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If you have wondered is it worthwhile to send StarTeam Volunteers? Just read this note from Naomie Beaujour.

It is always wonderful to see the StarTeam in actions in a site or another. They are  one of the best ways to measure Star of Hope Haiti work , the how and the why? My visit yesterday talks about devotion, motivation to help and also motivation to learn and to share.

Certainly the construction is really in an advance mode. Myrtha told me she was surprise that in 3 hours they covered the new kitchen building with tin roof. They clean debris in front of the school yard and they were ready to paint all the outside walls of the school.

Our Project Manager, Tony is excited, he had them work hard but they did not complained he said and if it wasn’t the decision to wait for the tins coming they would have finish the roof in one day. It is amazing he said. But they are not that a big number, just 10, 5 men and 5 women. They seem so young as Myrtha said but their dynamism is not challengeable.

Cheh who is on her second work team in Haiti after the earthquake, shared with me that with this team she is better prepared as during the first team she was focusing on knowing and discovering. In this second trip she knows better what to do and how. But for her, the most important thing is to achieve what she is there for. Sarah believes that StarTeam visits bring socio-cultural relationship between communities, countries, she also says by this kind of relationship Star of Hope Haiti is building the keys towards real development. For example she said, the people of Jeanton are better prepared to receive “blanc”. It’s been a long time since they’ve seen white people in their community (since 1990) and they were afraid of them. Now they know how to overcome their prejudices and taboos about white people.

The children even if the session would end, won’t go home until the workteam leaves the school to travel to Montrouis, where they sleep. They are happy to help and to serve. But most of all they like to mix their ways with this other world, they are teaching Creole to every member of the team who would like either to know numbers in creole or greetings words.  Cheh did not know if she told a girl to wait or to come back, as she only pronounced the syllabus “ta” of the Creole world “tale” which means “wait”.

Their work will end on Friday morning and they intend to do more than what they are here for,  they also want to strengthen this relation with the kids and this community. The people are so nice and easy to live with.

The committee talked about how they he appreciated the way Star of Hope work with this new building construction implementation, because the design, the idea, the place where the construction will be were discuss with them in a meeting. They have to design the construction plan with the Project Manager. Franckel, Assistant Director spent 45 minutes talking about the difference that makes for Jeanton’s people

1)      They believe in the work of the school as Star of Hope is involve in.

2)      They believe better results are yet to come with the new ideas of Star of Hope Haiti model school definition concept

3)      The parents are confident and motivated and ready to take part of this big work

4)      The people of the community know that they are not alone, and they still can count on people to share, and get knowledge.

5)      The community is realizing that if they can do it, I can do it too.

Something I confirmed within this trip to Jeanton, development is fruit of relationship…Star of Hope will surely meet its goals it we work to get more dedication and love spreading on the children we work for. The workteams are our advertisement as they reflects Star of Hope work, the how and the why?

Naomie BEAUJOUR

Director