Where Do We Go From Here?

Benoit Dorvil

Our sojourn in Haiti began in 2007 and the support and involvement of congregations, individuals and conferences was overwhelming. We were able to begin several projects and actually have reasonable success (Haitian style) in most endeavors.  
      We felt good about our 2 years plus mission appointment when we left in 2009 with one project left to complete. Education for young adults in univeristy and vocational training was to continue until the selected ones had graduated.  That was the beginning of the saga of education in Haiti

Wesner Foreste

      The first students to graduate were  enrolled in Vocational programs such as language, diesel mechanics and chauffeur training.  They were hired immediately or had jobs waiting for them. The next to graduate was a Nursing Science Major who had a job offer before graduation. We were singing praise and gratitude to all who supported the program. It seemed we had made a wise choice for improving life for people on La Gonave. Can't explain the delight and excitement when the first enrolled Civil Engineering student graduated with  highest honors. I attended the event, one of the most thrilling moments of my life!
       I stayed in Haiti a few days to meet with students following the graduation of Benoit Dorvil and ultimately was introduced to the issues Haitians face in a culture that practices nepotism and an ethic system of hierarchy, class and open racism.

Enickson Villiere

      Dorvil came with his honor gift (a floor lamp) and the news that he would not receive his license as an engineer until he completed three projects thatone professor had failed to give him prior to graduation, required for licensure. These came with a price tag, which I paid (for all three we were told) then he had to find housing so he could complete the projects. Without a license he could not set up his own business and now, over a year later the professor is ready to assign his second project that comes with a price tag. The crazy part is that no Haitian business will hire him because he was educated in Haiti and is Haitian. A portion of his education (if only brief) had to be done outside Haiti but when he applied for a visa the embassy refused to honor his appointment date.
      Enickson, just graduated with diploma in Computer Science was fired from a promised job when they discovered he was unmarried and is now unable to find work because he does not have a friend "in high places" such as the government. IF he gets a visa, goes to the Dominican Republic and takes an additional college class he will be offered a job. He is praying constantly at his church for a pathway to care for himself and his family and is tracking toward a career in ministry.
     We have three students left in university and we anticipate more barriers to their successful careers.  We are attempting to raise $1800.00 for a 10 day educational and clinical training in Miami, offered to Wesner,

Gamaniel Laurent

that will look good when he graduates as a Nursing Science major. The two civil engineering students in their last semesters anticipate the same requirement that for some additional projects or international training.
     The Haitian Methodist Church offers scholarships in each district every year. We never understood why those are limited to teaching and agriculture until now.
     Now we face the delima of where we go from here?  We anticipated the ending of the commitment to the students with their graduation. Now, we find there is another chapter if they are to be able to realize their dreams in Haiti.
     I am never comfortable leaving jobs before they are completed. In Haiti NGO's come and go and there are thousands for project begun and never completed. I would like not to be just another uncompleted project yet we have never been in this alone. The UMC has supported our projects on La Gonave since 2007 but with an end in site for our mission there. We have faithfully applied the funding of the Conference and individuals and congregations always with the plan of seeing the project through.
      Now, I'm asking, "where do we go from here?"