Featuring Light For All (Haiti): Two -time Pangea grant winner
In Haiti, less than 50% of the entire population is literate. In the rural areas, it is much worse. Only 23% of school age children are able to attend school. Light for All (LiFA)promotes literacy and improves the standard of living for children in the small rural community of Lhomond,Haiti. LiFA’s primary school (grades kindergarten through 6th grade) is one of the few schools in the region. From their humble beginning of 56 students in 1996 they are now near their goal of 200. LiFA also provides for the health of the students through a student health center with a visiting nurse (the only health services in the region), an immunization program, personal hygiene education and a community water pasteurizer.
LIFA says being flexible is a key factor to stability in an unstable country. Here are some highlights from their July 2009 report. The Lhomond School has not only survived natural disasters one more time but proved its maturity and good administration. Following four hurricanes and their aftermaths, the school re-opened on time and in an orderly manner. Students are enrolling at an earlier age, national test results surpass the national average by 22%, and based on academic achievements, teachers will be able to attend government sponsored programs aiding curriculum and trainings. The community saw a big payback from the vaccination program. Prior to the hurricanes, the visiting nurse brought most students up to date on all vaccinations. Despite standing water, dead animals, etc., they did not suffer any major breakouts of any disease. The school also used money from the Pangea grant to create a temporary kitchen and purchase other ingredients to enable them to fully implement a school meal program that a large aid organization had offered to support in the aftermath of the hurricanes. To us this demonstrated the flexibility and smart management in response to community needs that we admire.
Pangea's first grant to LiFA was in 2008 following a series of devastating hurricanes and floods that destroyed books, uniforms and school supplies. In addition to helping replace valuable supplies, the grant enabled the school health center to prepare for increased health problems from the aftermath of the hurricanes, and allowed them to expand their Jatropha tree farm, an income generating activity for the school. In 2009, the LA Pod recommended another grant to LIFA to continue support the school programs, teacher development and their Jatropha tree farm.
Fortunately, the school suffered only minor damage in the devastating January 12 earthquake, and all the students and staff are safe. One of LiFA's accomplishments was building a school sturdy enough to survive the quake. Two houses nearby were destroyed. The school is the only one in the district that has re-opened, and students are gradually coming back to class.