Education Haiti Project #49983

English Education & Community Leadership in Haiti

by Friends of EIM, Inc

Nov 15, 2021

Update from EIM Haiti, fall 2021

By Kate Marino - Project leader

Brand new class room!

Happy early Thanksgiving to our extended EIM community!

We want to take a moment to express our continued gratitude this season to the EIM donors (you!) who make everything we do possible - and to pass along some words from Steph Price and Jure Esnold.

From Steph Price, EIM execitive director:

With all of the difficult news coming out of Haiti these past weeks, we wanted to share an update about EIM.

Big picture, we're still here. School is still open, classes are still happening and while attendance has been low due to gas shortages and fear on the streets, we are still standing strong.

In fact, while other organizations are pulling away, we're actually leaning in. Due to the generosity of a recent donor, we're putting the finishing touches on our 6th and final classroom. This investment - especially right now - sends an important message to our students and staff that EIM isn't a short-term initiative, but we're something they can rely on into the future.

From Jure Esnold, EIM graduate and board member:

I was recently in Haiti for seven days, Oct. 13th-20th. As always, it is a great joy for me every time I can be with family and friends. Yet this time, things were unusually complicated. Port-au-Prince is in complete chaos and under the gangs’ laws. Kidnapping has become a daily topic, which adults and children debate as I have never seen before. On top of this, the country is experiencing a gas shortage, which paralyzed the few functioning institutions, private and public services that need electricity to operate, and public and private transportation.

Despite the generalized hopelessness, I am convinced that this is temporary. I have also seen more young people become interested in civic and political life, more vocal and politically engaged, more individuals who believe in science and education - pillars of long-term progress. And of course, our little community: EIM, is continuing to grow.

Seeing all the progress with construction was a very emotional moment for me. It's always been my dream for us to have our own building and we finally have it! This has brought me so much joy and assurance that EIM will continue to serve the community; to continue empowering people to believe, to take actions and become valuable contributors in their own community.

These are small things compared to everything else, but more than enough to renew hope and courage to continue to believe. I am truly grateful to everyone far or near that has contributed to make all this possible - you are true heroes and your impact goes beyond what you can possibly fathom.

~~Thank you for your continued support,

Kate

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Jul 19, 2021

Update from Haiti, summer 2021

By Steph Price - Executive Director, EIM

Exam time

Dear friends of EIM,

Many of you have heard the news by now of the assassination of Haiti’s President Jovanel Moise. I was down in Port-au-Prince when the news broke and can report that fortunately all of our students are safe as of now.

The country shut down completely for two days, but after that nearly all of our students were able to make it to school to take their annual exams, which is incredibly important to them.

Having our own campus allowed us to have greater flexibility and safety and we were able to wrap the exam process much earlier. The school is now closed for summer break.

I’ve been working in Haiti for 11 years now and despite everything, it remains one of my favorite places in the world. A place of breathtaking beauty and culture filled with truly incredible people. The country, however, has faced serious challenges over the last 3 years and the power vacuum that’s been created with the assassination means many more challenges lay ahead.

And through it all, there’s EIM.

We always say ‘EIM is more than a school, it’s a family’ and honestly, that’s never felt more true. Our students and staff are here for each other with such care and compassion, regularly checking in, sharing resources, and much needed optimism.

When we started this program over a decade ago, I had no idea how much it would come to mean to people, myself included. What we offer goes far beyond education and I am more fired up than ever to ensure it remains strong in the years to come.

All my love,
Steph

Brand new class rooms!

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Mar 22, 2021

Update from EIM Haiti, winter 2021

By Kate Marino - Project leader

Hi EIM supporters!

It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it? We at EIM are gearing up to wrap our 2020-21 school year, and like many stateside schools, we’ve had a year of interruptions.

Our teaching staff has held in-person classes, but they’ve also worked with students using WhatsApp groups and other virtual forums when they couldn’t all meet physically. The dedication and persistence of both students and staff remains strong – and inspiring.

Challenges have come from many directions, though. In addition to the temporary shutdowns brought on by the pandemic, political unrest and protests throughout Haiti also threaten to bring further disruption to travel and daily routines. We are watching the situation closely, and if we do have to pause in-person classes, Friends of EIM remains committed to keeping our staff meaningfully employed – and our students engaged – no matter what.

Thank you for pitching in to help make that a reality.

With love and gratitude,

Friends of EIM

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