Haiti Partners co-founders John Engle and Kent Annan spoke to a roomful of supporters last Wednesday afternoon at a Stories of Gratitude luncheon at Costa d’Este, expressing thanks and giving an update on recent activities.
Engle, who has homes in Haiti and Vero Beach, spoke briefly about the current Haitian political situation, explaining that the five-year term of the current president was to end Feb. 7. “Ideally, it would have been the time of his handing the baton over to the new president,” said Engle. He added that while there has not been as much violence as in the past, there have been irregularities and the two candidates from the initial 54 have not yet been determined. “What I always ask people to do is to remember that Haiti is only 25 years into the democratic experience.”
Politics aside, they said the work at Haiti Partners continues as usual; maintaining its focus on schools, churches and entrepreneurship. More than 1,200 children are enrolled at seven elementary schools – the group’s flagship Children’s Academy and six partner schools. There are currently 35 Micah scholars on full scholarship at three Haitian seminaries working on undergraduate degrees.
In addition to helping start social entrepreneurial businesses, Annan said, “We’re also working on village savings and loan groups; small groups that are learning how to save together and manage money and build up capital to help each other start small businesses.”
It all falls under their mission to help Haitians change Haiti through education, Annan stressed. “Haitians ultimately get to do the work to change their country. We’re really grateful to you to be able to help Haitians fight for that job to change their own country.”
Engle said that because of the complex environment, it is difficult to get things done, adding, “We just feel that in order to make a difference we need to go deep.” Less than 2 percent of Haitians graduate from high school and even those students were taught to memorize rather than think analytically.
“Until the paradigm changes of education and leadership, we can’t expect change. So that’s what we’re working on in our school program and our churches program,” said Engle. “If we do something well, it’s going to ripple out and affect so many others. We’re talking about education that’s making agents of change. That’s the way we see our work.”
The Children’s Academy is growing ever stronger, nurturing a culture of community transformation. Parents who have the capacity are also being trained to raise awareness of children’s and women’s rights. “This is an idea that can be spread to other places,” said Engle.
Annan related the story of a woman who as a child was one of more than 200,000 “restavek” children, essentially indentured servants, sent to live with another family and exploited.
She is now a Micah student, hoping to change Haitian culture so that other children will not be forced to endure the things she did.
“They’re becoming change makers to change their country; building a movement. These graduates are the hope and future of Haiti,” said Annan. “Thank you so much for making this possible. We bring the gratitude of thousands of people in Haiti.”
Guests also learned about Annan’s new book, “Slow Kingdom Coming: Practices for Doing Justice, Loving Mercy and Walking Humbly in the World,” due out in May, and about the group’s upcoming Educate and Celebrate fundraiser, March 4 at Northern Trust Bank.
