The derelict, old school- 2011
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2011 Bouvier School's first teachers.
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Bouvier School Children - 2012
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Bouvier Mountain School... A little background
Bouvier Mountain community, a six-hour trek deep into the mountains behind Haiti’s capitol of Port au Prince, can be described as a microcosm of all the ills of Haitian rural society: rampant poverty, endemic unemployment, illiteracy, non-existent public services and schooling, and families trying to eke out an existence through simple farming amidst often unsanitary living conditions. Smoky air fills thatched residences. Many Haitians do not have access to electricity or gas stoves for cooking. Most families cook using biomass fuels such as charcoal that release harmful smoke into the air. They often cook inside their unventilated dwellings or temporary tents where this harmful smoke is trapped. According to the World Health Organisation, Haitians suffer many of the highest rates of cardiovascular diseases and cancer in the world. #1
#1 [http://www.who.int/whosis/whostat/EN_WHS2011_Full.pdf]
#1 [http://www.who.int/whosis/whostat/EN_WHS2011_Full.pdf]
The old way - cooking for the children over a charcoal fire.
After the devastating earthquake in January 2010, about 250,000 residences in the city were demolished and 1.3 million people were internally displaced. Some of the homeless victims moved in with family or friends in rural areas such as Bouvier Mountain. The majority moved into temporary ‘tent cities’.
Bouvier Mountain continues to be an area where families survive transiently, coming and going depending on if they can provide for their themselves through farming simple crops such as yams and beans.
And then there’s extreme crime such as child abduction, rape and trafficking.
In Bouvier, before 2009, families were being torn apart more by these three evils, than by poverty. Their children were at constant risk of being abducted, raped or trafficked as they trekked the huge distances to attend primary school in the city.
Bouvier Mountain continues to be an area where families survive transiently, coming and going depending on if they can provide for their themselves through farming simple crops such as yams and beans.
And then there’s extreme crime such as child abduction, rape and trafficking.
In Bouvier, before 2009, families were being torn apart more by these three evils, than by poverty. Their children were at constant risk of being abducted, raped or trafficked as they trekked the huge distances to attend primary school in the city.
In the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake.
THE PARENTS & COMMUNITY HAD A DREAM...
The parents had a dream. They gathered as a community under the leadership of their itinerant pastor and mentor – Reginald ‘Reggie’ Celestin. Reggie had spent his life journeying to the remote and ‘invisible’ people that are the most marginalised in his country. They love him and they trust him.
They decided that even without immediate funds, they would begin to educate Bouvier children themselves. Four volunteer teachers from Bouvier and Carrefour (Reggie’s Mission-base in Carrefour, Port au Prince) began teaching the children in the only building on Bouvier mountain – a 5m x 8m derelict ‘meeting house’ perched on the steep slope– used for church on Sundays. The four men (pictured on the right here), gave up their farming lives to teach four grades – facing the four corners of this building. The dream was underway. Reggie’s Mission started getting the word out that help was needed.
Then the earthquake hit in 2010 and the derelict building lost most of it’s walls. The parents and teachers put up donated U.N. tarpaulins for walls, and kept the dream alive.
They decided that even without immediate funds, they would begin to educate Bouvier children themselves. Four volunteer teachers from Bouvier and Carrefour (Reggie’s Mission-base in Carrefour, Port au Prince) began teaching the children in the only building on Bouvier mountain – a 5m x 8m derelict ‘meeting house’ perched on the steep slope– used for church on Sundays. The four men (pictured on the right here), gave up their farming lives to teach four grades – facing the four corners of this building. The dream was underway. Reggie’s Mission started getting the word out that help was needed.
Then the earthquake hit in 2010 and the derelict building lost most of it’s walls. The parents and teachers put up donated U.N. tarpaulins for walls, and kept the dream alive.
The Dream
Bouvier Community dreamt of a simple, purpose-built school that could withstand Haiti’s harsh elements:
...and Reggie still dreams that this school might become a prototype to then replicate across his nation. Imagine simple, safe, self-sustaining schools – for future generations - regardless of how marginalised and poverty-stricken they are… in a nation where only 50% of the children go to school.
- With four walls and classrooms
- With clean water for the children to drink (the nearest river-water is an hour trek down the steep mountain and water contamination is also an issue in a nation plagued by water-born diseases)
- With all the children SPONSORED so that families could partner with them to ensure the children received an education and one meal a day
- With adequate teaching resources and chairs for every child
- A safe school that one day could possibly have teacher’s accommodation and even a clinic as well
- And an agricultural plot for passing on the teaching of farming
- And – maybe even … one day… SOLAR POWER - permanently impacting the entire community – dramatically reducing their energy poverty and ushering the school into self-sustainability and further educational resourcing via the internet.
...and Reggie still dreams that this school might become a prototype to then replicate across his nation. Imagine simple, safe, self-sustaining schools – for future generations - regardless of how marginalised and poverty-stricken they are… in a nation where only 50% of the children go to school.
