kit Stebbins, Dwajuana Stokes, Amanda Piebes, Jorden Eck, Dr. Mar Peter-Raoul; 2nd Row
- Susan Pallatto, Paultre Beaucejour, Katherine Saso, Katrina Brewer, Kimberly Mead, Jennifer
Klipper, Sharon McDowell, Domtila Achola; 3rd Row - Jolnaise (Our Driver), Matthew Wilk, Joseph
Berkes, and Elisabeth Kennedy of H.E.L.O. Haiti.
Marist College Students traveled with the international aid organization H.E.L.O. Haiti over spring break. The experience was deeply profound for the Praxivists who were able to undertake the journey.
This special edition of the Praxivist Press includes several first hand experiences from the trip along with a few critical analyses of key issues. The articles are augmented by photographs that were taken by the team at several sites in Les Cayes and Port au Prince.
It is the desire of the contributing authors to share with the readers not only the sense of fulfillment and solidarity that is experienced when travelling with an international aid organization, but also to inform others about the ongoing plights experienced by Haitians todays.
Perhaps, dear readers, one of you can pick up where many of us have left off.
Travel Log 2
Home, Education,
Love and
Opportunity
3
Bring me with
You...
4
Reflections on
Poverty
5
A History of Haiti 7
I n s i d e T h i s I s s u e
A Visit to the
Hospital in Les
Cayes
9
Tribute to Dr. Paul
Farmer
10
Deforestation and
Ecology of Haiti
11
Sponsoring a Child:
Saphira’s Story
13
Lost Children of
Haiti
14
15 A Day with
Restaveks
Boat People 17
Homecoming 18
Editorial: US in Haiti and Latin America
19

b y S h a r o n M c D o w e l l
2
Friday March 11th – Our Journey commenced with a true spirit of adventure as team members had to fight their way through a powerful rainstorm, at time navigating past flooded roads to arrive on campus at the bold hour of 4:00AM!
Despite the time, everyone was in good cheer as we unloaded our luggage and waited for our ride to the airport. Even the best laid plans have a tendency to go awry, for it became clear right away that the vehicle used by our poor cab driver was barely able to handle 15 passengers with luggage and supplies for the orphanages. With a little creative finagling, the team managed to squeeze everyone and everything inside determined to leave no one and nothing behind! Although the trip to JFK was the smallest leg of our journey, I do not think it will be soon forgotten. Once at the airport we met up with Elisabeth Kennedy and Susan Pallato and began the arduous task of repacking and rearranging many 50lb supply bags so that they could be property checked. With thirty minutes to spare, the team arrived at the gate ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime! The plane trip was short and uneventful. After disembarking and navigating through customs, we boarded a bus and drove through Port au Prince, Karfu, and up through some rural mountains to Les Cayes. We were welcomed warmly into the home of Pastor
Jean Beaucejour, our gracious host. We were given access to the whole second floor of the house, the roof, and the balcony. The Beaucejour family treated everyone to a delicious hot meal prepared in a true Haitian style.
Saturday March 12th – The team spent the entire day visiting HELO Homes
1, 2, and 3 getting acquainted with the house parents, the orphans, and even the neighbors. We learned quickly that crayons and coloring books are an easy way to break the ice. Some members had also brought beads and twine to make necklaces with the children. Eventually much laughter ensued as everyone relaxed and made friends easily. A few of the women on the team even let the children experiment with their hair! Although the day was long, everyone returned to Pastor Jean‘s home with a warm sense of well-being.
Sunday March 13th – Since HELO Haiti is a Christian organization, the team opted to celebrate Sunday morning at the three hour church service held under a tent outside the school house. There was much singing, clapping, and merriment. The children were allowed to sit with us and many of them tried to teach us the local words and gestures used for the service. That afternoon, we filled the bus and rented a tap-tap to take everyone to the beach! It was a rare treat and everyone was excited. The afternoon was filled with sunshine, laughter and joy. After bringing the children home, the team returned to the
Beaucejour household to prepare to attend an evening service with our host
Pastor Jean‘s church. I think everyone would agree that the music played during that service was a rare treat. We were all surprised to see that one of our new friends, Ezekiel, was the drummer for the band.
Monday March 14th – The team spent the entire day at a restavek home in
Les Cayes. Our intention was to network and learn more about the program that rehabilitates these child ex-slaves back into Haitian society. It was an extremely emotional day for many because the traces of physical and emotional abuse experienced by the children were still in evidence. A documentary of our trip was created by fellow student Matthew Wilk and I would recommend that the reader watch it to gain a true sense of the day.
Tuesday March 15th – Vendors were brought into Pastor Jean‘s home so that the team could support the local merchants and bring home some souvenirs. There were colorful paintings, impressive wood carvings, beautiful metal sculptures, and a lot of jewelry. Most items were created with the bright colors that are popular throughout all of Haiti. That afternoon we took a tour of Pastor Jean's school house, causing quite a ruckus among the children! It was impressive to see these children learning multiple languages and higher level mathematics! After touring the schoolhouse, we delivered donations to the hospital in Les Cayes witnessing for ourselves the condition of the healthcare system of a relatively large community within Haiti. The experience left many members of the team emotional and planted the seeds for future projects. A bit more solemn after spending time in the complex, we loaded the bus and made the journey to HELO Homes 2 and 3 to paint. Interacting with the house parents and the children brought smiles back to our faces.
After making a quick visit to Home 1, we ventured back to the
Beaucejour house were the Pastor‘s son. Paultre, treated us to an amazing impromptu concert on his guitar.
Wednesday March 16th – Our trip had been cut short due to the impending presidential election. Anyone who knows the history of Haiti could tell you that electrons are unpredictable in the country and can sometimes lead to rioting. Prior to embarking on the journey, the team agreed that we should leave before the elections took place. We spent our last day in Haiti visiting the HELO orphanages again at homes 1, 2, and 3. During the day we had the task of chasing down 57 children to collect clothing sizes, shoe sizes, artwork, and photos for the sponsors.
It was quite a task!!! A second coat of painting was applied to the school house and some members also hung mosquito netting inside the homes. All too soon, it was time to say goodbye.
Thursday March 17th – Since the roads in Haiti can be quite unpredictable, the team was packed and ready to leave for the airport by 5:00AM. There were some tearful goodbyes as we set out and throughout the nineteen hour journey home some members spoke with
Elisabeth and Susan to help with their re-entry into the United States. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we all came home changed. Despite the spotting of a celebrity at the airport and sick team member, the journey itself was uneventful. Mesi Mami Elisabeth!
Thank you for giving us the chance to see Haiti through your eyes.
Jordan Eck,
Professor
Mar and
Kate Sasso as we arrive at the airport!

b y K a t r i n a B r e w e r
Katrina Brewer with Baby Samuel outside of H.E.L.O.’s indoor school house.
For Spring break this semester, Dr. Mar Peter-Raoul took a class of Marist students to Les Cayes, Haiti with the goal of spreading solidarity and love. The orphanage that we worked at throughout our trip was called HELO Haiti. HELO stands for h ome, e ducation, l ove, and o pportunity, which is what the non-profit organization provides for the children. The corporation operates from Middlefield, Connecticut. Elisabeth Kennedy and Pastor Jean
Phares Beaucejour co-founded HELO in June 2007. Kennedy handles the corporation in the United States, while Beaucejour handles the work in Haiti. However, Kennedy travels to Haiti numerous times per year.
