Ginger and Cinnamon Tea
Wheeeeeeai (A Haitian Folktale)
One hot summer day, Uncle Bouki was working hard in his garden. He had been digging and plowing for hours when at long last he decided it was time to quit."I've spent enough time in the garden," he said. "It's time to make a little money for my labor."He then packed a big burlap sack with a great many yams and peas, and he set off for the market.Uncle Bouki forgot to eat before he started walking, and when he was only halfway to the village, his stomach began to growl with hunger."My, my, I'll have to find something to eat very soon," he said. He walked a little farther, and he came upon a man squatting by the side of the road.When Uncle Bouki saw that the old man was eating, his stomach nearly leapt out of his body. You see, the old man was eating a bowl of calalou -- crabmeat, pork, onion, okra and, naturally, a great many peppers. The old man was clearly relishing his feast, licking his lips and fingers."Hello," Uncle Bouki called, "how are you?" He was dreaming of tasting some of that crabmeat -- and perhaps some onions, too. Maybe, he thought, the old man would share the bowl with him.But the old man was deaf, so he didn't hear Uncle Bouki. He was so wrapped up in a haze of happiness as he devoured his food that he didn't even notice poor Uncle Bouki."Please, sir," Uncle Bouki stepped closer, "could you tell me where I can get some of that fine food you're feasting upon?"Again, the old man didn't answer, and Uncle Bouki's mouth began to water. "Please," he begged, "just tell me what you call that fine repast you seem to be enjoying so?"It just so happened that right at that moment, the old man bit down on a hot pepper, a pepper so hot that he felt as if his tongue had caught fire. He opened his mouth wide and wailed, "Wheeeeeeai!""Thank you!" said Uncle Bouki, "I've never heard of Wheeeeeeai."He smiled and hurried off to the market, determined to buy himself a big bowl of the stuff -- or at least as much as 10 coins would purchase.When Uncle Bouki reached the market, he hurried to sell his yams and peas. Then he began to walk from stall to stall, searching for this food discovery. At each stall he pulled out his coins and said, "Excuse me, I'd like to buy some Wheeeeeeai."Each time the vendor only laughed and said, "You must be mad!"Everybody laughed at him and whispered behind his back, and that's how Ti Malice heard the story.When he learned that Uncle Bouki was searching for a treat called Wheeeeeeai, he had an idea. He hurried home, ahead of Uncle Bouki, and just around the bend from Uncle Bouki's house, Ti Malice climbed down to the river and cut some cactus leaves and stuffed them into a burlap bag.By the time Uncle Bouki had turned to walk home, he could think of nothing but finding some of that Wheeeeeeai. His stomach growled, and his mouth watered. His imagination soared. And all the way home he thought about Wheeeeeeai. He dreamed of how good it must taste!Just before he rounded the last bend in the road, he saw Ti Malice."Good day, Uncle Bouki," Ti Malice said. "And how are you today?""I'm fine," Uncle Bouki said, "except I'm dying to eat a bowl of Wheeeeeeai. Do you know where I could find some, Ti Malice?"Naturally, Ti Malice said he did. While Uncle Bouki was still walking home from the market, Ti Malice had placed a few oranges atop the cactus leaves in his burlap sack. And on top of these oranges he put a pineapple. And at the very top he placed a big potato."I just happen to have some Wheeeeeeai in this bag," he said. "Here you go."Uncle Bouki could not believe his great luck, and without thinking of all the tricks Ti Malice had played on him in the past, he reached into the sack.He pulled out the potato. "This isn't Wheeeeeeai," he complained."Reach in again," Ti Malice said. So Uncle Bouki did.This time he pulled out the pineapple. "This isn't Wheeeeeeai," he said, but he reached in again. Next he brought out the oranges. "And this isn't Wheeeeeeai, Ti Malice. You're making fun of me!""I'd never do that," Ti Malice said, smiling. "Reach in once more. I'm sure you'll be surprised at what you find!"So Uncle Bouki reached in one more time, and this time he touched those cactus leaves. The sharp needles pierced his hands, and he jumped into the air and cried, "Wheeeeeeai!"Ti Malice grinned. "There you go, my friend," he said. "You've found your Wheeeeeeai!"
