On the Ground in Haiti (Update 3)
Written by: Adam Braun April 7th, 2010Below is the third update from the field from Adam Braun, who is currently visiting Haiti with Project Medishare, a non-profit partner that is providing medical relief in Port au Prince. Adam will be updating us on his experiences in Haiti with the Project Medishare team over the next few days.
It took three hours of driving across rickety roads to get to the Central Plateau, where 200,000 people live in rural poverty. They farm for basic sustenance, selling what little surplus they have at local markets. We spent three days crossing dirt roads across the beautiful countryside, surveying schools and students.
New school structures are desperately needed, but four walls are useless without healthy students. We are going to work with Project Medishare to provide the necessary health vaccinations, education and care so that thousands of students can stay in school… and we’re going to do it with your support.
The name Pencils of Promise originates from my habit of carrying and handing out pencils to kids while backpacking. This trip was no exception. In one afternoon we visited four dilapidated wooden school structures, one of which somehow accommodated over 300 students. Each one received a new yellow pencil, which they instantly held up towards the sun for a smiling examination.
To me the pencil is so much more than a piece of wood and graphite.
It’s a symbol of opportunity.
An instrument of creativity.
A tool of self-expression.
An article of empowerment for social and economic freedom.
A key to the unlocked potential in each child.
And on one afternoon in the Haitian countryside, 500 pencils of promise were placed into tiny hands with gleaming eyes of possibility. We’re just getting started.
Pencils of Promise is committed to supporting the children of Haiti in the time of their greatest need by providing healthcare (vaccinations, vitamins, checkups, de-worming, health education, etc) for students so they can stay in school. Roughly $100K is needed to provide this for 13,000 students.
Please click here to donate and include “HELP HAITI” in the designation field.
Tags: Adam Braun, Haiti, Port au Prince, Project Medishare
