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On the final day my first stop was in Santo. This was probably my toughest site to run as we expanded the program to include 16 students instead of the original 8. Dupre and Olsen were two of the groups leaders.
Gift of Sight
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Olsen’s little cousin had NOT liked me at all when I wasvolunteering at her house with ALL HANDS with the demolition team. Seeing her house being taken apart was not her idea of a good day. Nevertheless we made up when I was giving Olsen his cameras. She even let me snap this picture.
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Rosmirlande showing off her pictures at camp.
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Welky and Guerson missed the picture but the ress of the Dream Team was present. Saying goodbye to them was quite difficult (3 and 1/2 weeks was just long enough for me to fall in love with every single participant). I’m really going to miss this group. Even though Kona was in a rush to make a meeting, Ferdinand, who also goes by Cami (far right) insisted that I wait. Three minutes later she showed up with a present and I almost cried. I was truly touched, I don’t think I fiully appreciated the mutual impacts we’d all had on each others lives until that point. Keep reading you’ll see the presnt later.
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After stopping off at Kafu Kwa and giving pictures to my students and Kimberly, a professional player and local role model who attended every workshop and continually pushed students to excel, Kona Alex and I headed off into the mountains to open one final site during my stay in Leogane.
IMG_9054 on Flickr.
My Haiti, the one I saw was beautiful. Despite the definite lack of resources, I couldnt help but be encompassed by the beauty. From the massive mountain valley views to the smallest flower this trip recharged my soul.
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Looking off into the mountain from the car I began to fully understand the power of the land. Even after just one month I already feel connected to it. While the country definitely has its share of problems….
View Larger CLXXXXV The Country Side on Flickr.
I can’t help but look out and see the beauty and its potential…PS This is probably the only picture I will commission from the trip. Contact me for information on prints…all proceeds will go to the GOALS Scholarship Fund…Check us out at nationaldreamteam.wordpress.com
IMG_9095 on Flickr.
I didn’t interact with the kids at first because I was to busy sucking wind and drinking down and drinking down plastic baggies of water. (I’m a bad climber and had drank ALL my water BEFORE we got out of the car. Luckily Kona and Alex shared with me at the top. When I was finally ready I pulled out my camera and started to record my last adventure in Haiti.
View Larger IMG_9093 on Flickr.
When we finally reached the top I was grateful. The fact that Kona takes such trips on the regular made me reconsider my annoyance at having to STAND in front of a class all day. The site of her new camp happens to be at a mobile clinic run by IsraeliAid. Alex seen here, is a GOALS volunteer working on teaching English at summer camps.
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Kona again first met with the organizers. Laying down the GOALS expectations, Kona was all buisiness. These guys both fully understood though goal of GOALS even though Kona had to make it clear a couple times that families MUST NOT have to pay if GOALS is going to be involved. GOALS would rather pay organizers costs in order to ensure as many children as possible can participate.
IMG_9090 on Flickr.
Part way up the mountain we had to abandon the car. The smell of burning tires and a dying clutch had Kona make the fortuitous decision to ensure that we could get home. Going up the mountain was like a roller coaster with switch backs turning into vertical climbs. As we got out to climb up the mountain I started to appreciate the life of those on the mountain. Climbing, as I started to get tired and suck wind I though of all the grandmothers I had seen climbing the mountain and was a bit embarrassed ;)
