CAMP JAKE - Invaluable partnerships

Mary, from Physicians for Peace, feeding Yolen, one of our campers
from St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children during the
first session of Camp Jake (Jan 2012). We are hopeful that representatives
from Physicians for Peace will join us again this summer for the 3rd session!

Thank you Physicians for Peace for once again teaming with The Red Thread Promise to bring a meaningful, educational and therapeutic experience to St. Vincent's students through Camp Jake 2013! Your generous donation of time, talents and resources will help the TRTP team bring more medical professionals to camp, additional camper support, and help purchase much needed supplies. We value your partnership!

EDITORIAL: Reconciling my inner turmoil

“Enough.”

How much is enough?
What we have? A little more? A lot more?
Can we even define it? 
Do we care?
Should we care?

In my mind, ENOUGH means:

• Enough fresh water.
• Enough food.
• Enough shelter.
• Enough education.

Just plain enough. Enough of the essentials to sustain life AND to flourish.

Speaking for myself, I can’t even remember not having enough. I’ve always had clean water to quench my thirst, food to fill my belly, a roof over my head and a respectable school. I was even fortunate enough to earn a degree after high school.

Sure, I’ve endured “tough times” like:

• Being teased at school for my hand-sewn clothing 
• Boxed mac-n-cheese with SPAM or squirrel pie (honest!) for countless dinners 
• Drafty windows that made the house—especially my bedroom—very cold
• Riding the bus to school instead of driving a car
• Struggling over bills and credit card payments

Looking back, I am still thankful …

• Thankful for the fabric and buttons that held my clothes together and for the hands that made them (even if not high fashion)
• Thankful for the simple groceries that filled our pantry and the hands that prepared meals every day (even if not steak and lobster)
• Thankful to live in a house and for the income that paid the mortgage (even if not a new house)
• Thankful my education (even if not from an Ivy League college)

For those of you who have traveled to developing countries, my guess is that you can relate to the inner turmoil I feel after every trip there and home again.

I hold a firm belief that the world has enough resources for everyone. What I think is lacking is our distribution of it.

“Enough,” as I see it, is wrapped up in “more” and “I deserve this” and “I earned this.” For many of us, “enough” lacks compassion and forethought to walk in someone else’s shoes.

Oh, sure, “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is great—in theory. But for those trying to break the cycle of generational poverty, “trying harder” usually isn’t enough to make a change—and perhaps never will be.

So what is our obligation to others? 
To our fellow human beings? 
Do we simply relish in our “we are so blessed” feelings?
Or, dare I say it, do we work together to make a real and lasting difference?

This is one of the reasons that I got involved with The Red Thread Promise: the desire to make a difference. Whether it's fundraising for a Chinese baby's surgery, working hands-on in Haiti at Camp Jake, or volunteering at a hippotherapy farm, I pray everyday that in some tiny way, I can be a part of positive change in the world.

~ Sonya, Vice President, The Red Thread Promise

Haiti Happenings, Part 8 - HOLY TRINITY & ST. VINCENT'S

Holy Trinity Symphony

Only blocks away from the empty palace grounds are what remain of Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Our team and others from the Haiti Connection conference toured their large temporary sanctuary and school that take up all of the usable property. Both the music school and classes continue for students. 

Holy Trinity students listening to the symphony

We were fortunate enough to arrive when Les Petite Chanteaurs (Boys Choir) and Holy Trinity Symphony Orchestra were practicing for an upcoming event. What a treat it was to enjoy their music! 

Sadly, a HUGE cathedral bell—one of the only remaining artifacts from the original cathedral—was recently stolen. How the thieves were able to move such a massive bell is unimaginable. The bells have now been walled in with cement to prevent further theft until the cathedral is rebuilt in years to come. 

