Education and Clothes

yes, clothes broke my heart once again. I guess we know what gets to me. Wanna make me cry? Walk by wearing threads for a dress.

Education: School started this week for our orphanage kids. Since the earthquake, school has been disorganized  in Haiti- hence it starting in October. After the earthquake, MDL (our orphanage) put together their own school so they could continue educating their children. Haitian schools didn't go back into session until April after the January 12 catastrophe.

I believe in education. You need it. You need it to problem solve. You need it to function in society and have common sense.  My mom always said, education is the one thing no one can take away from you. (that and your salvation- but I think she meant that too, right Mom?)

I stood on Monday watching these cute kids participate in their first day of school. My parents have my first day of Kindergarten on video tape- my mom cried and then followed my bus to school. Our school is for MDL kids but we have also opened it up to staff children or what we refer to as "street children". Children that live in local tents but are always hanging around our street. These 8, 9, 10 yr-olds were experiencing their FIRST day of school. Now let's take it back a step... think about the lack of development these children have already suffered due to malnutrition and attention as baby. Haitian moms (also uneducated) don't know the basics of playing with a child and practicing motor skills. They are left to sit on the ground for the first 5 years of their life. Babies here are lifeless. Why? Because they don't eat properly and they have no toys. I think we all have taken building blocks for granted. Who knew the great development lessons we were learning when fitting the round peg into the round hole.

Some of you know, I am a huge supporter of sustainability. Education is sustainable. I have said from the beginning I didn't want to travel with an aid organization but with an organization that focused on development. The reason being, aid only lasts as long as some church or US organization choses to support funding. At MDL, they focus on creating disciples of Christ and strong individuals to release into the Haitian society. We make a difference starting from a young generation. The children here are not up for adoption because we believe in helping Haiti by raising spiritual leaders and nobel citizens for the future. We are currently teaching our older children trades and helping them start micro businesses. We are teaching various children how to sow, construct, raise animals, sell cellphones and other businesses. We also educate them on their finances and how to run their business. With an 85% unemployment rate- this is a crucial step in development. Let me say that again, 85% unemployment. 

After being here a month and observing the "transition program", our program that transitions them from orphans to active members of the community, I have noticed a crucial missing step... education. We can try to  teach them all we know about business and give them as much capital as they need but there are basic fundamentals missing. Fundamentals that start at a very, very young age. 

I sat with a 19 yr-old yesterday who is going through our transition program. We are trying to work with him to create a small construction business. I sat and watched him attempt to complete a puzzle. A children's puzzle. He had no idea how to put the pieces together. And once explained, could not figure it out. Other children in our transition program came to the orphanage at the age of 12 or 13 and currently (at the age of 18) have the education of a 3rd grader.

How does a 18yr old have the education of a 3rd grader? School here is expensive! No such thing as public schooling. You don't have money to go to school... you don't go. Private school consists of tuition, books and a very rigorous dress code.

Here is where clothes come in: Every school in Haiti has a strict dress code. Matching uniform, girls have to wear white bows, every child in dark jeans and black shoes. And this is a pretty simple uniform compared to other schools. At a staff meeting, we were informed that every child needed to have black shoes (at $50- $100 US a pop!) or they couldn't come to school. Why? Because we will not get accredited as a school if the children aren't matching. It reflects discipline. The American staff here was appalled but we chalked it up to a Haitian culture thing we couldn't understand. Quite honestly, Haitians are BEAUTIFUL, dignified and graceful. I envy the culture sometimes. Our cooks always change their outfits before walking home at night and people are always dressed to high heavens. Even if that happens to be the only clothes they own. In one way, I appreciate it. 

 Yet, I stood outside the gates of the school watching sweet children get turned away from the classrooms because of lack of funding or not having black shoes. "Sorry you can't come in because your parents cannot afford shoes." About 15 children missed the first day of school due to lack of uniform. And that is where fashion, yet again, broke my heart.