The children of HELO come from all different backgrounds. The orphanage started by taking in only orphans who had no one to care for him or her. Due to the prevalence of restavek children, those who are sold and forced to serve a family as a slave, HELO also accepts abandoned children as well. If there is an extreme circumstance where a family truly cannot take care of their child and the child‘s life is at risk, the parent can sign abandonment papers so that he or she can have a better life at HELO. The occurrence of the January 2010 earthquake caused HELO‘s population to increase substantially due to the great devastation.
HELO currently leases one house and has built two others within walking distance. House two and three are next door to each other. Each of the houses has numerous bunk beds that are used to shelter all of the children.
Latrines and cooking areas are also part of the houses.
There are house parents who live with and take care of the children in their designated homes. Each home has about twelve to fifteen children in residence. The parents and other hired help prepare the children‘s food, provide clothing, and provide medical needs. The house parents become the new family for the children.
One of the major goals of HELO is to educate the children. The majority of the children found in the orphanage had never previously attended school. HELO believes education is a necessity so that the children can grow up to become educated citizens. Education is a tool that can give the children greater opportunities in life. HELO hopes to also have vocational schools so the children can learn a trade to help sustain them in life. The importance of education caused HELO to build a school connected to house two. The children of all three houses attend the classes. The children are provided with uniforms, and trained teachers facilitate the classes. The emphasis on education gives the organization hope that the children will be able to provide for themselves and others in the future.
While HELO has accomplished an incredible amount, so much more is still needed. A waiting list of children who need to be accepted into the orphanage weighs heavily on the organization. This causes the great need for another home. To build a home is expensive, even in a third world country, therefore fundraising is essential. The new home could provide so much to these children. In addition, the lease for the first home is almost over. If it cannot be renewed, house one will need a new home in the immediate future. That is why one of HELO‘s current goals is to raise
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enough money for another home.
HELO is an organization that provides life‘s basic essentials along with education and love. It strives to improve the lives of these children daily. Haiti is a country of great need. HELO strives to help some of the children fulfill a greater life of education and love. The more the world is informed about Haiti‘s situation, the more help can be given.
How can you Help?
At H.E.L.O. you can...
Make General Donations
Sponsor a Child
Buy Livestock for the Homes
Coordinate Fundraising Projects
Donate Time and Labor in Haiti
Coordinate with Group Projects
Visit the website at:
b y A m a n d a P i e b e s
Every Haitian I met either would say ― I want to go to America ‖ or ― Bring me with you .‖
The amount of demand I saw caught my attention and I couldn‘t help myself but ask why they want to come to America? Land of the free, home of the brave—but says who? What I saw the Haitian people endure on a daily basis was more than most people here will ever encounter in a lifetime.
Death, hunger, and fear are a common everyday thought for the people of Haiti. Many go days without eating, drink polluted water, and sleep in tents.
The Haitian people struggle to survive while people in America struggle to keep their six figure job. We Americans tend to take for granted money, family, and freedom. We have opportunity here in the United States to have freedom of speech, to receive an education, to have laws that protect us from violence and abuse. These opportunities are something that the Haitian people don‘t have, but very much deserve. They deserve basic essentials of human rights.
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Outdoor section of H.E.L.O.’s school house, where the children study when the weather is hot.

b y K i m b e r l y M e a d
“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”
Most people know how badly Haiti is suffering in poverty, and of course, like this quote what comes to mind is being hungry, naked and
-Mother Teresa homeless which is one of the hardest things to see a person go through. But the second part of this quote and the part that I would like to speak about today is “The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for…” This part makes me think of the children whom I met in Haiti, which to me was one of the hardest things to see. How can a mother abandon a child after birth? Or leave their baby on a doorstep? Abuse them, or simply not care for them? To me these things were never something I thought actually really happened, until I went to the homes built by HELO,
(Home, Education, Love, and Oppurtunity) in Les Cayes, Haiti.
Jean Davidson, is a child that was left at the hospital right after his mother gave birth to him. He was found by HELO, tiny, malnourished, and suffering from little stimulation, and was unfamiliar with human touch.
Elisabeth Kennedy founder and creator of HELO held Davidson in her arms, as his hand reached up to touch Elisabeth‘s face, she was truly taken by him.
One of the many reasons why Elisabeth is just like Paul Farmer, this story reminds me of the passage I once read by him, “ For me, an area of moral clarity is: you're in front of someone who's suffering and you have the tools at your disposal to alleviate that suffering or even eradicate it, and you act.
”
Elisabeth did act on this. With this story in the back of my mind, I was shocked when I arrived at Home Two, to see Davidson, walking around as one of the chubbiest one-year-olds I have ever seen. Although, he is well fed now, he still does lack his sense of touch and feeling. As you hold Davidson and look deep into his big, sparkling, dark brown eyes, you find his strength, his survival, and through all of that, his happiness, and his love. “ A little love and security can dramatically change the life of a child, ” says Elisabeth.
Sophia Sanon, a child who lost her father, and had a very ill mother, was sent to Port au Prince to live as a restavec (child-slave). She was verbally and physically abused. She came to HELO in early
2008 as a very angry child who only knew how to fight with those around her. How can a child, that was hurt so badly physically and emotionally, ever think that fighting with someone was not ok?
Pastor Jean, another creator of HELO, said that, "If there is trouble in the house, Sophia is there." Sophia had the privilege of experiencing her first time at the beach “la plaj” with HELO. She was scared of the water and refused to go in it, but never seemed to take her eyes off of it. Little by little she would get closer and once she was in it, her world magically changed. The feeling of freedom and happiness was brought to her through the waves and tides of the
Caribbean Sea. I was not there to experience it, but from the stories told I can only imagine the smile that grew on her face, as well as everyone else‘s.
When I arrived to Home One and gave each kid a hug hello, I saw Sophia. She was not amongst the children who
Kim Mead at H.E.L.O. home two with Jean
Davidson. physically showed how excited they were, so unfortunately, as an
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6 instinct I did not get to know her that well that day, since she was so shy and would not talk. But as the days went by we grew closer, and she would constantly hold my hand and walk with me to play hop-scotch or just to walk.
We would even just stand there watching those around us, with my arms wrapped around her as she continued to hold my hand. The day came when we went to the beach, a day I new would be another favorite memory of hers and mine. Again, she was nervous to go in. I would point to the water, but all she did was shake her head. As she grew comfortable with her surroundings she decided it was time to go in. She took my hand, but I picked her up instead and we ran into the water, an instant burst of laughter left her body.
When the waves came she would hold on to my tightly, and when it was calm she would splash around, the two of us giggling. I could see the goose bumps begin to appear over her body, but she did not get out for a while after that. When she had enough of the water, we sat in the sand. Other kids came to play with us and at that point I was covered head to toe in sand. She took my hand and pulled me back to the water, curious as to what she was doing I followed. As we got to the water she began to clean the sand off my body, I don‘t know why, but this seized to amazed me, that she cared so much that I had sand on myself and that she felt the need to wash it off. I kept saying, “mesi” , which means thank you. I remember leaving her that day feeling a special connection between us, one that I new would not break.
