Advent Haiti Appeal of 2017

mainappealpic_0155Please consider a contribution toward one of these needs–your contributions continue to touch hearts and change lives through the Lasallian educational mission in Haiti!

Dear Lasallian Colleagues,

Brother Dennis Lee's first visit to Saint Jean Baptist de La Salle School in Haiti

Brother Visitor Dennis Lee’s first visit to Saint Jean Baptist de La Salle School in Haiti

On behalf of Brother Dennis Lee, Visitor, I invite you to join us in our 5th annual DENA Advent Haiti Appeal to raise much needed funds for Saint Jean Baptist de La Salle School and the Women and Children’s Health and Nutrition Centre, both located on the Lasallian educational compound in Port Au Prince, Haiti. We ask that you consider doing something, no matter how modest, to help support these ministries. Brother Dennis and Alan Weyland recently returned from a visit to the Brothers’ community, school, and Women and Children’s Health and Nutrition Center, it was Brother Dennis’ first trip to Haiti.

Last year, we raised $20,966 that went directly to assist with the educational needs of the school.

The school continues to thrive, current enrollment is at 645 youngsters from pre-K to the newly established grade 9! The intent of administration is to begin a secondary academic program next year with the plan to have four grades (10-13) as is the system in Haiti. The District of Eastern North America continues to play an important and vital role in the Lasallian mission of education in Haiti. Manhattan College and La Salle University have been involved in student mission-immersion trips for the past several years. La Salle University’s School of Nursing has been working with the Sisters at the local clinics for several years now and in the spring of 2018 the Calvert Hall will conduct the first DENA high school mission-immersion trip!

Saint Jean Baptist de La Salle School in Port au Prince Haiti

The school continues to grow, with more than 600 students now attending.

I invite you to consider supporting a project or two listed here on this page as part of your Advent activities. These projects come directly from conversations that Brother Dennis and Alan had with the school administration during their most recent visit and will have the greatest impact on the educational community. Thank you for all that YOU do and for your consideration of this opportunity to make a transformative difference for our very poorest neighbors. Live Jesus in our hearts!

Maryann Donohue-Lynch
Associate Executive Director
Office for Mission and Ministry

P.S.
If you are interested in having a presentation on the educational ministries in Haiti, please email me at donohuelynch@fscdena.org

 

Enjoy this special Haiti Solidarity Week 2017 video by Ed Sirois, La Salle Academy, Providence

 

Students of Saint Jean Baptist de La Salle School

 

Advent Haiti Appeal 2017 Projects

While any gift makes a difference, we invite you to consider a gift at one of the following levels:

The Gift of Faith

Religious Education Books for Sacramental Preparation
Goal $500

The Gift of Reading

Books for the library (1,000 books at $4 per book)
Goal $4,000 

The Gift of Hospitality

The Parent area (roof repair, tables and chairs)
Goal: $2,150

The Gift of Educational Space

Paint work for the new space for the planned additional grades
Goal: $1,485

The Gift of Education

Funds for the educational endowment
Goal: $5,000

Mail your donation to:
Br. Dennis Lee, FSC
District of Eastern North America
444A Route 35 South
Eatontown, NJ 07724

Payable to: FSC  DENA Memo: Advent Haiti Appeal 2017

Lasallians Addressing the Needs of Catholic Education in Haiti

 

A 2013 study conducted for the national office for Catholic education in Haiti concluded the following challenges for Catholic education in Haiti:

  • Building security
  • Poor building conditions
  • Overcrowding in school
  • Cost of electricity
  • Poor teacher training
  • Lack of running or potable water
  • Lack of food preparation area
  • Travel challenges to school
  • Cost and availability of uniforms
  • Parents’ inability to pay school fees
  • Shortened school year due to lack of funds
  • Lack of sanitation and first aid programs

 

Since the College Saint Jean Baptiste de La Salle opened in fall of 2010, DENA has assisted in providing:

  • Solar powered security lights for the school and educational compound (or campus)
  • Funds for classroom expansion
  • A backup battery system for electricity in the school
  • Funds for certified Haitian English teachers
  • A state of the art water filtration system (District of Ireland)
  • Funds for tuition assistance
  • Funds for school celebrations
  • Reliable transportation with the purchase of a van
  • Funds for uniforms and books
  • Recreational areas were created for exercise and athletic programs
  • Office for Mission and Ministry sponsored faculty delegations to Cazeau
  • Mission Immersion trips by Manhattan College and La Salle University
  • A partnership with the embroidery project at the Mother and Child Centre

 

In development:

  • A nursing practicum at the Mother and Child Centre
  • A course in hygiene and basic health for the faculty and students at the school
  • Faculty professional development in Lasallian heritage, pedagogy and spirituality
  • Expansion of the embroidery project
  • Mission immersion opportunities for our DENA Secondary Schools