Young victims of Hurricane Matthew appeared to have paused for a lifetime picture. They look confused, puzzled, desperate, powerless – to say the least. Are they trying to find meaning to the situation at hand? Are they longing for a solution? Are they wondering how they will survive this great catastrophe? Who knows? There must be a lot going through their mind. They all need to be empowered mentally, spiritually, and physically to rebuild their community.
Pictures like this one are found throughout the zones impacted by hurricane Matthew, and the message is not different. In Arniquet, the home of Jean-Joseph Darbouze Academy which is located 26 miles from Les Cayes and 7 miles from Port-Salut, up to 85% of houses were damaged leaving thousands of people homeless. Trees in great numbers were down; crops were destroyed; and household items including students’ text books, school supplies were flooded. The school building sustained some damages. The roof of the two adjoining classrooms was blown away. The gate fell down. The roof of the Latrines was blown away. The trees on the school yard sustained substantial damages.
In order to provide an immediate response to the victims of the community of Arniquet, the Jean-Joseph Darbouze has put in place a fundraising campaign with the goal to raise $25K in a month. The money raised will be used to provide short-term assistance to the members of the community of Arniquet, which consists of food distribution, drinkable water, textbooks and school supplies for the students, and repair the school building.
FAMILY, Inc is a Boston-based non-profit organization founded by retired Dr. Harold May, a lover of Haiti. Last week FAMILY and Jean-Joseph Darbouze Foundation joined as partners in order to formulate a comprehensive response that will bring about more lasting impacts. Through this connection, FAMILY has not only donated $2,000 to the relief effort, but also shared the FAMILY concept with JJDF, and provided useful insights, advice, and wisdom.
We organized the school staff and 14 local Pastors into a team to assess the damages and to act as liaison to coordinate and deliver relief to the people of the community.
The upcoming weeks will be a real trial period for the Foundation. The National Board of Education decreed that all schools are to be opened on October 19, 2016, and we have missed this deadline already. Though we are doing our best to comply with the resolution, there exist big hurdles ahead yet to overcome. The school itself won’t be ready. Firstly, the occupants have to vacate it. Secondly, the repairs must be completed. Thirdly, the timing of the readiness of the parents and the students are still questionable.
On October 19, 2016, the school Directors and the teachers met with 175 parents to discuss the school reopening and other challenges facing them. According to a report filed by the Haiti staff, the parents anticipate the Foundation’s help in replacing the student’s textbooks, school supplies, and feeding the pupils.
Permission was granted to 97 souls to use the school building as a temporary shelter, and they have been fed.
We hope to earn your trust and be empowered with your financial support in order to establish as soon as possible a comprehensive relief program that will produce lasting impacts in the Community of Arniquet. We can in fact make significant contributions to this community and nearby neighborhoods if we have the resources needed.
The Jean-Joseph Darbouze Foundation shares the pains inflicted on all of the southern communities. The victims are people we know, relatives, students, parents, and teachers. Our hearts and prayers go to all of the victims. And we remain confident that the LORD will once again shine the light of His face upon and grant His favor to the resilient people of Haiti. We seize the moment to speak to this circumstance and declare it by faith a golden rebirth opportunity not only for the southern region of Haiti but also for the country as a whole. Have a part in this! Make a difference!
