Vassar Haiti Project

On Friday, Category 1 hurricane Tomas hit the low southwestern edge of Haiti.  Heavy rains flooded refugee camps where earthquake victims still remain (in some places, refugees were left wading through 2-3 feet of water), and powerful 85-mph winds damaged buildings in the area.  Seven deaths were reported, though the Haitian government had issued warnings this week predicting greater disaster.  Compounded upon the homelessness and rubble left by January’s earthquake, as well as the country’s recent cholera outbreak, Hurricane Tomas still stands as a palpable reminder of Haiti’s acute need for aid and attention.

Read more about Hurricane Tomas from the Associated Press and Los Angeles Times.

Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

Last week, the VHP was delighted to bring a slice of Haitian culture to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Annual Meeting in at the Hilton hotel in New York City.  From Tuesday, October 26^th through Friday, October 29^th, trusty VHP volunteers commuted from Poughkeepsie to Manhattan with colorful canvases in tow.  The VHP had its own table at the meeting where we sold and displayed art and handicrafts.  By the end of the week, the VHP had raised around $9,000!

Take a look at some photos from the event above.  Thanks to all our volunteers, and the AACAP meeting-goers who discovered and took an interest in the VHP!

Rode d’Enfant, Reynald Joseph

Who’s behind the artwork that the VHP sells and displays?  In this new blog feature, you’ll have the chance to learn a little bit more about the spectrum of artists whose work is presented by the VHP.   These artists come from a broad range of backgrounds, and their biographies are as vibrant as their colorful paintings.

This week we’re profiling Reynald Joseph (b. Port-au-Prince, 1973), whose lively piece Jammin’ served as the iconic poster art for the VHP’s Les Petits Chanteurs event in September.  Joseph’s father, well-known Haitian artist Wilfrid Louis, first inspired him to try art when he was a boy.  Louis continued to serve as a mentor as his son launched an art career of his own.  Today, Joseph has developed his own distinct style and flair in his art.  He often paints native Haitians just plain having a good time, whether they’re dancing, making music, playing games, or sailing.  There is a great sense of movement and celebration in Joseph’s work.  His lanky, playful figures exude a contagiously carefree attitude.

Reynald Joseph also appeared in a Washington Post article on Haitian artists coping with last January’s earthquake.  Joseph was one of many artists to tenderly portray post-quake Port-au-Prince in his art.  Joseph is immensely popular at the Galerie Monnin, and is among Haiti’s most beloved, distinctive artists.

A recent cholera outbreak in Port-au-Prince is prominently featured in The New York Times today. Nonetheless, aid workers are remaining hopeful that the disease can be contained.

VHP member Ling Hu reflects on meeting and speaking with Dr. Paul Farmer at the 24th annual Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill Medal Ceremony.

Thinking about what to ask Dr. Farmer, at first I wanted him to give me the fastest solution, some holy grail of eradicating poverty and creating sustainable growth in Haiti.  When I heard him speak humbly about the work of his organization, though, I recognized that the questions at hand were TNTC (“too numerous to count,” a term Dr. Farmer used in his speech).  When global problems are narrowed down and tackled with specific projects like the VHP,  we can all contribute to finding a solution.

In 1987, Dr. Farmer and a few 20-something medical students and friends decided to create an organization that would provide health services to the small village of Canage, Haiti.  This organization has evolved rapidly and now has a global presence, servicing 10 countries and 2 million individuals annually.  In our discussion, Dr. Farmer emphasized the importance of fostering a sense of self-determination from local individuals as a model for any non-profit project. Currently PIH is building Haiti’s first teaching hospital through partnerships with the local ministry of health in Mirebalais (at the center of Haiti and crossroads of two major roads to Port-au-Prince), which will feature state-of-the-art facilities and service more than 120,000 individuals.  He mentioned that in projects like these, attention to detail and incorporation of personalized touches are key—for example, community gardens and playgrounds have been built for every facility that his organization is involved in.

I hope that the VHP can continue thriving with the continued support of those who share their time, wisdom and guidance with us. As Eleanor Roosevelt said,

We gain strength and courage and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.

Last Saturday, ten members of the VHP were fortunate enough to attend the 24th Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill Medal Ceremony. This ceremony is held annually to honor those who, in the spirit of Eleanor Roosevelt, are serving their communities in exceptional ways locally, nationally, and internationally. Among the five individuals (and one organization) receiving recognition this year was Dr. Paul Farmer, Former President Bill Clinton’s Deputy Envoy to Haiti, and co-founder of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. When Farmer spoke, he acknowledged that he is one of many doctors currently working to guarantee basic human rights like clean water, health care, and education to those living in poverty—a vision compatible with Eleanor Roosevelt’s legacy.

