The people of Haiti are creative, hardworking and capable, but years of dictatorial oppression, poverty, lack of education and medical care, and some devastating wallops from Mother Nature have all taken their toll.
It’s less than 800 miles but a world apart from Vero Beach, where residents have banded together to help Haitians build successful, robust communities by providing access to schools, health care and employment. And now, thanks to a number of collaborative projects, all three vital elements are taking shape on one bustling three-acre campus in a hilltop region of Haiti.
Indian River County residents serve as board members, healthcare providers, volunteers and financial supporters of Haiti Partners and Haiti Clinic – two organizations seeking to empower Haitians to have a say in their future.
Haiti Partners was co-founded by John Engle, a resident of Haiti and Vero Beach, and Vero resident Kent Annan, who had both worked in Haiti for many years through the organization, Beyond Borders.
Haiti Partners is the embodiment of its name as a proponent of partnerships, including those with six community schools and three Protestant seminaries. And its own Children’s Academy and Learning Center, located in Baocia, Haiti, is being constructed with multiple cooperative functions in mind.
In addition to housing a school, a training center and a social business, the campus is now also home to a primary care clinic operated by Haiti Clinic.
Haiti Clinic grew out of an auspicious visit to Haiti by Vero Beach physician Dick Parvus, who had traveled there to see Engle, his longtime friend. After being introduced to a Haitian native who had set up a rudimentary clinic out of his home in Cite Soleil, Parvus offered to help; eventually enlisting other medical professionals to become involved.
When security issues in the densely populated Cite Soleil location became an issue last year, Haiti Partners stepped in with the offer of space in their facility, which is located in a hilly, rural area of the country. Today, Haiti Clinic provides funding for the staff, equipment and supplies, and Haiti Partners provides the rent-free infrastructure.
The clinic hired Dr. Ruth Marcelus, a trusted and respected physician born and educated in Haiti, along with a nurse and a community health aide, and a dentist now visits twice each month. Three days each week, upwards of 50 patients walk for miles to receive a wide range of services, including primary, prenatal, pediatric and preventive healthcare, vaccinations and immunizations, medicines and nutritional supplements.
“People come from very, very far away for help so I feel an obligation to treat them all. I hope to be able to help many, many people,” says Dr. Ruth, as she is known to staff and patients alike. “It can be frustrating because many of these people need more medical treatment than we can give. It makes your heart feel good to be able to help. I leave here each day very tired but very satisfied.”
Groups of volunteers from the U.S. fly to the clinic to help out for several days every two months or so, including Vero Beach dermatologist Dr. Neil Heskel who has visited roughly 19 times over the past eight years.
“We see hundreds and hundreds of patients when we’re there,” said Heskel. “We’re always looking for doctors and nurses, nursing students and others with a medical background to volunteer their time for trips. It’s hard work, but it’s very rewarding. Most do it multiple times. It gets in their system and they want to do it again. The people are very thankful; I find it very fulfilling. When I go there I think – this is really why I went to medical school.”
Vero Beach 32963 chief photographer Benjamin Hager and his wife Sarah, employed at VNA & Hospice, were among the latest group who flew down to help with immunizations.
“For us, the vision for the school is that it not only provides an opportunity for children to discover their potential and prepare them for life, but it also drives community development and lifelong learning,” Engle explains.
Additionally, having the clinic onsite offers an opportunity to speak with parents about preventative health care, including sanitation and deworming, a chronic issue that contributes to malnutrition in children.
“And so when it comes to community development and lifelong learning, health care is essential. The community is very much involved in the project,” says Engle. “They’re so appreciative and committed to what’s going on.”
The current school building contains two classrooms, with more on the planning board, plus two large multi-purpose rooms.
“We are planning a clinic build-out so that the clinic really is a clinic with a pharmacy and consulting rooms. Right now there are temporary walls set up,” Engle explains.
Despite the still-temporary conditions, Heskel says, “It’s all been quite successful. A clinic is one of things they really wanted. It’s a hilly area, and some of these people are walking three hours to see us. It’s a much needed service and it’s been met with a very warm reception from the people there.”
For him, the toughest part is seeing the extreme poverty. “It can be very gripping; it’s hard to forget. What these people have to go through every day is very hard to see when we have so much affluence here. Some of these kids don’t have enough to eat and they’re starving. We’re only down there a couple of days; they live there.”
To help break that cycle of poverty, a separate three-story building is under construction, due to be completed by the end of 2014. Plans call for a first-floor social business bakery to generate income toward the school’s operating budget, with top floors providing space for teacher and vocational training, pastoral seminars and meetings and a guest house.
A partnership with Extollo International, a California-based nonprofit, is providing on-the-job training to Haitians as they construct earthquake-resistant buildings. The goal is to train a skilled Haitian workforce in various employable construction trades, such as carpenters, welders, electricians, plumbers and masons.
Ultimately, the hope is to empower local residents to develop their talents and abilities, obtain gainful employment and enrich their communities.
“How can we enjoy a good meal, how can we enjoy beauty, when so many others are suffering?” asks Engle. “For me to be able to enjoy a good life, and I have a great life, I need to know I’m helping others who are struggling.”
Partnering with Haiti from Benjamin Hager on Vimeo.