By Associate Kathleen Sylvester
"Good News Rules," a presentation from the Haiti Collaboration Committee (HCC), was given to Sisters and Associates at three locations in the province over the past month: Marian Village near Chicago, Villa Assumpta in Baltimore, and Senior Living Hospitality in Bridgeport, CT.
The purpose of the presentation was to share how Haitians’ lives are being transformed though our partnership with Beyond Borders. An example included was of the successful Family Graduation Program, a 24-month initiative to lift families out of poverty. One participant, Sainfania, shared her experience with it. Her story has been edited for length and clarity:
My situation was a disaster. I have three children and the youngest is eight. We lived in a lean-to on my grandfather’s land. Sometimes I had to beg in order to feed them.
Then I began to participate in the Family Graduation Program.
Things began to change little by little.
The program taught me how to save a little of my income. I learned that I should only sell my animals to pay for something important. Now I have seven goats, a pig and some chickens.
Every time I sell something from my garden, I save some of the profits. I keep watching the interest accumulate. Soon I’ll buy a cow.
Now when I wake up, I tend the animals. I move the goats and give the pigs their food. I sweep the yard and bathe my children, clean under their nails and style their hair. I send them to school looking good!
I think some time in the future I’ll be doing better than people who have more than I do today.
What I learned in the program will always be with me. The spirit of God moved the people who helped me get out of the horrible situation I was in. I thank God every day.
The presentations were given "live" In Baltimore and Connecticut by members of the Haiti Collaboration Committee. In Chicago, a recording of the presentation was shown, immediately followed by a question-and-answer session that I facilitated on Zoom. There are plans to offer this to our Canadian Sisters, too.
The presentation focused on several of the many success stories from the partnership of SSND and Beyond Borders in Haiti. It was well received by Sisters and Associates alike. Here are some of the comments:
Marian Village, Chicago:
"The video was great, I hope we can share it with those Associates that were not in attendance. The information was great and informative."
Senior Living Hospitality at 3030 Park, Bridgeport, CT:
“The work of BB and SSND helps people to learn things that enable them to become independent. They don't just give handouts but teach them skills which are life-changing.”
Villa Assumpta, Baltimore:
Regarding Teacher Training, a Sister remarked that she had experienced the same thing in Africa…the use of corporal punishment - and she was moved to know that Notre Dame of Maryland University and Beyond Borders were committed to training teachers in a non-violent, participatory, and native language pedagogy.
Bridgeport Sisters and Associates gather for Haiti presentation.