Veritab Fri (Fried Breadfruit)
Ingredients:
1 breadfruit, peeled and cut2 cups of oilsalt to taste
Directions:
1. Preheat oil in a deep-fryer or saucepan over high heat.2. Peel, core, and cut the breadfruit into medium-size chunks.3. Reduce to medium-high and deep-fry the breadfruit chunks.4. Cook in the oil for 25 mins.5. Remove from the oil and press the breadfruit pieces flat.6. Deep-fry the pieces over high heat until golden brown for 2-3 mins.7. Salt to taste.
Message to the Nation by Senator Dieudonne Luma Etienne
As part of the commemoration of the 214th anniversary of Haiti's independence, Sen. Dieudonne Luma Etienne, First Secretary of the Upper House and the only woman elected to the Senate, delivered a message to the Nation that we invite you to share.Message from Senator Étienne :"My dear compatriots,At the dawn of this new year coinciding with the 214th anniversary of Haiti's Independence Day, I call on all Haitians, from here and elsewhere, to stand together and defend the interests of the nation.Let's go United!Let us know that the destiny of our dear Haiti depends only on our visions oriented towards endogenous development and our actions. This country that our ancestors bequeathed us is an inheritance symbolizing union and freedom. We must work constantly to value and enhance its splendor.In this new year, join forces, our skills to make our country a place where reign 'the love of Tèt Ansanm'. have the imperious obligation to work, more than ever, in agreement with my fathers conscripted to defend the interests of the Nation by laws implementing new applications of change project for a transformed country.I pledge to push for the promotion of women's leadership I pledge to push for the promotion of women's "leadership" in order to continue to defend the rights of Haitian women and to work to eradicate all forms of economic violence against them. Always in the spirit of establishing a lasting democratic system for the benefit of the Nation, I will devote myself to taking vital decisions in relation to my parliamentary functions in order to equip the country with a Permanent Electoral Council, since 2018 is a year devoted to the preparation of the elections.With that, I remind you that the Fatherland needs your talents indistinctly. Haiti needs its sons and daughters from everywhere.Let us be strong, united and work together for our happiness, to enhance our dignity and our sovereignty.Happy New Year 2018 and Happy Independence Day to you all my dear compatriots !"By: HL/ HaitiLibre | January 3, 2018
CARICOM congratulates Haiti on 214th anniversary of Independence
GEORGETOWN,Guyana (CMC) — The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has congratulated the Government and people of Haiti on the nation's 214th anniversary of political independence from France.In a message to mark the anniversary, celebrated on January 1, CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRoque said the occasion is cause for celebration “since history has proven that the success of the Haitian Revolution extended into the success of the region both socially and politically.”He noted that the French speaking CARICOM country has demonstrated its resilience to the world on several occasions.“The courage and fortitude of the Haitian people have served as an inspiration to the people of the Region. The contribution of the country to the world of art, music, literature and academia has gained Haiti international renown.”The Secretary General, in his letter to the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, said that as the regional grouping looks forward to Haiti's leadership of CARICOM, the nation continues to make its mark through its commitment to the welfare of people with disabilities.“The Caribbean Community salutes Haiti as it continues its journey of self determination,” LaRoque said.By: Jamaicaobserver.com | January 1, 2018
Cracking down on smuggling eggs into Haiti — for people to eat
JIMANI, Dominican Republic — It’s dusk on market day at the Haitian-Dominican border. Throngs of Haitians have cleared Dominican trucks of their wares, stuffing diapers, brooms and food-flavoring mixes into buses, and strapping the overflow to roofs for the return trip to Port-au-Prince.
But off the main drag here, a smuggling operation is underway.
Men and women empty a couple of trucks, tying boxes with colored string and setting them in piles on the ground. Purchasers stack them on wheelbarrows and rush them to nearby Lake Azuei, where wooden boats stand ready for the trip to Haiti.
The contraband is eggs. Demand is high in Haiti, where malnutrition is a real threat for many people. Haitians eat more than 30 million eggs a month, and most cross the border illegally from their only land neighbor, whose eggs can cost half the price.
Haiti essentially banned Dominican eggs in 2008. The move followed discovery of avian flu across the border, but many doubt that’s the main reason. Haiti faces a dilemma familiar to many countries: Keep prices low by allowing free trade, or restricting imports and encouraging domestic production, even though that is likely to drive up prices, at least in the short term.
