Cite Soliel is the worst slum in Port-Au-Prince Haiti. It was maybe the worst slum in the Western Hemisphere before the earthquake. Of course, it suffered much damage during the earthquake.
We have been involved with an organization called Mercy & Sharing (M&S) that has been operating in Haiti for about 16 years. They take care of the poorest of the poor. They have a school in Cite Soliel and made their mark by taking over the care of the Abandoned Baby Unit at the Port-Au-Prince General Hospital. Just before the earthquake M&S was facing a budget crisis. One thing being discussed was to close the Cite Soliel school. We committed to financially sustaining the Cite Soliel school because is was educating over 100 children, giving them a good hot meal once a day, and was providing some hope of getting out of the fetid slum. There were no other schools or institutions, government or otherwise, providing this opportunity. The earthquake changed everything. Much of the school was demolished and a lot of decisions had to be made. We remained committed to the school. We believe in “trickle-up” economics where if you bring up the disadvantaged they will surprise with how creative and enterprising they can be.
The Cite Soliel school was rebuilt with our support. We were asked about naming the school. We asked it to be named the C.I.T.I. School. That in an acronym for Community Institute of Teaching and Education.
After it was rebuilt there was a discussion about how to best utilize the school and the facilities. During the discussion we learned that a many of the parents are illiterate and that there are very limited recreational facilities available to the children outside the classroom. It seemed to us that a very efficient use of the facilities would be to start an adult literacy program and start some sports programs for the kids. The sports program wouldn’t only be team sports, there would be dance classes (Haitians love to dance). An assessment was done as to what the cost would be. In the US the costs would be exorbitant. In Haiti you can do just as much for a fraction of the cost. We told M&S to go for it. The beauty of the concept is that it involves the parents in the school and serves as a connection between the parents the students and the community. Mothers can get involved in the dance program and pass on their heritage to their children. Literacy can actually serve to move a family out of the slum by making them capable of applying for and securing a job. That’s the hope. In practical terms, it also enhances the security of the school. The community, no matter what the degree of criminality and violence is, has a vested interested in protecting it.
Word of the literacy program spread like wildfire in Cite Soliel. We were looking for 50 people to start the inaugural program. 70 signed up. With existing facilities we think we can handle at least 100.
Our expectations are low. If 10% can really utilize the program to better their lives that would be be more than enough for us. If even a few families can become productive, self-sufficient and move out of the slum then it would all be worth it.
The literacy program is now operating. Adult literacy is a tough thing. Certainly there will be a high drop out rate but that’s not the criteria for success. There is one 82 year old woman that signed up for the program that said she wanted to learn to read and write befor she died. Think about that. You have survived for 82 years under the worst of circumstances but don’t feel complete because you have never been literate. That is quite profound.
If that face doesn’t have the scars of a tough life under extremely difficult circumstances then I don’t know what does. Yet, this woman want’s to become literate before she dies. The dignity in that face is extraordinary.
We should all feel humbled by this.
A young man from Cite Soliel. Maybe he is a violent gang-banger that wants to rise in the ranks. I don’t know. On the other hand, I would like to think that this is a young adult who is trying to find a way out and the adult literacy program has provided him with some hope for him and his family.