THE FIRST FIVE YEARS 2011-2016 OVERVIEW
Cheryl trekked to Bouvier Mountain in 2011. One year after the earthquake. She met the most precious children being educated in their derelict buildin... and caught the dream. Returning to Australia, Cheryl and her husband John, joined Frontier Projects charity - becoming Frontier Projects Haiti - so they could begin work in Haiti. With the help of a core leadership team of precious friends and family including Michael Crossland, David and Jackson Moye and more, they began sharing the dream.
The first five years, we journeyed and partnered with family, friends, Aussy community leaders and our Haitian families and leaders from Bouvier and Carrefour to:
- Level the land in Bouvier we purchased through the generosity of friends and families. (2011)
- Trained builders and built a simple, safe, school with four classrooms and guttering to harvest rain-water(2012), with Principal’s Office (2012), an undercover outdoor area (2013), a kitchen (2013), a gas stove for safe-cooking (2013), a teacher’s apartment (2014) with verandah (2015) and a Clinic (2014-15).
- Sponsored most of the 150+ children and their teachers - ongoing...
- Provided safe water storage. In 2012 a Canadian-based NGO team partnered with us to provide water tanks with simple, inexpensive and revolutionary filters.
- Provided every student with classroom furniture and each teacher (we now have seven!) with the resources they need - ongoing...
- Provided temporary power via a small, diesel generator.
- Provided multiple, donated laptops to introduce the children to computer-based learning and hopefully one day – internet based learning and the world wide web!
- Undertook a maintenance program for the school to keep the school in good condition
- Received NATIONAL AWARDS for our graduating Year 6 classes as all children passed their national Primary graduating exams - very rare in Haiti! Our teachers are top class!
- Solar power was added to the school in 2015 through an incredibly generous amount given from an Australian donor!
2015 FRONTIER PROJECTS HAITI LAUNCHED IN AUSTRALIA
Frontier Projects Haiti is launched in
Australia
Five years later and we are a registered charity in Australia...
But we are different.
We are small.
We are hands-on.
We are families and community….linking to other families and communities in need - in Haiti & three other nations including our own.
We help rescue the lives of children and young adults caught in poverty, trafficking, lack of education or safe living conditions.
And we have a passion that sets us apart…with child sponsorship...
“Every cent gets sent”.
But we are different.
We are small.
We are hands-on.
We are families and community….linking to other families and communities in need - in Haiti & three other nations including our own.
We help rescue the lives of children and young adults caught in poverty, trafficking, lack of education or safe living conditions.
And we have a passion that sets us apart…with child sponsorship...
“Every cent gets sent”.
2015 Solar Power INSTALLED @ BOUVIER SCHOOL!
2015: Solar Power
now Transforming Bouvier School
and the entire Community!
In 2015, we received an incredibly generous anonymous donation - ensuring the full realisation of the dream. Changing their lives forever!
Bringing an end to the school’s energy-poverty.
Enabling them to become self-sustaining through simple, entrepreneurial ideas, providing power for lighting, computers, pumps for bathrooms, irrigation, and more.
The parents, teachers and children cannot express their thanks enough in words. 'Merci' is what they say, but their smiles say so much more!
Bringing an end to the school’s energy-poverty.
Enabling them to become self-sustaining through simple, entrepreneurial ideas, providing power for lighting, computers, pumps for bathrooms, irrigation, and more.
The parents, teachers and children cannot express their thanks enough in words. 'Merci' is what they say, but their smiles say so much more!
2015: Solar Power is added!
FROM 2015 onWARDS... INCLUDING T.N.A. SCHOOL FARM PARTNERSHIP
From Solar Power in 2015 to a School Farm and School Business in 2016-17!
We also STAGE 1: APRIL 2015
We appointed A DEPUTY PRINCIPAL AND COMMUNITY LIAISON to oversee and lead the upkeep of this Solar Project - to liaise with the parents and community who will undertake the preparation and infrastructure developments. His name is Jackson Volcy. Jackson and his young family will be ‘caretakers’ of the school.
STAGE 2: APRIL 2015
We MET WITH JACKSON AND NEWLY-FORMED PARENT COMMITTEE TO OUTLINE ongoing maintenance work and preparation that is essential before the solar power can be installed. The school has been subject to flooding in extreme weather and drainage had to be installed. The foundation of the school is a huge cement slab which has to be coated in polished cement so that it does not deteriorate.
STAGE 3: MAY 2015
BOUVIER PARENT COMMITTEE undertake the drainage needed at the school.
STAGE 4: SEPTEMBER 2015
BOUVIER PARENT COMMITTEE under the leadership of the Deputy Principal Jackson Volcy, oversee the carrying and donkey-transport of hundreds of bags of river-sand from the river below Bouvier School. This sand is used in the cementing of the floor. Polished cement flooring now ensures that the foundations of the building remain strong for the weight of the upper storey and solar panelling.