VHP Vice President for Outreach Raluca Besliu called Dr. Farmer’s speech “humble, but poignant in that sense that it stressed to carry on the battle to bring about development in places such as Haiti.” She reported that after the ceremony, VHP members had the honor to speak privately with Dr. Farmer, along with Marist students enrolled in a class on Farmer’s books. In their discussion, Farmer spoke about the need to secure public-private partnerships in health services in Haiti, and to ensure better NGO cooperation there. At the end of their talk, the VHP gave Dr. Farmer its own token of appreciation: an official VHP t-shirt emblazoned with Haitian expressions “Sak pasé?” and “N’ap boulé!”

Dr. Farmer is an inspiration to the VHP and his work sets an excellent example for anyone engaged in community service (on any level—locally, nationally, or internationally). He still serves on the board for The Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, which he helped to found. Check out the organization’s website for timely updates on Haitian news.

[Les Petits Chanteurs sporting Vassar Haiti Project sweatshirts]

The VHP was thrilled to have Les Petits Chanteurs and chamber ensemble, a group of Haitian singers and musicians, perform on campus!  Les Petits Chanteurs sang to an audience of about 500 in the Vassar College chapel on Friday, September 24th.  At intermission the group was presented with a check for $9,000 to be put toward the reconstruction of the Holy Trinity Music School, their school in Port-au-Prince.  Les Petits Chanteurs delivered a lively, spirited concert that featured dancing, drums, soaring solos, and rousing full group numbers.  In the program’s last song, which celebrated the entire Haitian country, members of the choir pulled out Haitian flags of all sizes and waved them as they sang.

The VHP wishes Les Petits Chanteurs all the best in the rest of their performances.  The group is on tour in the US, performing 40 concerts in 30 days to raise money to rebuild Holy Trinity, Haiti’s only music school.

Thanks to all those who participated in the event and made it a success!  Take a look at some of the photos from the concert ice cream social afterwards.

Art drives the Vassar Haiti Project.  Members of the VHP are lucky enough to constantly be working with colorful paintings and handicrafts that capture Haitian vibrancy.  Haiti’s creative, artistic culture extends past the visual arts, though.  Music is an essential, even more accessible form of artistic expression that Haiti prizes.  This weekend, in a very special VHP-sponsored event, a choir of young men from Haiti will be bringing their music directly to the Vassar campus in a live concert celebrating Haitian spirit, courage, and resilience.

The chorus, Les Petits Chanteurs and Chamber Ensemble, is composed of 30 students and young men from the Holy Trinity Music School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  The group is embarking on a 30-day tour of the East Coast, giving concerts and raising money to rebuild their school, which was ruined in last January’s earthquake.  100% of the proceeds of the concert will go to the reconstruction of Holy Trinity, Haiti’s only music school.

Les Petits Chanteurs will be performing in the Vassar College Chapel at 7 pm on Friday, September 24^th.  Come enjoy their music, celebrate their dedication, and be a part of the enormous energy of Haiti and the VHP!

Les Petits Chanteurs

Vassar College Chapel

Friday, September 24^th

7 pm

Tickets:

Adults- $10

Children (under 18) – $5

Children (under 5)– Free

Vassar students– Free (recommended donation- $5)

Old VHP members, new VHP members, prospective VHP members, and recently-christened members of the VHP mailing list from the activities fair, take note!  In fact, even if you don’t fall into any of those categories– even if you slept through the activities fair– take note anyway!  The VHP’s first meeting of the year will be tomorrow,

Friday, September 10th

at

5 pm

in the

College Center MPR

Here’s what you can expect: we’ll kick off by showing a short film on our organization and what we’re all about.  Then, this year’s officers will introduce themselves and explain a little bit about their individual responsibilities in the club.  The VHP is a big organization, and this will be a great crash course in how it’s run and how things get accomplished.  There will, of course, be time for you to ask questions about the club and what it’s like to be a member.

You can also expect food, beverages, and lots of  positive energy.  We have some seriously exciting projects on our calendar already– we know this is going to be a standout year for the VHP!

So don’t miss out!  Meet us at the College Center MPR tomorrow at 5.

Now that fall semester in full swing,  the VHP is getting geared up for another great year.  One of the easiest ways to find out about what we do is to come by the Vassar Campus Activities Fair.  Learn about our organization, chat with current members, and get your name on our e-mail list.  We encourage freshman and upperclassmen alike to check it out!

Campus Activities Fair

12-3 pm

Outside ACDC

See you there!