Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Well, not quite... But breakfast with Physicians for Peace was, in our opinion, much better!

TRTP Vice President, Sonya, met with Mary K and Mary W from Physicians for Peace (PFP) on Wednesday morning in downtown Norfolk, Virginia, at a cafe around the corner from PFP’s home office. Over sausage and eggs, the three shared information about their respective organizations and their various global projects. However, much of the conversation landed on the work of both groups in Haiti and the inaugural Camp Jake this coming winter.

Mary W (Physicians for Peace Public Relations & Communications Manager),

Sonya (TRTP Vice President) and Mary K (Physicians for Peace

Senior Director, Global Health Programs)

During the discussion, it didn't take long to identify the shared vision and philosophy between The Red Thread Promise and Physicians for Peace. Both organizations value building relationships with their in-country partners and those they serve, getting to know the people and culture in their respective work areas. They each work hand-in-hand to provide education to local professionals, ensuring that host country healthcare professionals and others can continue the work long after the volunteer teams have gone. Both respect the cultures in which they work and only provide services and supplies that align with the needs and requests of their in-country partners.

As these similarities were laid on the table, it was clear to see that this is the beginning of a fruitful partnership. We are so thankful for the opportunity to meet these ladies and get a better understanding of Physicians for Peace.

Hundreds, probably thousands, of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are currently working in Haiti. The more we can team together to provide exceptional care in an efficient manner, pulling our resources (whether financial, medical or educational in nature), the more we can help Haitians help themselves.

If there are others that would like to have Breakfast with The Red Thread Promise to share ideas and build relationships, please let us know!

Vote for us!

For those of our blog readers who don't follow us on Facebook, we encourage you to do so! That is simply the best way to get up to the minute news on The Red Thread Promise's work.

That being said, the blog is a few hours behind Facebook in sharing some GREAT news.

Recently, we entered some photographs from our May/June trip to Haiti into several international photo contests. We received word yesterday that we are one of 75 finalists in a contest sponsored by GlobalGiving.org!

Our category, GIVE SUPPORT, has 15 photos. All photos listed in this category are from projects focused on micro-finance, humanitarian assistance and children.

Voting began today at noon EST (August 10) and ends at noon EST on August 17. Winners will be announced August 19.

You can vote by first liking the GlobalGiving Facebook page and then clicking “Like” under each photo you want to vote for. Of course, we'd love it if you would vote for our photograph of JoJo (pictured at left), who you've met previously in many blog posts (see links below for additional info on JoJo).

You can only vote for each photo once. The winning photo from each category will be be featured on the GlobalGiving homepage and GlobalGiving social media. One overall winner will be awarded $1000!

Please help The Red Thread Promise extend its work by voting today! Consider sharing this link with your family and friends as well. It is a great way to generate interest for our programs and the prize money would go directly to our programs. A quick, easy and FREE way to show your support.

Thank you!

~ The Red Thread Team

Meeting JoJo

JoJo's artwork

More artwork

Even more artwork!

Last, but not least

Nuggets from Haiti - 2011, part 4

What’s it like when you show up at the orphanage right before feeding time? You roll up your sleeves, grab a bowl of noodles and begin feeding the hungry birds! The babies were lined up in a row, buckled into high chairs, swings and bouncy seats, waiting, every eye on the adults with the food. Some were quiet while others were vocal and demanding. Spoonful after spoonful, wiping food off of tiny chins, one after the other. While we fed the youngest ones, the older kids showed us their skills with a fork and bowl of noodles. What a blessing to be a part of that day!

The "hungry birds"

Waiting patiently

Kathy's turn to feed a little one

Old enough to feed themselves

Enjoying lunch

All smiles

Camp Jake update

Over the last few months, we have been blogging with excitement about the creation of The Red Thread Promise’s Camp Jake, a unique and wonderful retreat for the orphans at St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Our camp director, Tom, and volunteers have spent an amazing amount of time and energy planning, fundraising and recruiting volunteers to make this an incredibly memorable experience for the 33 kids who will attend.

Sometimes, the best laid plans get detoured. The planning, fundraising and excitement for Camp Jake continue at a remarkable pace, however the inaugural Camp will now be held in December 2011 instead of August as anticipated.

In addition to negotiating a maze of red tape, our camp director has received news that some close family members have serious health issues that must be given his complete attention. And so, in the last few days, we have come to understand the need to delay opening the Camp for a few months. The decision was difficult, but it is imperative to The Red Thread Promise Board of Trustees and everyone involved, that Camp Jake be a resounding success.

While December seems far away, it is only a few short months that will be filled with additional planning and fundraising, collecting supplies, firming up volunteers, booking flights, securing hotels and so on. We plan to deliver the best possible camp to these extraordinary children who deserve only the best!