I always knew that my last day in Haiti would really be an extreme struggle, and it was. Sophia‘s home was the last home we said goodbye to.
It hurt to see that Sophia would not look at me or play with me, but towards the end she did. Sophia along with the other 2 restavec children were given disposable cameras by us, something that every child has been obsessing over. I looked at Sophia and the expression on her face that was a mix between a smile and a fight through tears, immediately I began to tear up.
She quickly took my hand brought me inside, but then, she let go of my hand and walked in to her ―room,‖ she came out without her camera. I began to think about why she did not take me into her room when she put her camera away and even when she went to go get it she would do the same thing. Did she have a box full of sacred things? Things that she cared about and did not want any one to take away from her? I couldn‘t help but to wonder. Everyone began to say their goodbyes and tears filled up in everyone‘s eyes including the kids. The majority of my team were on the bus and Sophia took my hand once again, and led there. I turned her around to give her a big hug goodbye and just as I did I began to see tears run down her face, of course I was already crying, but never did I expect her to be. I tightly took her into my arms and kept saying, “bel” (beautiful) the only words that could describe her and that moment. Elisabeth forced me on to the bus and I let go of her, with her head looking through the gate doors and me looking out the window I felt a knot in my stomach because I did not want to leave. It was the most amazing thing to see how a connection was made with out words really ever being spoken. She has taught me more than she will ever realize. Sophia Sanon is the strongest, most beautiful girl inside and out, and it literally rips me apart to think that someone could ever harm her or anyone for that matter. Within a week she had made me a better, stronger and more caring person than I ever new was possible. As Carrie Underwood sings, “I won’t let nobody hurt you, I’ll stand by you.” That is my song to her.
I hope that someday every child as well as every adult will never be unwanted, uncared or unloved. My biggest wish is that Haiti will someday be poverty free, and not just one definition of poverty, but all of it. Haiti is filled with the most loving, caring and strongest people I have ever seen, and to think that they have nothing and can still be the way they are today, well that‘s just truly something. They deserve everything and more and together we can all help and make a difference. “We are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who make a brighter day, so lets start giving” and “ Simply having children does not make mothers,” ( John A. Shedd), but some how I feel as if I am a mother to Sophia, and to all the children at HELO, and to Haiti.
Sophia Sanon with Kimberly Mead “a la plaj”

b y D w a j u a n a S t o k e s a n d M i c h a e l V u
Ever since the tragic earthquake struck in early 2010, Haiti had become the hot spot for news networks and aid relief worldwide. Soon enough, every corner of the Earth started sending in assistance and prayers for the devastated Haitians. But Haiti is more than just the site of devastation, it is a country rich of history and of culture. Haiti and its people have accomplished great tasks in its past that should have made them worthy of worldwide recognition long before the earthquake. Haiti served as a beacon of freedom and possibility for people who believe in a world of equal rights and justice for Africa and the descendants of slaves.
Haiti, in the West Indies, occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola which it shares with the
Dominican Republic. About the size of Maryland, Haiti is two-thirds mountainous, with the rest of the country marked by great valleys, extensive plateaus, and small plains.
Haiti was known as Ayiti by the, now-extinct,
Taino aboriginals. The Haitian construction of 1804 was the very first to declare universal rights for all citizens, both men and women. President Jean
Jacques Dessalines honored the indigenous people of the island, the Arawak, in choice of
Haiti (Ayiti) as the name for the former Saint-
Domingue. This was the first time that native
America was recognized in naming a country.
European expansion into the Caribbean island in the late 1400s ultimately lead to the extinction of the Taino people by means of disease, interbreeding, or executions. The foreign settlers, either French or Spanish, brought over countless numbers of slaves for indigo production. These slaves would later intermarry with the aboriginals and become the Haitians we see today.
After they were given free rights by the
French in return for support in the war against the
British in 1793, the Haitians began fighting for independence. It was during this time that a great former slave named Tousssaint Louverture rose up to take command of his people toward a successful slave revolt and ousting of the
Spaniards and the British from Haiti. He formed his own army and restored stability and prosperity to the region by renewing ties in trading with the
British and the United States. Unfortunately, the new rule in France retook the island shortly after by kidnapping Louverture and imprisoning him until his death in 1803 while sending troops to restore French control. In 1804, one of
Louverture‘s generals named Jean-Jacques
Dessalines defeated the French and finally gave
Haiti independence to this day and making it the only country to be born from slave revolt.
Despite being able to govern itself, Haiti was still in for a long road of suffering lasting till this day. Dessalines became a despot and was assassinated which lead to series of internal conflicts usually dealing around the different
7

8 races in Haiti. Haitians helped defeat the British, by fighting in the Battle of Savannah in the Revolutionary
War. In appreciation, the U.S. government gave Haiti a plaque that hangs today in the Catholic Church of
Saint Marc. But in the early 1900s, the United States began occupying Haiti and during this occupation the
Haitians came up with their first standard language which is their version of a creole language. The US government reinstituted slavery in Haiti and used it to build vast construction projects in the country. After they left in 1934, the National Guard they established there run the country with an iron fist resulting in the killing of over 3,000 Haitians.
On February 7, 1991, a priest named Jean-
Bertrand Aristide was elected president in a general election. Although he was overthrown in a coup‘d‘état later that year, his short presence in office bought him vast numbers of supporters because of his attempts at reforms. Aristide was flown out into exile first in
Venezuela and then the United States. He returned on the 14 th
of October in 1994 to finish his term after the current military regime backed down from international pressures.
In 2000, former president Aristide was reelected president in elections boycotted by the opposition and questioned by many foreign observes.
The U.S. and other countries threatened Haiti with sanctions unless democratic procedures were strengthened. Aristide, once a charismatic champion of democracy, grew more authoritarian and seemed incapable of improving the lot of his people. Violent protests rocked the country in January 2004; the month of Haiti‘s bicentennial, with protesters demanding that Aristide resign. By February, a fullblown armed revolt was under way, and Aristide‘s hold on power continued to slip. The protests, groups of armed rebels, and French and American pressure led to the ousting of Aristide on February 29. Thereafter a
U.S. led international force of 2,300 entered. On March
18, 2011, he arrived at Port-au-Prince airport and was greeted by thousands of supporters.
If you visit Haiti, you may see the generous, the beautiful, and the cultured island. Still in Haiti palm trees lean toward an emerald sea, and mango trees still dominate hillsides. Thousands of
Haitians work each day in rice and vegetable fields to feed their families. Teachers work to prepare future leaders. Doctors work in hospitals and orphanages, and organize to free themselves from unfair economic policies. Haiti continues to face daunting challenges. The country‘s economy is on its knees. Public institutions are barely able to deliver essential services. Reform must be a top priority for Haiti‘s next judicial system. Haiti reflects hard work and optimism, even in the face of delayed justice.
Bibliography
Concannon, Brian. ―LRB Paul Farmer Who Removed Aristide?‖ LRB
Vol. 33 No. 7 31 March 2011 . 15 April 2004. Web. 25
March 2011. http://www.lrb.co.uk/v26/n08/paulfarmer/whoremoved-aristide
Corbett, Bob. ―Haiti: The Revolution of 1791-1803.‖ Webster University.