The bells from Holy Trinity (photo from 2011)

Last, but certainly not least, St. Vincent’s is steadily showing signs of rebirth:

• St. Vincent’s now has its very own library which is slowly being stocked with books
• Kathy tested out the new sound-proof audiology booth that is set up in a dedicated space to serve the deaf children
• The storage room that we cleaned out and organized two years ago has been converted to a music room that will soon be shared with computer lab The Red Thread is helping to establish
• The water purification system is up and running 

Claurrician, a student at St. Vincent's operating St. Vincent's new gift shop,
and John, a friend from West Tennessee Haiti Partnership.
The shop sell's student's work, including jewelry, artwork and handbags

Journeyman working in the new brace shop

The brace shop

The brace shop shares space with the new clinic

The building will house an expanded pharmacy and multiple clinic rooms

As soon as these areas are furnished and stocked, it will be open for business,
serving St. Vincent's students, staff and the community

The new facility will house both permanent and visiting medical teams year round

Looking into a clinic room

The view from inside the clinic looking out

And, to our delight, the children are growing up! They are each a year older and happy. New faces abound as well. The school is now running at full capacity for the current space. And yet there are still children waiting to get in the doors of this very special place in the heart of Port-au-Prince.

Haiti Happenings, part 7 - CHANGE IS GOOD!

Colorful Haitian public transportation vehicles
called TapTaps bustling through the city

Take a quick look at the progress we observed in Port-au-Prince in April 2013. Change may not be at the rate we are accustomed to, but it was wonderful to finally see some notable progress.

Setting foot on the ground at the Toussaint Louverture Airport was a pleasant surprise:

• After deplaning, we were guided into an air conditioned (!!!) walkway on the 2nd level that is now complete with well-lit immigration stations, a big step up from the dark, dingy wooden booths of previous trips 
• The bathroom facilities were modern, a refreshing change from years past when we warned every Red Thread traveler to use the bathroom on the plane BEFORE deplaning (amusingly enough, a red-eyed Sonya walked right into the men’s room!)
• The baggage area held the most profound changes, now boasting not 1... not 2... but 3 fully-functioning baggage carousels in a clean air conditioned space

Old immigration stations
(and irritated-looking immigration officers!)

Previously, baggage was tossed in a heap on the concrete
in a dark warehouse area where everyone sifted through the pile
 in sweaty pursuit of their personal belongings

The new and much improved baggage claim area

Three carousels! 

The crisp clean duty free shop

Outside the airport were other significant changes:

• There were open spaces that were previously filled with 1,000s of tents and 10s of 1,000s of people and lines of port-a-johns; there wasn’t a tent to be found
• Fences have been erected to keep people from creating new encampments
• We saw sculptures and artwork that had previously been hidden behind temporary structures, tent cities and scores of displaced people
• There were more open shops 
• Less people asked for handouts on the streets
• Two recognizable landmarks—the Presidential Palace and Ministry of Finance—have been leveled and cleared, preparing for rebuilding

Tall cranes and other large equipment dotted the downtown area,
showing signs of rebuilding efforts

Life in Port-au-Prince

Cleaner streets with fewer piles of burning trash
and fewer animals sifting through the rubbish

The road to St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children

The once stunning Catholic Cathedral still stands behind tall fences;
all of the stained glass has been removed and we assume
they are preparing to demolish what remains of the structure
(photo reposted from BBC News) 

We are encouraged by these signs of progress in the city. We are hopeful that the Haitian people will renew themselves as well.

Haiti Happenings, Part 6 - RE-VISIONING ST. VINCENT'S

Another highlight of our trip was delivering a goody box to Fr. Sadoni. But not your typical goody box – no chocolates or school supplies or hearing aids. Instead, the box was full of materials donning St. Vincent’s crisp new logo. 

Following the earthquake, we suggested that St. Vincent’s develop a new visual identity; a fresh look for a new era in the life of St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children. In a time of re-visioning and rebuilding, it seemed like the perfect time to make a change. 

Sonya, TRTP Vice President and graphic designer by trade, worked directly with Fr. Sadoni and the Episcopal Bishop to develop this new visual identity. The job posed several challenges:

• To create a design that incorporates the institution’s Episcopal heritage
• To ensure that the logo works in both French and English 
• To select a color palette that complements St. Vincent’s signature blue buildings

In a bulging suitcase were boxes full of letterhead, business cards, envelopes, stamps and magnetic car signs, a different assortment of supplies than we are accustomed to providing our partners!

Receiving letterhead, business cards and envelopes

Car magnets donning the new logo

Best of all, thanks to donors in the design industry, we were able to give all printed materials to St. Vincent’s at no cost! THANK YOU to the photographers, designers, printers, public relations folks, and writers who supported this project. Every little bit helps.