Officials say its goal tightening the border should help create an internal market. Instead, dysfunction and lack of investment feed a vicious cycle that perpetuates Haiti’s status as the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country. The government has paid more attention to the border than to the other half of the strategy — boosting local production. But it hasn’t fully implemented either part, frustrating nearly everyone.
The border briefly re-opened to Dominican eggs after a devastating earthquake in 2010. But the next year, Haitian authorities cracked down with greater determination. Four years later, they banned 23 more common items, including pasta, snacks and cement mix from crossing the land border, citing the inability of customs officers to properly inspect and levy duties. Those products continue to pass as contraband, helping fill the boats on Lake Azuei.
While improving border controls might increase customs revenue, much of the public sees the effort as heavy-handed and arbitrary, especially when it’s not accompanied by strong efforts to develop the economy. The patchwork of half-measures makes life in Haiti even more precarious.
Those bringing Dominican eggs into Haiti never know if they will make it back to Port-au-Prince with their cargo, or if it will be seized. Haitian producers brace for a glut of cheap eggs during the Dominican tourism industry’s off-season. Uncertainty makes banks reluctant to provide loans to new producers.
Much of what is sold in Port-au-Prince comes from the twice-weekly market a couple of hours away in Jimani, where Haitians bargain heatedly before loading up and heading home.
Jocelyn Lefevre, who sells Haitian chickens and Dominican eggs in a Port-au-Prince open market, rails against the government for the way he is treated at the border.
“The police chase us, and the customs agents take our stuff while letting other merchandise go through!” he said. Besides, it’s expensive to travel to the border and to change money. But it’s still a better deal than buying Haitian eggs.
One problem, officials say, is the high cost of entering the poultry business in Haiti. To make a profit, you need a minimum of 10,000 hens, said Michel Chancy, a former Ministry of Agriculture official who now advises the government. Buying imported birds and cages, as most Haitian egg producers do, can cost $30 a bird, he said. The biggest expense after that is feed, whose ingredients generally come from the United States.
Haiti Broilers, a joint Haitian-Jamaican company producing chicken near Port-au-Prince, expanded into the egg market four years ago and is now the biggest supplier in Haiti, with 400,000 hens. The expansion created 200 more jobs.
Dominique Charles Jean, hatchery manager for Haiti Broilers, said the company financed its Haiti operations by itself, but the government helped with paperwork that reduced import duties on feed and equipment.
Damonclès Thermeus, who heads the Ministry of Agriculture’s unit on poultry production, foresees many more jobs in a growing egg and poultry industry, plus jobs for people growing corn and other ingredients for feed. If the ministry prioritizes egg production and invests every year, Haiti can reach self-sufficiency in eggs in 15 to 25 years, he said.
In particular, Thermeus and Chancy say, the government should provide technical assistance for producers, facilitate bulk purchases of feed for multiple producers, and provide incentives for banks to lend at low rates. But Chancy still thinks that securing the border is job one.
He knows it’s not easy. Last March, Chancy helped draft a plan to increase domestic egg production. The plan declared it “practically impossible to eliminate egg contraband at the border” due to the interdependence of the Haitian market and Dominican producers.
But it’s worth working toward that goal, Chancy said, citing an increase in domestic production since 2011. “That interdiction is an opportunity for us to invest,” he said.
In the last six years, Haitian companies have gone from producing a million eggs a month to 7 million. That’s a lot of eggs, but it still means that Haitian producers are providing less than one per month for each of the country’s 11 million people.
Max Antoine, who heads the government commission on border management, said political instability — a recent history of disputed elections, deposed leaders and interim governments — has made it difficult to secure the border. There also are budget and morale problems. Smugglers have attacked agents, and customs posts have been burned.
Many merchants in Port-au-Prince hate their country’s reliance on imported food, but also hate the government’s remedy.
Jorel Hibart buys eggs from sellers like Lefevre and fries them to sell in breakfast plates on a Port-au-Prince street. He said Haitian eggs would cost more, and he can’t afford it.
Hibart wants the government to focus on creating jobs and developing the economy. He doesn’t like depending on the Dominican Republic, which Haiti ruled long ago. But the idea that the government would cut his supply of eggs agitates him. If they do that, he cried, “We’ll all die in this country!”