Web. 25 March 2011. http://www.webster.edu/corbetre/ haiti/history/revolution/revolution1.htm
―HISTORY OF HAITI.‖ HistoryWorld-History and Timelines.
Web. 25
March 2011. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/
PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab41
Padgett, Tim. ―Why Aristide Shouldn‘t Be Allowed Into Haiti-Time.‖
Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos,
Video, Tech Reviews-Time.com. 21 January 2011. Web. 25
March 2011. http://www.time.com/time/world/ article/0,8599,2043829,00.html

b y K a t h e r i n e S a s o
Today we took a trip to the pediatric ward of the hospital in
Les Cayes to hand out Ziploc bags filled with supplies a mother would need for her child in the hospital. Unlike in America, the hospital does not supply its patients with anything, not even diapers. I was very anxious on the trip there, not sure of what I was about to see, and if I could handle the sadness that would surely be present. The hospital itself was a small light green and white building, which looked in decent shape, at least to the Haitian standpoint. Before entering the hospital, each of us had to wash our hands in water mixed with bleach, which a man was pouring out through a hose. Approaching the main entrance to the ward, was a small outdoor area which I imagine was sort of a waiting room, since there were at least a dozen, probably more, mothers and children sitting.
When I first walked into the hospital itself, I was stunned. It wasn‘t like any hospital I‘d ever visited before. Not only weren‘t there separate rooms for each patient, there weren‘t even curtains to separate them, it was just one big room lined with beds, adult sized beds. I tried to keep my head down for the time being, until we got permission to dispense the bags and interact with the patients. Once we got the okay, I began to wander. I didn‘t think I was going to want to leave Elisabeth or the team, but for the first time in our trip there, I felt compelled and able to conquer this on my own. It was a strange feeling.
I immediately went up to the first bed I saw, which held the smallest baby I have ever seen. I imagine she was premature, or extremely malnourished, since she couldn‘t have been more than 3 or 4 pounds. If this was a baby in America, it would have been in the neonatal intensive care unit, with multiple machines attached to its body, and in a very sterile environment. But, there was this baby, so small, on an adult sized hospital bed, in the midst of all of the other sickness, sleeping, with nothing more than a little onesie on. My heart immediately broke when I saw this child, and realized there was probably a huge chance she wasn‘t going to live. Then, the pieces of my already broken heart, broke even more when I noticed the woman sitting to the left of the bed, the mother I presumed, who was staring at her child. I went up and gave her a hug, and said “bel” while motioning to the child. Bel means beautiful, and was about the only word I could think of saying. For the first time in my trip to Haiti, I felt thankful for the language barrier. Even if I spoke fluent creole, I wouldn‘t have been able to say a word. What do you say to a woman staring at her child who will most likely pass away? I had no idea, and still don‘t.
After a few moments staring with a heavy heart at the small child and her mother, I pulled myself together and walked towards the back of the room, where I heard cries and screams coming from a little girl who had a very infected cut on her leg. The nurses were trying to clean the cut, which was very large and filled with puss. They were trying to disinfect the wound, in a dirty infected hospital surrounded by sickness and mosquitos. After a few moments, the girl and her mother noticed me, and to my surprise, both smiled. When the little girl looked up at me, she seemed to have forgotten her agonizing pain, but it was short lived, as
she began moaning in pain again. At that point, I became angry.
All I could think to myself was ―This girl could lose her leg, or life, if she doesn‘t get proper, CLEAN, care for her wound.‖ But unfortunately, the nurses were doing all they could do, and I had to walk away, knowing I would never know what came of this sweet little girl.
Throughout the trip to the hospital, and especially after,
I was thinking of Mountains Beyond Mountains and Dr. Paul
Farmer. At that time, I was wishing and praying that somehow there could be multiple clones of Farmer, and that he could establish 100 Partners in Health clinics throughout Haiti. I tied the little girl with the leg wound in the hospital to the girl in Mountain‘s who was crying out of hunger instead of pain while getting a spinal tap. Once I made this connection, I couldn‘t help thinking that maybe the little girl in the hospital was crying because she was hungry, not because of the large infected wound on her leg. It was more than I could bear. Reading such a thing in a book, and seeing it in real life, are two totally different things. Regardless of why that sweet girl was crying, she didn‘t deserve it, no one in
Haiti does, and I will never forget that trip to the hospital, the cries
I heard from her, and the sad eyes of almost every parent and child in the room.
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b y D r . M a r P e t e r - R a o u l
Dr. Paul
Farmer speaking to
Marist and
Vassar
Students at the ERVK
Medal
Ceremony lives matter more than others.
The ideal of public praxis, with inspiration from Paul Farmer, is to achieve, as best one can, a reciprocal solidarity with those impoverished through political and economic injustice, and to work together for a transformed society. Beyond anything I could have imagined, the praxivists of the course Haiti,
Praxis, and Solidarity, during spring break 2011, achieved this reciprocal solidarity both within the class and with HELOHaiti orphans and restaveks
(rescued child slaves). The pictures are of Farmer and praxivist students at the ERVK medal ceremony in 2010 .
For information on the International Aid Organization
Partners in Health , visit their website: http://www.pih.org/
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Paul Farmer would cure more than the diseases plaguing the poor of Haiti, Rwanda, Peru, Russia, and the
Boston poor near Harvard Medical School. If he could, he would heal the consequences of policies, interventions, invasions, machetes, dictators, and ruthless coups borne by the poor. As a scholar he stresses the interconnectedness of the rich and the poor, evidenced over and over in Tracy Kidder‘s iconic Mountains Beyond
Mountains and Farmer‘s The Uses of Haiti . He sees the world as ―a great and terrible struggle between the rich and the poor, between good and evil.‖ He is clearly on the side of the poor, what the liberation theology he embraces calls
―the preferential option for the poor.‖
For Farmer that seems like a worthy life‘s goal. It seems, as well, a worthy goal of the Marist Praxis Project for Public/Global Citizenship. The conclusion for Farmer given both the interconnectedness of the rich and poor and the goal of a preferential option for the poor is what he says is the root of all that is wrong with the world – some
Praxivists Samantha,
Alanna, and Sharon with
Professor Mar at the
ERVK 2010 Ceremony.

b y M a t t h e w W i l k
Dense population leads to a lack of nutrient-rich farmland and trash management issues
If you look at a satellite image of the border between Haiti and its neighbor, the Dominican
Republic, you will see an unbelievable physical boundary. Not a boundary made by a river or a mountain range, but a boundary formed by trees.
At this border, the Dominican Republic is filled with trees and Haiti is stripped bare. The
Haitians have chopped down almost all their trees for use in other areas. Wood is Haiti‘s most valued resource. It is used for heating, building and trade.
However, because of its thriving industry, and environmentally unsound agricultural practices like mass tree removal, too many trees have been cut down leading to soil erosion. The effects of soil erosion are numerous. It has destroyed landscapes, increased desertification and worsened droughts. In
1923, over 60% of Haiti‘s land was forested, by 2006, less than 2% was.
