Vassar Haiti Project

Where to begin? The group has arrived back in Gros Morne after four days in Chermaitre. Writing today are Anna (senior) and Siennah (freshman) and though we cannot speak for everyone’s personal experiences, we think it is safe to say that we are not the same people we were when we left this same hotel a few days ago. A few members of the group have been to Chermaitre before, but for most of us, this was the first time. Seeing the Vassar Haiti Project working in its actual context gave a whole new layer to the project that many of us had imagined back at Vassar, but could not fully comprehend.

This is one aspect of the project that is unique and unusual. While most college students are only able to imagine the work that their campus non-profits are involved in, we actually get the opportunity to come to Haiti and see firsthand non-profit work, and the challenges that projects like ours face.

So, it all began with our departure from Gros Morne. It took two bumpy hours of off-roading across riverbeds and over boulders to get to the base of the mountain—then, we started the trek up the mountain. We were always aware of Chermaitre’s remote location, but as the hours passed on our climb, the reality set in.

Chermaitre is many, many hours from paved roads or any other connection to the wider world. But when we arrived in Chermaitre, we were welcomed into the village like family. The children were in school and rushed out to meet us, singing, dancing, giggling, and taking in the new faces. Up to that point, most of us only knew the school through pictures, but in person, it was full of life. Some of our students mentioned having the impression that life in Chermaitre was not so hard based on our first encounters—the children were happy, smiling, dressed in tidy uniforms, and learning. But this was only the first glimpse, and the challenges of life in the mountains of Haiti became very apparent as the days went on.

The next several days were filled with meetings, including with the teachers, the women’s cooperative, the water technician, the agronomist, the village leaders, the school children and the families in Chermaitre. These meetings were difficult, because they showed just how many challenges there still are to overcome, but they were not without hope. Our partners want the best for Chermaitre, and they push us to do the same. We all struggle, but we are willing to work with one another, ti pa ti pa, or “little by little” in Haitian Creole.

These meetings would not have been possible without Clairiola, who not only translated from Creole to English, but was also a master communicator. She worked tirelessly throughout our stay in Chermaitre, and we are very grateful for her dedication and leadership. Each of the students also had individual opportunities to hone their leadership skills. Some led the meetings, which many agreed was intimidating, but also an opportunity to find new inner strengths. Robyn led the meeting with the Femmes de Chermaitre whose members expressed their eagerness to develop more business opportunities. Siennah and Kremena led the meeting with the teachers. Kremena says, “meeting with the teachers was one of the most challenging experiences, but at the same time, it felt so amazing to see a group of brilliant, hardworking people doing their best to change the future of the children of Chermaitre.”

It was also wonderful to watch our friend, Benoit look to the hills and people of Chermaitre for artistic inspiration. Each day, he worked on one painting, which gradually progressed from a pencil outline to a landscape bursting with color. He even included the school of Chermaitre at the top of the mountain. In general, Benoit gave us so much assistance throughout our stay. On the days when many were suffering from fatigue, Benoit was a source of strength. He was always ready for a new experience, and especially invaluable on our arduous hikes. Benoit and Jimmy also took a few of the students on a “plant expedition,” and pointed out all the various plants, fruits, and natural medicines in the mountains. Clairiola, who is doing her fieldwork in Haiti for the Biology department at Vassar, said that it “was incredible to learn how plants are used in the village. They are used for health, beauty, and nutrition, and I was generally amazed by the people’s knowledge of the land.”

We felt extraordinarily grateful for the people of Chermaitre, who gave us so much and yet, have very little themselves. Their generosity and warmth extended to every part of our stay. Even though we were strangers with a limited understanding of their daily lives, they welcomed us into their homes, and always seemed willing to share a piece of their lives with us. Lan, who with several other trippers met some of the families in Chermaitre during a census, was touched by their “sincerity and humbleness. They talked about their difficult lives with the most beautiful smiles.”

This was only a snapshot of our stay in Chermaitre, and as we spend the next couple of days in Port au Prince and Jacmel, expect other blog posts on the trippers’ experiences.