“All of this stuff is Dominican,” he said, pointing angrily around his cluttered cooking table.
Then he paused to serve his next customer a heaping plate of fried Dominican egg with Dominican spaghetti and Dominican tomato sauce — a classic Haitian breakfast.
This story was produced in association with Round Earth Media, which is supporting the next generation of global journalists. Michel Joseph contributed to the report.
Haiti - Venezuela : «Haiti continues to be a model for our America» dixit Nicolás Maduro
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and the Venezuelan people extend their sincere congratulations to the Government and the sister Republic of Haiti to commemorate the 214 years of its independence."Haiti has always been an example of libertarian principles, of advocacy and equality. The steadfastness, perseverance and revolutionary character of its people are historical elements that continue to be a model for Our America and for the world.The homeland of Bolívar and Chávez sends its warmest congratulations on the occasion of this National Day and reaffirms its commitment to honor the Republic of Haiti and the historical legacy of giants such as Alexandre Pétion and Toussaint Louverture; to continue the struggle for equality, sovereignty, social justice and the promotion of integration in Latin America and the Caribbean through initiatives such as Petrocaribe and ALBA."Recalling in his message, that the late leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, Commander Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (died March 5, 2013 http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8024-haiti-flash-president-hugo-chavez-passed-away.html ) had said about Haiti, January 17, 2010 "Haiti, the first black republic of the world and the first Republic of Our America from January 1, 1804, managed to defeat the Napoleonic troops after 12 years of struggle. Haiti: that of the black Jacobins, that of Toussaint Louverture and Alexandre Pétion. Haiti: that of Miranda arrived with his dream of liberating a whole continent and as it will happen with Bolivar which received all the solidarity and the support of the black Jacobins and hoist for the first time our flag on March 12th, 1806.""The homeland of Petión is also the homeland of Bolivar.¡ Que viva Haití !"By: HL/ HaitiLibre.com | January 2, 2018
Haitiville Interviews Jesse Woo | Promise Release Party 2017
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0raQaQURoKw[/embedyt]
Reggie 'Combat Jack' Ossé, Hip-Hop Journalist And Podcaster, Dies At 48
Reggie Ossé, better known to the hip-hop world as podcast host Combat Jack, has passed away from colon cancer. Chris Morrow, Ossé's friend and his co-founder of Loud Speaker Networks, confirmed his death, telling NPR that he died this morning at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York. Ossé was 48 years old.In October of this year, Ossé shared that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of colon cancer with his fans online.Ossé was born and raised in Brooklyn. Before Combat Jack, he worked as music attorney, representing the likes of Jay-Z and Capone-N-Noreaga during the fledgling stages of their careers. In 1989, Ossé switched from entertainment law to entertainment journalism. He would go on to work for MTV Networks before launching his own Internet radio show titled The Combat Jack Show in 2010.The Combat Jack Show started on a lark — with a crazy crew of sidemen including Dallas Penn, Premium Pete, an occasional Just Blaze, DJ Benhameen and producer A-King — on its way to becoming a pioneering hip-hop podcast. The show scored some of the rarest and rawest hip-hop interviews of an era when rap's center of gravity started its move toward the Internet. Ossé was able to get gems out of otherwise reserved or reclusive rappers by employing a type of interview style many emulate today. From Scarface playing guitar live and proclaiming his love for Pink Floyd to Prodigy detailing his own childhood kidnapping to J. Cole telling the story of how he wanted to sign Kendrick Lamar, listeners knew they would always get something special out of a Combat Jack interview.Ossé co-founded the Loud Speakers Network, a family of podcasts, in 2013. Before his passing, Ossé produced and hosted groundbreaking podcast Mogul: The Life & Death of Chris Lighty earlier this year. Produced in conjunction with Gimlet Media, the series about the life and death of the notable hip-hop industry executive Chris Lighty became hip-hop's first serial narrative podcast when it debuted on Spotify. "For Reggie to bring back the legacy of my brother Chris through the Mogul series was monumental for me and the culture of hip-hop," Chris's brother Dave Lighty tells NPR.In an interview with NPR Music earlier this year, Ossé explained why he felt it was necessary to champion Lighty's work ethic and accomplishments."Our culture is so rich — not just in hip-hop but [black culture]," Ossé said. "We have been the creators of culture since we hit this land. Let's look beyond the parameters that we already know and just really try to expand the dimensions of telling our stories."By: Sidney Madden for NPR.com | December 20, 2017