Haiti Happenings, Part 5 - THE HAITI CONNECTION!

Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs (left)

As much as we love working with the kids at St. Vincent’s, the primary purpose for our recent trip to Haiti was to participate in the Haiti Connection, a conference hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti for all partners involved in the organization's many programs. The Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pierre-Richard Casimir, and The Rt. Revd Jean Zaché Duracin were among the esteemed speakers at the 3-day event focusing on the topic of building partnerships. 

Presenters for the St. Vincent's partnership 

Of course, our interest lies in St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children. Six teams attended the conference to show their support of the rebuild of St. Vincent’s and share the work each is doing at the Center. We are humbled to be working with such wonderful organizations on behalf of the children:

• Children’s Medical Mission Board
• Children’s Medical Mission for Haiti
• Friends of St. Vincent’s
• Team Canada Healing Hands
• West Tennessee Haiti Partnership

Sonya, TRTP Vice President

We were honored to be one of the guest speakers at the conference, talking about our partnership with St. Vincent’s and our relationship with other St. Vincent’s support groups. TRTP Vice President, Sonya Yencer, spoke on our behalf, sharing our recent and current work:

• delivering a handicapped bus that seats 16 wheelchairs
• providing 100 all terrain wheelchairs 
• establishing a computer lab (estimated completion in 2013) 
• hosting 3 Camp Jake summer programs for children with disabilities

Sonya stressed the importance of building long-term relationships, not only with St. Vincent’s (our direct partner), but also with other supporters of St. Vincent’s. It has been The Red Thread’s experience that we are stronger and more efficient when we work together with other non-profits, capitalizing on the strengths of each organization. When we work for the benefit of the whole—not our individual egos—we are able to accomplish much more than ever anticipated.

We made many wonderful contacts at the convention and are excited to see the progress made as St. Vincent is re-imagined and rebuilt. We are proud to be a part of the team and so glad for your ongoing support.

Haiti Happenings, Part 4 - HEARS for YEARS!

Sonya visiting with the kids

It was such a joy to visit St. Vincent’s last week. As soon as the kids saw us on campus, we savored hug after hug, kiss after kiss, and greetings in sign, Kreyol, English and French. After more than 2 years of work at St. Vincent’s, we can’t begin to express how wonderful it is that we now know these children so well that all of our faces light up when we see one another. We wouldn’t exchange those moments for the world! 

Danika and Sandee, 2 deaf students

Students donned new (to us) school uniforms, the latest trend in hair braids and proudly showed off their new digital hearing aids! Thanks to our partnership with Team Canada Healing Hands, many more students are reaping the benefits of better hearing. 

Little gifts of love

To date, The Red Thread Promise has purchased $21,000 worth of brand new digital hearing aids for hearing impaired students at St. Vincent’s. Team Canada purchases the aids at a deep discount and brings teams of audiologists to test the children in Haiti. Much like eye tests for prescription glasses, these specialized tests—performed in a sound-proof booth—help audiologists determine the exact type of hearing loss (i.e. high pitch vs. low pitch) for each individual child.

Kathy preparing for hearing testing in the sound-proof booth

Team Canada's Krystelle performing the testing

Learning about the inner ear

Following testing, if it has been determined that hearing aids will help the child, molds are made of their ear(s) for a custom fit. St. Vincent’s staff is working directly with the audiologists to learn the process of mold making, practicing every step of the way under the tutelage of Team Canada’s professionals. After the molds have set, the hearing aids are programmed specifically for each child’s individual hearing loss. The aids wrap around the ear and are fed through the mold directly into the ear. 

St. Vincent's staff taking a mold of a student's ear 

In the past, the children have received analog aids, which act simply as a volume amplifier, increasing all sounds like a remote control on a TV. Digital hearing aids will better serve the children’s individual needs. Each is customized to amplify only what needs to be amplified, maximizing the benefit of the hearing aid for each child. And, if treated with care, they should last 5 or more years!

Following hearing testing and fitting, ready to go back to class

Our goal is to ensure that EVERY hearing impaired student at St. Vincent’s receives aids as necessary. With new students coming through their gates on a regular basis, the need continues. Your support helps us realize this dream and for this we thank you!