If I learned anything about biology it is that living things stack on top of each other. Some people call this ―stacking‖ process the food chain. Life forms are only able to survive because of the things they eat and live in. Plants grow from the sun and water, smaller animals eat the plants and we eat the smaller animals. Since humans are on the top of the food chain, there are a lot of variables which can cause the human lifestyle to come crashing down. When the plant life disappears from an area, the foundation for other life is literally uprooted.
I am beginning to doubt that life is even sustainable in Haiti. The effects of deforestation in Haiti are numerous, the most prominent result being mudslides. The mudslides occur during the rainy season and kill any small plants growing in the way. The mudslides also destroy some of the homes that the trees were chopped down and turned into! To make matters worse, feral goats and other livestock eat any young saplings growing, making it nearly impossible for forests to re-grow. The lack of vegetation in Haiti means that there is nothing to absorb the natural forces acting upon Haiti, so the Haitian people must take it head on. We can see that by attempting to solve one problem, we are causing another.
Can a land that is so barren support life?
We watched a documentary in class called
Inside a Failed State – Haiti. We learned that almost all the food eaten in Haiti is imported.
Richer nations import foods such as rice and beans for the Haitians to eat. Which is good, but one must ask the question: ―Does this practice make sense?‖
With all acts of charity, a top down relationship is established between giver and receiver. And, on a certain level, such a relationship forces the receiver to relinquish their freedoms to the one who gives. Giving food to poorer nations is a good thing to do, but by no means is it the solution to the problem. It is important to provide relief as soon as possible, but if no action is taken to improve Haiti for its own sake, we will keep Haiti on the receiving end of this ―Charitable relief effort‖ and invariably prevent them from ever regaining their footing.
It reminds me of the Chinese proverb
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“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” But what can we do if there are practically no ―fish‖, and annual mudslides wash away any fish that begin to grow?
I am afraid that Haiti will become unable to produce any materials, thus being perpetually in need of aid from other nations. In Inside a Failed State , we learned that the price charged for rice in Haiti doubled from $180 Haitian to $240 Haitian in 2008. If Haiti receives the majority of its food from other nations we must ask ourselves ― How is that supposed to be relief?‖
During an interview with Head of UN
Development Program in Haiti, Joel Bortroue,
Bortroue expressed the sentiment ―...with the average
[amount] of money the average Haitian has, I don‘t understand how these people survive. I [just] don‘t understand.‖
The answer presented in response to this question is sharing. If a Haitian gets some food, he will share the food with his neighbors. No matter how little the amount of food is, it is divided among everyone present, with the majority going to the children. The future of Haiti lives in the children.
The idea of sharing with your neighbors is a practice seldom seen here in the United States. I told my friend Rob about how the Haitians survive because they share everything with each other. He told me the Bible story of Jesus feeding the multitudes
In this story, Jesus is followed to a hill by
5000 men women and children. Jesus and his disciples decide to feed the people with all the food they had, five loaves of bread and two fish. After the meal, twelve baskets of leftovers were collected.
Rob‘s interpretation of this story is that when Jesus offered everything he had, all the people in the crowd who were carrying food shared it with those around them, and there was more than enough for everyone.
What beautiful and fitting imagery for a nation like Haiti! The strongest aspect of Haitian culture is their faith in God. In a land that lacks support at its foundation in so many ways, the people turn their heads upward to their Lord, who gives them strength at all times.
How will Haiti become a sustainable nation again? There are many promising signs. Cuba was faced with a similar situation in the late 1950‘s. Cuba was one of the poorest nations at the time, having just gone through a revolution. Castro‘s solution to put Cuba back on its feet was to plant vegetables in everywhere. Vegetables grew in backyards, in alleyways and on rooftops. Every Cuban was entitled to this food. Not only was it healthy, it was
sustainable! Within 20 years, Cuba became almost entirely self sustaining and made the climb from a broken nation to a powerful one.
The climate of Haiti is perfect for growing food. Haiti is capable of producing many delicious and healthy foods such as mangoes, pineapples, and rice. The difficult part will be bringing Haiti to the point where it can provide enough for all who live there.
When I was in Haiti, I met a boy my age named Joseph who was interested in studying
Agronomy at a University. We agreed that unless the environmental problems in Haiti are solved, the Haitians will be stuck in an inescapable cycle of poverty. If the youth in Haiti become aware of some of the forces at play in their lives, they will be much closer to developing their own solutions to the problems in their lives.
I told Joseph that I would like to help pay for him to go to school, that way the influence of other nations is little more than a gentle push in the right direction. If the youth of Haiti become educated and work towards rebuilding the nation piece by piece, the standard of living will slowly but steadily rise to a point describable as ―an honest poor man‘s living.‖

b y J e n n i f e r K l i p p e r
Baby Saphira on her first day at H.E.L.O.
Haiti’s Home #3.
I remember growing up watching the Sally Struthers commercials about how by donating less than 75 cents a day you could sponsor a child. The 75 cents would pay for a under privileged child to eat, receive medical care and clothing and go to school. As a young child I couldn‘t wait until I got older and was able to do more chores to earn a higher allowance so I would be able to sponsor one of these children. As I grew older this idea was placed on the back burner to horse-back riding lessons, but it was always still in the back of my mind.
Over spring break I and eleven other Marist students traveled to Haiti to help out at the orphanage HELO. We spent time with the children of HELO, visited an orphanage for former
Restavek (slave) children, and visited a hospital and gave out baby kits. We left for Haiti on Friday, March 11 th and returned on
Thursday March 17 th . Sunday March 13 th was the day that my life changed forever. We started the day off by attending church at the orphanage. A Haitian woman brought her infant daughter to church and after the services asked that the orphanage take her because she could not afford to take care of her. She talked with Elisabeth
Kennedy (co-founder of the orphanage and team leader of our trip) with Pastor Eric, and with the house parents. During the meeting I held and played with the woman‘s infant daughter, whose name is
Saphira, and instantly fell in love with her. At the end of the meeting the woman was told to come back on Wednesday when the necessary forms would be available for her to sign.
On Wednesday the woman came back with her daughter. While she filled out the necessary forms to turn her over to the orphanage; I played with Saphira. Even though she was sick she was incredibly sweet and full of smiles. Before her mother left I asked her how old Saphira was and she told me she is a year and 3 months her birthday is December 23,
2009. Most of the orphans at HELO and at the Restavek orphanage do not know how old they are. Elisabeth does require a birth certificate when a child is turned into the orphanage but the information on them is not always correct.
I will never let Saphira forget her birthday. When her mother was done filling out the necessary forms she was given the opportunity to hold her daughter one last time, however she refused to, she just gave her a quick kiss goodbye and ran off.
After her mother left, Saphira‗s house parents took her to change her diaper and clean her up it was then that it hit me this would be the last time that, this adorable little girl would never see her family. At first I was angry at her mother for just giving her away. As I thought about it I began to admire her mother because I realized that her mother had made a selfless decision to give her daughter the best gift a mother can give; a chance to have a life. When Saphira was brought to the orphanage she was very sick and malnourished. If she had not received the proper care there is a chance that she could have died. Her mother also gave her a chance to have positive future. It is very expensive for children to attend school and it is unlikely that Saphira would have been able to if her mother had not turned her over to
HELO.