New Music! "Promise" by Josh X Feat. T-Micky (DRO)
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rMCU_pmBps[/embedyt](we do not own the rights to this video)
Monthly allowance for disadvantaged people
As Christmas and the New Year approach, some fifty disadvantaged people, including seniors and people with reduced mobility, will benefit from a monthly allowance of 1,500 Gourdes from the Caisse Assistance Sociale (CAS) through its Regional Office in the department, the beneficiaries will no longer have to go to the Haitian capital to recover this aid from the State.At a press conference, Pierre Jean Michelet, the Head of the Regional Office of the CAS, said that this grant currently affects three communes in the Southeast out of 10, namely Jacmel, Cayes-Jacmel and Belle-Anse.Pierre Jean Michelet, while reiterating his commitment and that of the Administration Moïse-Lafontant to continue to work for the improvement of the living conditions of the population, informed that a registration register is open to the Regional Office of the CAS located in the offices of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST) of Jacmel, to integrate about a hundred new beneficiaries under this social assistance program.By: HaitiLibre / Pierre Myrthel Esther (Correspondante Jacmel) / December 19, 2017
Seismic shock at the border
The Directorate of Civil Protection reports that there was an earthquake Tuesday before dawn in Hinche and Maïssade, then less than one hour intervals to Belladère and Savanette...For its part, the Technical Unit of Seismology (UTS) of BME indicates that a quake of magnitude 3.8 on the Richter scale occurred Tuesday, December 19 at 3:42 am and 19 seconds.The epicenter was located on the Haitian-Dominican border at 12.2km east of Thomonde, 14.8 km north of Bemmadère and 17.8km north of Lascahobas. The shock was widely felt in Belladère and Lascahobas.No damage was reported from the authorities.By: HL/ HaitiLibre | December 20, 2017
Haiti’s Beloved Troubadour Emmanuel “Manno” Charlemagne Dies at 69
And Haiti’s beloved folk singer and troubadour Emmanuel “Manno” Charlemagne has died in a Miami Beach hospital at the age of 69. Through his music, Charlemagne helped inspire a generation of Haitians to rebel against longtime dictator François Duvalier. He was often called the Haitian Bob Marley. He briefly served as mayor of Port-au-Prince in the 1990s.By: Democracynow.org| November 14, 2017
Commissioning ceremony a major milestone for student from Haiti
PITTSBURG, KANSAS - Clyvens Exantus is on the cusp of accomplishing two of his life goals in one day. The 25-year-old Pittsburg State student and Army ROTC cadet is set to commission as a Second Lieutenant and earn his bachelor’s degree in political science on Friday.“If you’d have told me this 10 years ago, I don’t think I’d have believed you,” said Exantus. “I’ve have wondered what you were up to, because it probably would have been no good.”Ten years ago, Exantus was living 2,000 miles away in his home country of Haiti. Exantus’ parents moved to the U.S. when he was a child in order to seek a better life for him and his siblings, who stayed behind in Haiti.“I grew up with my grandmother first,” said Exantus. “She passed away when I was about 10. I then was sent to live with my Auntie whose name was Sheila. She put an emphasis on going to school."Because they had moved to the U.S., his parents were able to pay for private school.“That’s a luxury not every kid in Haiti has,” said Exantus. “Now, I just want to emphasize what private school in Haiti is.” He pauses for a chuckle before adding, “It’s not the private school of here, but still, I was able to get an education.”Thanks to his aunt’s insistence on the importance of academics, and his parents’ financial support, Exantus began to see the possibilities an education could provide.“Most of my peers weren’t going to high school,” said Exantus. “My auntie and grandma really wanted me to be different. I guess I inherited their competitive nature. I wanted to do better than the rest of my peers. I had dreams of becoming a lawyer.”After spending his entire childhood away from his parents, Exantus found himself, at the age of 17, moving from Haiti live with them in Maryland.“It was a culture shock,” said Exantus. “There was no uniform to wear, buses came to pick you up and you didn’t have to pay the woman who drove you to school.”Not only did Exantus have to learn a new culture, he also had to reconsider his relationship with his parents — especially his father, who had transformed his own life from math teacher in Haiti to non-commissioned officer in the Army.“I’d never lived with my dad,” said Exantus. “So, I had this picture in my head of a math teacher. But then I came to live with him and here was this incredibly competitive man. He woke up early for P.T. (physical training), and took pride in what he did. His Army friends would come over and I remember thinking, ‘I want that type of brotherhood.’ So, I knew I wanted to join the Army.”His parents would move several times over the subsequent years, eventually settling in Fort Riley, Kansas, where his father currently is stationed. It was at PSU that Exantus was able to combine his two passions, military and academics, into one by contracting in the ROTC program.“I actually Googled colleges in Kansas, and Pittsburg State showed up,” said Exantus. “I saw the Gorilla mascot and thought, ‘Well, this is unique.’ When I toured campus, I was shown the ROTC Hall of Fame and that’s what sold me. I saw the type of people that graduated from here. I went home and told my dad I knew where I was going.”Exantus has made the most of his time while at PSU, and, according to Major Eric Hollingsworth of PSU’s Military Science department, he has a bright future.“He’s a hard worker, and he’s hungry,” said Hollingsworth. “A lot of the cadets haven’t had the trying life experience Clyvens has had. He’s definitely an outstanding example of the type of officer this program is known for producing.”For his part, Exantus understands the tremendous opportunities he’s had from Pittsburg State and the Army.“I can’t say thank you enough,” he said. “Think about it: A kid from the poorest country in the western hemisphere. For me to get an opportunity to come to Pittsburg State and not only graduate college, but to also commission in the United States Army, the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. It’s beyond my wildest dreams.”Pittsburg State University’s ROTC Commissioning will take place at 10 a.m., on Friday, Dec. 15, in the Dean Family VIP Room at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.By: KOAM 7 News Koamtv.com : December 12, 2017
Haitian Women Seek Support for Children Fathered by UN Troops
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA — Lawyers representing 10 Haitian women who say they had children with U.N. peacekeepers have filed the first legal actions in Haiti against the U.N. and individual peacekeepers for child support and paternity claims.The lawsuits filed by the Haiti-based human rights group Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI) are part of a legal battle by Haitian women to force peacekeepers who they say fathered their children to contribute to their upbringing."Having and then abandoning children is not within the official capacity of a U.N. peacekeeper and therefore we argue that this does give a Haitian court jurisdiction to resolve paternity and child support claims," Nicole Phillips, a lawyer at the U.S.-based Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), who is working on the case, said Tuesday.Ten mothers of 11 children who they say were abandoned by U.N. troops are seeking financial support from them. One of the mothers was 17 when she gave birth, which amounts to statutory rape under Haitian law, the IJDH said.Under the U.N.'s "zero-tolerance policy," sexual relationships between peacekeepers and residents of countries hosting a U.N. mission are strongly discouraged.Farhan Haq, a spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation responsibility for child support rests with those "individuals who have been established to have fathered children."The United Nations "cannot legally establish paternity or child support entitlements ... compensation is a matter of personal accountability to be determined under national legal processes," Haq said by email.The 13-year U.N. mission left Haiti in October after being sent in to stabilize a country plagued by political turmoil.The mission introduced a cholera epidemic that killed 10,000 people and has been dogged by accusations of sexual assault.The Haitian mothers are struggling to bring up their children they say were fathered by soldiers from the U.N.'s peacekeeping force stationed in Haiti, known as MINUSTAH, who came from Uruguay, Argentina, Nigeria and Sri Lanka, said their lawyer, Mario Joseph at BAI, who filed the lawsuits."These mothers and their children face severe economic difficulties and discrimination," he said, adding that six of the mothers were left homeless after Hurricane Matthew devastated the Caribbean island last year.By: VOANews.com | December 12, 2017
Penn State’s Franklyn Decker Is Pushing the Haitian Dream with Timoun Kontan
Franklyn Decker started Timoun Kontan as part of his service trip to Haiti, and the organization has turned into an active force in transforming the community there.ranklyn Decker, a neuroscience major at Penn State University, originally from Bowie, MD, created a non-profit organization in Haiti with a group of eight other students from his univeristy. Its name is Timoun Kontan, which means “Happy Kids” in Haitian Creole.Timoun Kontan started as a spring break service trip to Port Au Prince, the capital of Haiti, that was arranged through a sociology class taught by Sam Richards, a professor at Penn State, thanks to his connection to the Caribbean country. “Haiti is where we saw issues we could try to help with,” Franklyn says, explaining why they chose it as the place to start the non-profit. Since then, Timoun Kontan has developed from helping building a home for children during spring break to developing community through providing education to Haitian children and economic assistance to their families. “We are trying to