STAGE 5: OCTOBER 2015
A PROFESSIONAL CEMENT- FLOORING company undertakes to complete the polished-cement flooring.
STAGE 6: LATE DECEMBER 2015
SOLAR POWER IS FINALLY INSTALLED AT BOUVIER SCHOOL!
STAGE 7: JANUARY 2016
Cheryl and John journeyed to Bouvier this January to see the installed Solar Power system at Bouvier School - The dream was underway in time for Christmas celebrations. We also worked with the teachers to plan the School Farm and Food Sustainability Project - and Business Project.
We are all so thankful to everyone who has partnered with us to help change the lives of so many children! A community transformed! The end of energy poverty for this school and community
We appointed A DEPUTY PRINCIPAL AND COMMUNITY LIAISON to oversee and lead the upkeep of this Solar Project - to liaise with the parents and community who will undertake the preparation and infrastructure developments. His name is Jackson Volcy. Jackson and his young family will be ‘caretakers’ of the school.
STAGE 2: APRIL 2015
We MET WITH JACKSON AND NEWLY-FORMED PARENT COMMITTEE TO OUTLINE ongoing maintenance work and preparation that is essential before the solar power can be installed. The school has been subject to flooding in extreme weather and drainage had to be installed. The foundation of the school is a huge cement slab which has to be coated in polished cement so that it does not deteriorate.
STAGE 3: MAY 2015
BOUVIER PARENT COMMITTEE undertake the drainage needed at the school.
STAGE 4: SEPTEMBER 2015
BOUVIER PARENT COMMITTEE under the leadership of the Deputy Principal Jackson Volcy, oversee the carrying and donkey-transport of hundreds of bags of river-sand from the river below Bouvier School. This sand is used in the cementing of the floor. Polished cement flooring now ensures that the foundations of the building remain strong for the weight of the upper storey and solar panelling.
STAGE 5: OCTOBER 2015
A PROFESSIONAL CEMENT- FLOORING company undertakes to complete the polished-cement flooring.
STAGE 6: LATE DECEMBER 2015
SOLAR POWER IS FINALLY INSTALLED AT BOUVIER SCHOOL!
STAGE 7: JANUARY 2016
Cheryl and John journeyed to Bouvier this January to see the installed Solar Power system at Bouvier School - The dream was underway in time for Christmas celebrations. We also worked with the teachers to plan the School Farm and Food Sustainability Project - and Business Project.
We are all so thankful to everyone who has partnered with us to help change the lives of so many children! A community transformed! The end of energy poverty for this school and community
2016 - 17
TNA Solutions Foundation
partner with us
to launch the School Farm (2016)
and School Business (2017)
STAGE 8: SEPTEMBER 2016
2016 and TNA Solutions partner with us to provide the School Farm and plan a School Business. The School Food Program was launched and we planned the School Farm.
Adam and Dave from TNA, journey with us to Bouvier in September to see the school first-hand. Their business expertise is invaluable as we work into 2017 to fully launch the school Food and Farming Project and the School Business Project!
2016 and TNA Solutions partner with us to provide the School Farm and plan a School Business. The School Food Program was launched and we planned the School Farm.
Adam and Dave from TNA, journey with us to Bouvier in September to see the school first-hand. Their business expertise is invaluable as we work into 2017 to fully launch the school Food and Farming Project and the School Business Project!
STAGE 9: 2017
School Farming Project and School Business Projects are further developed.
School Farming Project and School Business Projects are further developed.
THE SCHOOL FARM: TOWARDS SELF-SUSTAINABILITY
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2016 and TNA Solutions partnered with us to launch the School Farm.
Adam and Dave from TNA, journey with Cheryl to Bouvier in September to see the school first-hand. Their business expertise is invaluable as we work into 2017 to fully launch the school Food and Farming Project - towards the school becoming self-sustaining. This farm will also be a vital teaching resource as students learn Agriculture and Farming Techniques first-hand. |
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ABOVE 3 photos show the first of the beans and yams being planted late 2016.
The best local agricultural farmer was brought in to train our teacher-in-charge of the farm - Venord.
BELOW 3 photos show the first crops growing healthily! Early 2017.
The best local agricultural farmer was brought in to train our teacher-in-charge of the farm - Venord.
BELOW 3 photos show the first crops growing healthily! Early 2017.
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2013: The students line up before class. This shows the building before the louvered windows, Teacher's apartment and verandahs were added.
2014: Inside a classroom
2014: The building team......... Training builders & labourers
2015 - the school classrooms are now finished - before the teacher's apartment is added!
2015: Journey of Hope Team
On the long trek to Bouvier: John points the way to the mountain school
2015 Teachers, Deputy and Principal. Principal Daniel is centre, Deputy Jackson is in the yellow.
2015 - Bouvier Parent Committee - formed that year.
2015 - Floors are plastered and rooms re-painted
2016 - Adam and Dave from TNA visit Bouvier!
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