I spent the rest of the day playing with Saphira. I am by no means an expert when it comes to babies. I wasn‘t sure of what motor functions she was capable of. I didn‘t think she was old enough to walk; I spent several hours carrying her around and playing with her. After a few hours I decided to put her down and see what she would do. Right way she started walking on her hands and feet with her but up in the air. She was so close to being able to actually walk she just wasn‘t able to stand up. I wonder if this was because she was so malnourished. Also like a normal baby she tried to stick just about everything in her mouth including dirt, paper and just about anything she could get her hands on.
Wednesday was also our last day in Haiti and it was really hard for all of us to leave the orphanage.
Although I was sad to leave the orphanage I was also happy
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14 because I am excited to be able to watch my baby girl grow up. I plan on returning to Haiti and visiting Saphira in June and hope that I will be able to see her walking by then.
Since we have returned from Haiti I have received an email from Elisabeth saying that Pastor Jean (the other co-founder of HELO) had visited the orphanage and reported back that
Saphira is doing well, is adjusting quickly and is full of smiles.
Meeting Saphira has been an amazing experience; I believe that a higher power made it so Saphira and I would crosspaths. When I was younger and wanted to sponsor a child other things getting in the way must have been a sign that it was not the right time; but always having the thought in my mind must have also been a sign that it would someday happen.
Sponsoring a child through HELO has given me the opportunity to actually meet her and spend time with her. If I had sponsored a child through another organization I could have gotten a picture and a handwritten letter. It would not have been the same or made as great of an impact as actually meeting the child that I am sponsoring and having the opportunity to be able to go back to Haiti on another team trip and watch her grow up.
You can get information on how to sponsor a child from
HELO by going to their website helohaiti.org. By sponsoring a child you can truly make a difference in their life.
b y D o m t i l a A c h o l a
One of many tent cities spanning
Port au
Prince
Jennifer Klipper embracing Saphira. Jennifer now sponsors the child, sending love and support from the
United States.
Almost a half of Haiti‘s earthquake victims were under the age of 18 which means about a half million children were cast into the streets, crowded children‘s homes, and make-shift camps.
Twelve thousand children were separated from their families and were threaten by hunger, disease, sexual assault and even a modern day slave trade. Ten weeks later, many walked on the street not certain of food or shelter. For families who lost loved ones it was impossible to know who was living and who was dead. The study
(Lost Children of Haiti) shows that even before the earthquake, the orphanage homes were overwhelmed because desperate families often felt forced to abandon their children to the care of others. One good example of an orphanage is
HELOhaiti.org (an orphanage in Haiti that is housing about fifty children). After the earthquake many children were admitted to the home. Some were later taken back by the families but most of them ended up staying at H.E.L.O.
Today many Haitian families are still living in tents. They hardly have food, medical care, let alone schools where their children can receive education. As a result of poverty, children can end up being sexually and morally abused.

b y J o s e p h B e r k e s
Joseph Berkes feeding Baby Kevin at the Restavek Orphanage in Les
Cayes.
There are over 300,000 restavek children in Haiti today.
Restavek is a French word that means to ―stay with.‖ That is what most
Haitian children do; they go stay with a host family because their family is too poor to provide for them. The poor families are not able to support all their children with the necessary needs like food, clothing, and even a decent education. So they go to families that are able to provide all those things for their own children in the hopes that they will show the same kindness to their child. The parents just want to do what they feel is right for the child; even if it means giving them up to another family to make it possible. Little do the parents know that the child is usually mistreated or beaten.
Restavek children are what we would call slaves. They have to work in order to receive food and even rest. Most restavek children do not receive a proper education because they are working from dusk until dawn.
One horrifying fact is that if they do not finish their work; they will receive some kind of beating. These beatings can come in the form of whippings
(lashings) or even worse being forced to kneel on cheese-grater. Restavek children do not receive free time to go out and have fun and play with kids because they are working so much and so hard. Not all restavek children are treated badly though. Some do receive a good education, food, and clothing but the majority do not.
The two biggest reasons why Haiti has restavek children are because of poverty and the lack of a great education. According to
Restavek Freedom and UNICEF, 80% of the Haitian people live under the poverty line. This is very scary because there are 8.4 million people that in live Haiti and call it home. Out these 8.4 million people, 6.72 million are living under the poverty line. No one can live like that because it is hard enough to try and get food for one person with the wages they have down there let alone to provide for an entire family.
The literacy rate in Haiti for adults is 59 percent (Restavek
Freedom). Haiti has a school attendance rate of only 49 percent which means that not even half the population attends school in
Haiti.
While in Haiti, the class visited a home for rescued restavek children. This was a very different scene from Elizabeth‘s orphanages because the children were very scared and almost frighten at first. They did not know what to think of strangers. We were strangers to them and all of the kids had just arrived in
December, so they were still trying to adjust themselves. The first few minutes were a little awkward because everyone was trying to feel each other out. We did not know how to go about interacting with the children because they were not Elizabeth‘s children, and we did not know how they would react to new people.
We had brought along some things for the children to play with like a soccer ball, bouncy ball, frisbees, and a whiffle ball with a bat. At first, it was all the Marist students who started playing, and then slowly the children started to join in on the fun. We played a version of volleyball with the big bouncy ball. We would hit the ball back and forth using different volleyball-type hits. I started kicking the soccer ball around and slowly the children started to play with the ball. They were showing me their handling skills and the proper way to strike the ball when we are going to pass or shoot for the goal. Paulo also joined in on this action. He is really good at dribbling the ball but can work on trickery because I was able to keep up with him. I really stink at soccer even ask my friends from back home. It was fun playing with Paulo and children though.
Katie and I were trying to teach some the younger children how to swing the bat so that they could hit the ball. I would throw the ball like a pitcher does in a game and Katie would help the kids swing the bat for the first few times then she would let them try it on their own. We did this for awhile then the children became more interested in the jump roping because they saw how much fun the other children were having. I even jumped the rope with the children but I could not keep myself in one place. I was jumping from side to side and the kids could not figure out what was going on along with many of my classmates.
A few minutes later, the children were called to go wash up for dinner. While they were eating, I got the opportunity to hold and feed baby Kevin. He was just the cutest little guy any of the students had seen besides Davidson which is one of Elizabeth‘s children at the orphanages. Kevin was just laying in my arm sucking on his bottle and at that very moment Elizabeth had been walking by me and whispered in my hear “Papi Joseph.” “Papi” means father in
English. This made me very happy because someone had noticed how much I actually did care for these kids. I looked at each child if it were my own. The house mother took Kevin from me so that I
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16 could eat and because he had fallen asleep in my arms.
I was walking back to the soccer field after dinner when I felt something tugging at my shorts. I turned around and did not see anything so I started moving again, then I felt the tug again so this time I turn around and looked down. There was this little girl. I believe her name was Mica, and she looked so sad that I could not just leave her there. I picked her up and carried her to soccer field. Katie was back there and asked if I knew where the whiffle ball was so I took Mica with me and together we went after the ball. When, we got back to field Katie said that the little ones did not want to play anymore, so I was standing there trying to figure out ways that I could make Mica happy.