We are so grateful to everyone’s hard work and hope you will understand and not be discouraged by this slight delay. Please continue your efforts to make Camp Jake the most wonderful experience for the kids of Haiti!

Nuggets from Haiti - 2011, part 3

On one occasion in February, we ventured out for a walk around Tabarre with an American who spent over nine years in Haiti. Fluent in Kreyol and everything Haitian, Joe gave us our first opportunity to shop in an open-air market and eat our first street food: lambi (raw conch). The vendor carried a large white paint bucket from which he scooped the raw sea snail into a plastic cup for us. He drenched the lambi in hot sauce, handed us some toothpicks and we tentatively tasted it. Not bad!

Sonya and Joe sharing a cup of lambi

Be prepared to share your space with lizards and many other 4, 6 and 8-legged creatures no matter where you are in Haiti. We have yet to identify some of the creatures that shared our beds at the guesthouse during the night and, frankly, we would not like to visit them again. It has become a running joke to see who among us is the “tastiest”!

Hana enjoying the advances of a very young man!

Does blonde hair attract attention? Absolutely. The tiny fingers of the babies and toddlers at the orphanage wrap around the light strands and run their fingers through it. People walking past on the street and stare. Young men blow kisses while some even work up the nerve to greet a “blanc” teenage girl and ask if she has a boyfriend (while simultaneously refusing to make eye contact with her mother standing by her side...!). A dark bandana or hat helps thwart such attention.

Nuggets from Haiti - 2011, part 2

A treasured memory is from a visit to the dormitory for St. Vincent’s youngest residents while lunch was served. Those able to reach the table on their own sat down and began to eat while the non-ambulatory kids were fed in their wheelchairs. After Yolen finished eating and the worker cleaned up, Sonya took a wet wipe from her bag and began to clean Yolen’s mouth of excess rice.

Diana eating in her wheelchair

Lunchtime, eating beans and rice, a Haitian staple

Yolen

One of the deaf boys noticed, came over, and pointed to the wipes. Thinking she understood, Sonya pulled one out and tried to give it to him only to be refused. He simply pointed to his mouth and pointed his chin toward her, wordlessly requesting that his mouth be wiped too. This began a chain reaction of face wiping for every child in the dorm!

Everyone "needed" a wipe!

Good for wiping all parts of the face!

Everyone wanted their photo taken with a wipe.

Poses were struck! Smiles abounded!

It was wonderful to be able to provide this very simple pleasure for these sweet children but equally heartbreaking to know how much each child craves a mother’s touch even in the most practical ways. It is due to these types of experiences that we spend as much time with the children as possible when we visit, offering these moments that both the kids and our team cherish for a lifetime.

Why Haiti?

Ariel of Haiti not long after take-off from Port-au-Prince

(While we usually write our posts from the perspective of our group as a whole, this one comes directly from TRTP Vice President, Sonya. This was written on her flight out of Haiti on her last trip at the beginning of July, 2011.)

With the last peak of the Haitian mountains barely visible from my window, my heart is heavy as I leave this little island in the Caribbean. The clouds break momentarily and the winding dirt roads through the twisting mountains become visible for a few precious seconds. My typing stops, my eyes close and I silently wish my plane were bound for Haiti, not departing.

People ask why I work in Haiti—why my eyes sparkle when I share about my experiences there. A single clear answer to such a complex question is difficult to give.

But of this I am certain: it is truly the people that draw me back, that red thread of destiny that connects me to them and them to me.

These are my brothers and sisters, my extended family. Just as I spend time with my friends and family in the states, there is an increasing urge to do the same in Haiti. And just as I would help my family if they were in need, I want to do the same for these beautiful people. Even though my skin is a different color, I feel as though I belong there.

Possibly the best answer to the question “why Haiti?” is given by offering an invitation: come with us sometime.

Volunteer.

Experience life in Haiti.

Meet people.

Word side-by-side.

Get to really know them, not just on the surface.

Laugh, cry and everything in between.

Build lifelong relationships.

When that first child reaches for your hand or asks when you are coming back…

When people recognize you as you walk through the gate…

When you go from person to person, hugging and kissing brown cheeks…

Then maybe, just maybe, you’ll know my answer to that question.

It is a feeling, too strong for words, too difficult to explain.

As my personal monologue comes to a close, we have traveled far from Hispanola. Visible now is the beautiful coastline of another island. The beach is white and the water next to the coast an inviting light blue green, stretching out into a deep blue. It is unmarred by trash, debris and the telltale blue tarps of makeshift tents, truly the stereotypical tropical paradise.

While gorgeous, it isn’t nearly as beautiful as Haiti in my eyes. And I cannot wait to go back again.