raise the community up and give them the tools they need to become more successful,” Franklyn states.According to the USAID Fact sheet (2016), illiteracy remains one of the key challenge for this country, “75 percent of children at the end of first grade and nearly half of students finishing second grade could not read a single word. Half of the adult population is illiterate.” School enrollment is low, staying at roughly 75 percent, and the average years of schooling hovers around 5 years, which is mostly due to the cost of schooling. “School fees can be prohibitively expensive for low-income families,” the report points out.Another significant key challenge to the development of the community in Haiti is lack of government oversight. “Most schools in Haiti receive minimal government oversight and are expensive relative to average earnings. More than 85 percent of primary schools are privately managed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), churches, communities, and for‐profit operators,” reported the USAID Fact sheet. At least 90 percent of Haiti’s 15,200 primary schools are non-public, many of which managed by religious organizations, NGOs and communities. This means a majority of Haitian school children rely on organizations such as Timoun Kontan for education.The earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010 further compromised the country’s education system. Thousands of schools were erased, at least 75 percent of which were in Port-Au-Prince. The ones that were escaped the disaster were in dilapidated condition, failing to meet the safety requirement for rebuilding. Charles Tardieu, former education minister of the country, stated, “Let’s face the reality that many schools are never going to be used again, and that we urgently need other ways to revive the system.”
“We are trying to raise the community up and give them the tools they need to become more successful,” Franklyn says.
Students were not only displaced of a place to go and learn, but also of a home. The disaster crushed the dreams of young Haitians under the rubbles of their school along with bodies of their friends, family, classmates and teachers. Michel Renau, director of national exams at the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports, mourned the situation, “without education, we have nothing. We’ve been set back very far. But if we pull ourselves together quickly, we’ll go on.”In that dark time, Timoun Kontan, a small non-profit organization, rose to make a huge difference in Haiti: it helps lessen the financial burden of sending children to school. The organization reached out to those kids who may not have a chance of education otherwise and ensured that they are provided with whatever they needed without forcing the family into poverty. “If a child does not have a family that takes care of them, our organization provides a home for them to live in. If a child does have a family, then we help the family support the child monetarily through a food and educational scholarship or stipend.” So far, Timoun Kontan has been able to pay for the education of several kids for the next year and provide them with a month’s worth of food and sanitary supplies.Despite the education issue in Haiti, according to Franklyn, things are not all bad. “Honestly, this experience helped me understand how perspective can drive your outlook on life. Going to Haiti, I foolishly expected everyone there to be suffering and miserable but after arriving and getting to know the people there it put me in a new state of mind.” The effort of the Haitians in changing their life and creating a better community surprised Franklyn, “The people of Haiti are funny, intelligent, kind and loving, which I’ve come to realize are characteristics any human being can embody regardless of the circumstances they face. I really love the people and the country in general.”
Franklyn has already gone back to Port Au Prince for a second time during the summer, and he definitely has plans to continue his work with the Timoun Kontan after graduating from Penn State. “I decided I wanted to become a surgeon after taking an anatomy and physiology class in high school and shadowing a couple of doctors. I’m currently not sure how I would integrate my involvement in this organization with my future profession, but I am excited to see how it all plays out.”Currently, Timoun Kontan is working on a home for the children of Larousse, who are currently living in “a cramped dilapidated home.” Their goal is to place them, primarily orphans and children given away by their families, in a safe environment with free food and education. The organization also strives to reunite those who have been given away with their families. In the mean time, the children’s home will also act as a community center where children of all ages and backgrounds can come together and nurture their dreams, which hopefully will grow into positive changes to their damaged community.
Haitian American Students Association Holds Sit-In After Trump Administration’s TPS Decision
“So even if I’m here and I feel good my friends are aware of this I’m still bitter, very bitter.”