I tried eating the leaves of the trees. This did not work. Paulo and the driver (Jolnaise) were tickling people behind the ears, so I figured maybe if I laughed that she would join in. This too was a big failure. Then I remembered the whiffle ball. So placing Mica down on the ground, I tossed the ball in her direction. At first, there was nothing. She just caught the ball and threw it back, and then I missed it one time when she threw it back to me. I noticed that something had changed about her. She was not sad anymore but she had this great big smile on her face and was laughing.
This really made me feel good inside because I had finally broken through that force field that had been built up through years of abuse and mistreatment.
We had all made our way to the house because it had started to rain outside. The group sat under tarps making beaded necklaces and bracelets. I saw Mica in there with Sharon and Dwajuana, but she looked unhappy again. This really had me confused because it felt like we were making progress together. She was getting me to open up to her and she was opening up to me, but seeing that sight made me question whether or not we were moving forward. She was a very beautiful girl, and it hurt me to see the scars on her hands and legs.
When, it came time to leave. I had gone up Julian and Vincent and said my goodbyes to them. It was touching because Julian had real tears of sorrow in his eyes. This did not affect me as much as when I went up to Mica to say goodbye. It hurt me to say goodbye because I was hoping that she would give me another big smile before we had to leave, but I could not even get her to look in my direction. I do not know if it is because she was crying about the fact that we leaving, or she just could not bear to look at me because I was doing what so many had done before. She finally had someone that cared about her and showed her love, and then I was getting on a bus and leaving her just as so many people had before me. She could have been feeling abandonment again. I kind of know what that feels like because I have been left places where I had no one to care for me as well. It is kind of like an empty feeling, and when it is filled it just brings a great feeling over a person. These children know more than what they are given credit for because they knew we were leaving and it would be awhile before they saw someone else. I had to get on the bus because I was on the verge of tears. It was probably the hardest thing that I had had to do in life to this point because I‘ll miss those children with every fiber in my body.
That night my group was in charge of the nightly meeting. We decided that we would talk about the things that we saw around the house.
We wanted people to be aware of what we saw such as safety issues and other matters that should be looked into. I think they need a bigger place because those were pretty cramped quarters. I still have no idea how they got all those children in there in the first place. We saw some good things on the home though. The neighbors were very friendly, and they did try their best to interact with the children.
The second part of the meeting is where we found out who was really affected their experience that day. The first few people were fine talking about their experiences, then we got to Amanda and she started talking about Vincent and how much the group had done for him. Amanda, Kate, and Kit had spent most of their day with
Vincent. They would touch him to let him know that they friendly and there to help. When I saw the tears building up in both Amanda and
Kit‘s eyes, all I was able to think about was that little girl, Mica because of all the joy that she had brought into life that day. The more I thought about it the thicker the tears were becoming in my own eyes. Then, it all hit me at once and I broke down. It was not like a little break down either. I was letting it all go out.
Susan was trying to comfort me, but it was not enough just to feel her rubbing back. It was not doing anything for me. Then,
Kate Saso comes over and puts her arms around me. This was helping a little but I still could not get my mind off of Mica. I was crying so hard and long that Kate finally whispered in my ear “Would you like to outside for some air?” I agreed because it was too painful to sit there and just think. I needed something to take my mind off of things. This worked for little a bit but the thing that helped the most was when Kate got me talking about my past. I never knew that I had so many repressed memories that were tugging at my insides for so long. It also helped having her tell me all the great things that
I had done for those children that day.
Kate was like my Aristide. She was there for me in my time of panic and fear. She was trying to comfort me when I thought all was lost. She was trying to restore solidarity back into the group because we started to drift apart for awhile. This is what Aristide did for his congregation in the Parish of the Poor . When they were under attack from tontons macounte and bullets started flying through the windows, Aristide had to make a choice on whether to start and comfort his people or leave. He decided to stay because a shepherd never leaves his flock. They were going to face it together and restore their solidarity against each other. This is why Kate is so much like Aristide because she was there when I needed her the most. She was shepherd and I was her lost sheep that she needed to bring back to the group to restore our solidarity. Thanks to Kate, I was able to rejoin the group in time to hear what we were going to do the next day.

b y K i t S t e b b i n s
Kit Stebbins on an outing to the beach with orphans from H.E.L.O.
According to Dr. Paul Farmer, the idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that‘s world wrong with the world. In the documentary House on Fire this very concept of people mattering more than others is demonstrated. The documentary starts by a reporter asking a Haitian “What does it take to get killed here [in Haiti]?” and she responds,
“it takes very little to get killed here.” Death is a common fear of many people, but in the United States, we have a general feeling of security and safety regarding violence as well as health. In Haiti, this comforting feeling is unknown.
The documentary was very informative on the ―Boat
People.‖ The Boat People are those who leave Haiti on boats in search of dreams. There are more than 20,000 desperate people. The boat people leave in the darkness with little to no possessions, most of their possessions they sold, because of the cost to take the trip. Many times, people are escaping because if they stay in Haiti they are almost guaranteed death. These Haitians cram into tiny fishing boats meant to hold ten people, 120 Haitians are crammed in. To prevent this at one point, more than a dozen
American ships were surrounding Haiti to enforce an economic embargo to force the generals who are running Haiti out of power and also to stop the boat people from fleeing to reach the U.S.
When the American ships are seen on the horizon, the Haitians think that it is their savior and that the boats will bring them to the U.S., but they are mistaken. The Americans take them to Guantanamo
Bay and they are held there with thousands of other
Haitians with no shoes and only the outfits on their backs. From there, either they are taken to a safe haven, which is another country, or they are brought back to their country that they had fled- Haiti. We are not the only country not to recognize Haiti, in fact most countries do not.
It is important to note that the Clinton administration made an effort to help Haiti; President
Clinton considered them political refugees as oppose to economical refugees and wanted to put Aristide back in office to create a democracy. However, it is clear that overall we have not done enough and have even created more damage within Haiti. We have turned our backs on Haiti, we have turned our backs on over 10 billion desperate people asking for help, this is a moral issue.
Many people believe that race is a major factor in America‘s policy towards Haiti, which raises an important question- if Haiti was a white country would it not be tolerated how we have been treating them?
Aristide once said, ― Youn soutni lot nan lespri
Mem Amou an ,‖ which is translates to ―love one another as you love yourself.‖ Perhaps, if everyone were to adopt this concept the root of all what is wrong with the world would be destroyed.
17

Sharon McDowell inside H.E.L.O.
Home #1 demonstrating superior camera skills with a little help.
18
Like many of my fellow classmates, I experienced a profound change in perspective during our adventures in Les Cayes, Haiti. There are many stories that I could relate about the trip itself, but today what I would like to share with the readers of the Praxivist Press is what it felt like to come home to the United States.
Our journey home began with a long jostling bus ride from Les
Cayes back to Port au Prince. We set out before sunrise saddened that our project had come to an end. From bus to plane to taxi to car it was nineteen hours before I was able to walk through my front door and dive into bed. And there I remained for hours, sleeping…processing. At some point the next day I wandered into town for some supplies, feeling lost and surprised by a profound sense of culture shock. In my mind‘s eye, I could see the densely packed, litter-strewn streets of Haiti superimposed over the rural wooded streets of Gardiner. At one point, I drove by a street sweeper cleaning the remnants of sand from the winter season and I was moved to tears. That statement may puzzle many who have never ventured into Haiti but I know my classmates will understand why I cried. One would have to have their nostrils seared by numerous heaps of trash literally smoldering under a hot sun to really grasp the beauty of an average street-sweeper and the delicate grace of a clean open stretch of an un-littered road.