“When I say Haiti, you say ‘Rise Up,’” Mathania Toussaint, the PR chair for Haitian American Student Association (HASA), instructed the group of students and allies gathered on the steps of Kimmel Thursday night. Toussaint lead them in the chant, which swelled with each call and response.
This was the scene from the sit-in, organized in response to the Trump administration’s recent decision to strip immigrants of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS). HASA said it was necessary to bring attention to the move, which will affect immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, Sudan and Haiti, because they believe the issue has been overlooked in discourse regarding immigrant struggles.
“After we first found out about the decision, HASA was kind of scrambling because we found out about it over Thanksgiving break and had a planned meeting,” Toussaint said. “So we flipped everything because this is more important. We need to talk about TPS. Trump has systematically removed immigrants of color from the U.S., it’s been group by group.”
Initially, Toussaint expressed qualms about the prospect of organizing the demonstration because she hadn’t planned a protest before. But the reaction from students, especially Haitian students like sophomore Fatima Julien, made it abundantly clear her decision to highlight this issue was necessary.
“After finding out about the TPS removal, I was like ‘Shit, what are we going to do…What can I do?’” Julien said. “Then finding out about the sit-in I harassed all my social media followers saying ‘Come: if you’re a social justice type I’m taking attendance.’”
“Being here, especially during the chant,” Julien continued, “I got a little emotional but it was good. It feels nice to be able to say that I was here and that my friends know about it.”
Julien, who immigrated to the U.S. two years ago, has family members who will be directly affected by the decision: a sister will have to return and cousins that were trapped under the rubble of the massive 2010 earthquake, will also be forced out of the U.S. In light of their trauma, Julien expressed trepidation about them returning to Haiti.
Despite those fears, she also made it clear she and her family would continue fighting to ensure everyone remained in the states.
The sit-in was planned to operate with the goals of bringing attention to the TPS matter and educating attendees on ways to help those affected going forward. Albert Saint Jean, the New York organizing fellow at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) and Ellie Happel an NYU Law graduate, both provided information on the latter.
Saint Jean recommended students reach out to organizations such as Haitian Women for Haitian refugees, Haitian Americans United for Progress and, the one he’s a part of, BAJI. “Because we’re actually in the communities doing work, helping people to get legal access,” he explained.
He added that often the help impacted communities need isn’t complex and can be as simple as assisting a family with filing paperwork.
Similarly, Happel suggested that helping the Haitian community could be very doable right here at NYU — with NYU Law and undergrads collaborating to monitor what’s happening in Congress, in Haitian neighborhoods and responding accordingly.
After the sit-in’s moment of silence for Haitians affected by the cholera epidemic the nation is still recovering from, attendees began to gather their belongings to leave. HASA president, Fabrice Juin, left those gathered with a final message.
“I personally only see things like these — sit-ins — as beneficial and productive if every single one of you leaves the space with more knowledge and ready to help physically and tangibly,” Juin said. “Thank you for showing up but I also want to let you know pay attention and ask yourself ‘What can I do in my own way to help the cause?’”
By: Arimeta Diop for NYUlocal.com | December 11, 2017
President Moïse blocked in the snow in London
Due to a winter storm that particularly hits Western Europe the plane carrying the presidential couple and a large delegation of Haitian businessmen remained grounded in London (330 flights canceled) because heavy snowfall.Due to an unfortunate meteorological episode, President Moïse was unable to attend Sunday evening at the evening organized by the Ambassador of Haiti in France Vanessa Lamothe Matignon, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel where he had to meet the Haitian community.Several hundred Haitians had filled the Salon Grand Palais Royal, on the fourth floor of Hayatt in the hope of seeing and listening to the President of Haiti. Unfortunately, just before 8 am a member of the Embassy delegation announced "We regret to announce that President Jovenel Moïse is currently stuck in London because of bad weather, he will not be able to be with us tonight," sowing disappointment, some of our compatriots having come from far away for this meeting.However, Ministers Antonio Rodrigue (Foreign Affairs), Pierre Simon Georges, (Environment) and Pierre Marie Du Meny (Commerce) present at this evening (arrival before the storm to participate in the "One Planet Summit", have improvised exchanges with a visibly frustrated audience. A documentary about the achievements of the Head of State during his 10 months in power was projected, without meeting the expectations of our compatriots.By: S/ HaitiLibre/December 11, 2017