It was hard to step back into the rhythm of my life. School and
b y S h a r o n M c D o w e l l work both felt empty and pointless. It was hard to focus on
Chemistry and nearly impossible to crack open Uses of Haiti by
Dr. Paul Farmer. All I could think about was going back to Haiti and working with my hands to make real tangible changes in the lives of those I met in Les Cayes. After speaking with several classmates I found that I was not alone. Several of us were deeply affected by the trip and were having difficulties readjusting.
Knowing that I was not alone helped. Speaking to my fellow
Praxivists helped. Reaching out to a few empathetic friends in my life helped.
A key part of Public Praxis is analyzing root cause analysis of social issues. I finally was able to crack open several books and study the history of Haiti so that I could better understand what I saw. I won‘t lie, it was extremely difficult reading about the hardships of the Haitians AFTER meeting several face-to-face. I read things that made me made my stomach sick and I am no longer innocent of the way that the
United States handles itself on the international political landscape. Don‘t get me wrong, I love my country. I am proud of the United States and I am grateful to live here. But Americans embrace the myth that we are a country of innocents and I believe it is time that we stop lying to ourselves. It is also time that we open our eyes and acknowledge that our country is filled with blessings.
Before I left for Haiti there were days when I was unhappy because I was ―poor‖ and ―struggling‖ (Let‘s face it,
Marist isn‘t exactly the cheapest college out there). While in Haiti,
I learned that what I already have is the equivalent of the full desire of a ―poor‖ and ―struggling‖ Haitian‘s American Dream. To live in New York. To go to school. To eat a hot meal more than once a week. To have a job. To have the chance at a true profession.
Perhaps the hardest part about coming home is that beyond the desire to see a few photographs, people really don‘t want to hear about Haiti. If I start to talk about social justice overseas I am often greeted with a raised hand and a statement akin to ―I don‘t want to hear it. We have enough issues in the
United States.‖ Do we? Do we really? I suppose we do since no country is perfect. The price of gasoline is skyrocketing, some people overindulge in food or drink, there are teenage pregnancies, and domestic violence. I could go on. But I have never met one American who was truly starving. We have soup kitchens and those who are desperate enough can dumpster dive and find a meal fit for a king. I have never met an American who was wandering the streets naked because they couldn‘t afford clothing. I have never seen an American who was bent over in the streets using their hands to ―walk‖ because they never received a childhood vaccine. I have never met an American who had no shoes. Our country is rich. Our resources are rich. We have created pathways out of poverty. Is it too much to ask for a little sympathy for those who have not achieved as much?

Jorden Eck outside of H.E.L.O.’s school house bonding with the children.
America is a great country devoted to peace and freedom for all, right? Wrong. By taking a look past the political rhetoric and the deceptive mainstream media it becomes painfully clear that our government has become the most powerful in the world by a whole lot of murder, repression, and selfishness. This continues today and will not end until we the people of America step-up and demand our government stops funding and encouraging mass murder on our behalf.
I‘m certain that the citizens of the US would rise up in indignation if they only knew the extent of the pain and destruction our tax dollars fund. We citizens are generally good people; however we are purposefully kept ignorant.
We‘re kept placated by materials and joys which come with living in the first world. I was lucky enough to have a small portion of my ignorance lifted by experiencing Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, just 700 miles from our borders. What I saw and learned made me angry and ashamed.
Haiti is dirty, poor, and worn-out. America holds much of the responsibility for this, all in the pursuit of money.
This article would be too long if I tried to cover all of the things we have done to this small island nation, but I‘ll name b y J o r d e n E c k a few.
America invaded Haiti in 1915; we discarded their constitution and established policies to aid US corporations while hurting the majority of Haitians. By the time we finally left in 1934 the country was a mess.
From this chaos rose dictator after dictator, in fact Haiti had nothing but military coups and repressive regimes until the 1990‘s (and a few after that). We aided the most notorious of these, including both of the
Duvaliers, making them very rich while they killed and tortured 60,000 innocent Haitians.
The people finally achieved democracy in
1990, but we crushed it shortly thereafter by fostering and funding a coup. Thousands more were killed, many being slashed to death by machetes and tortured. This continued until the American people finally spoke up and forced our leaders to intervene, to remove the killers we had put into power. We stopped the violence but placed harsh stipulations on the government to impoverishment. ensure Haiti‘s continual
Within a decade, however, the US would dismantle the Haitian government once again. In
February 2004 US Marines forcibly removed the populist President Aristide, while CIA trained guerillas seized control of the country with violence. Today, Haiti is a democracy once again but it still faces massive internal corruption as well as our continuing influence on their economy.
You see, although America is often hailed as the ―best country on earth‖ and ―a land of democracy‖ there is a darker side we need to examine. In addition to our actions in Haiti, America has destabilized and undermined many countries with equally disturbing tactics. El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Argentina,
Chile, Panama, Honduras, Venezuela, Bolivia,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Columbia are just a few of the countries where our covert actions have caused misery and death for innocent civilians.
The media shows a complete disregard towards the hundreds of war crimes shown conclusively to have been committed by our government. Rather than acting as watchdogs, defending the interests of the people, the news regularly omits and distorts facts to serve corporate interests and keep the general population in the dark.
Nonetheless we have the responsibility to learn the shameful facts about our nation‘s history and then to speak up and speak out! America has more than enough resources to eradicate poverty entirely, but if we don‘t use our power to give a voice to those who are suffering, no one will!
19

As an academic response to the social disintegration characterizing much of present public life, the Department of Philosophy and Religious
Studies together with the Department of Sociology has established an interdisciplinary minor in Public Praxis. Committed to fully engaged learning, global awareness, solidarity with those subject to injustice, and public work with a view toward a more just and humane world, the
Minor requires students to integrate work for the common good and scholarship, with critical reflection and analysis. A Capping course provides an opportunity for students to initiate, work out all details, and institutionalize (establishing in some on –going form) their own project.
A typical Praxis assignment requires a student to:
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Engage in at least twelve hours of public work (about two hours per week for six weeks)
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Keep a journal of critical reflections about the Praxis experience
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Attend two one-hour roundtable discussions with other Praxis participants
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Produce a public document that integrates the public work experience with theoretical research, and contributes to public consciousness.
Students usually find the Praxis experience rewarding, because it is an "eye opener" to a vast array of community needs and public work opportunities, and because the "real world" relevance of class readings and theoretical research often becomes quite vivid. Sometimes, students discover commitments to community work that long outlast the deadlines for their Praxis assignments.
The MPP has been honored by the Templeton Foundation as one of the best programs in the country for promoting citizenship. It is also cited on the Princeton Review website as one of the best things about Marist College from a student's perspective.
Visit the Public Praxis Project website at http://www.marist.edu/liberalarts/philrel/pubpraxis/
Or contact a Project Keeper:
Dr. Mar Peter-Raoul at Mar.Peter-Raoul@marist.edu Gary Kenton at gkenton@hvc.rr.com