November, 2004

Dear Friends of Project-Starfish:

We begin this month’s newsletter with a brief meditation on humility:

“In my thoughts, words and actions, whether directed to myself or my neighbour, I must never trouble about worldly position, celebrity, human esteem, but respect the poor equally with the rich. I must take as much trouble about the humblest workman as about a prince, since God appeared as a humble workman. Always, for myself, seek the lowest place, and be as low as my Master, so as to be with him and walk in his steps like a faithful servant and disciple, as a faithful brother, a faithful spouse.”
From Meditations of a Hermit by Charles de Foucauld

NATIVITY VILLAGE HOUSING NEARLY COMPLETE

PHASE I – “Building Hope”

Between 1998 and 2000, Fr. Richard Martin and the parishioners of Church of the Nativity in Burke, Virginia, built 27 houses at Canape Vert, outfitted a mobile medical van in Port-au-Prince, and rebuilt an orphanage for handicapped children in Croix-des-Bouquets. This work was accomplished in partnership with Food For The Poor, Inc., America’s 5th largest international charity. In 2001, a long term project was identified in Merger and work began on the construction of 500 houses. As of November, 2004, only 37 double house units remain to be built and the full commitment of a house for every family will have been met.

In 2001, Nativity parishioners decided to work with a single village to try to make a significant and long-lasting difference in the lives of people living in desperate poverty. With the help of Food For The Poor, a village was selected in the Merger area. Here, 500 families were living on an abandoned sugar cane plantation. There was nearly 100% unemployment, most children were not able to go to school, disease and malnutrition were pervasive, and families were living without sanitation and safe drinking water in mud and stick huts. Whenever it rained, floors turned to mud and disease-laden storm water rushed through the village.

The people of this village told us their first priority was safe and decent shelter. So with the support of Nativity parishioners, Food For The Poor began building simple but sturdy houses, one at a time. On a visit to the Village after a year of house construction, Fr. Martin stood on top of a vehicle and spoke to hundreds of residents. He said “We will be here with you until every family in this village has a new house.” For the first time in many years, the people allowed themselves to express hope for a better future. They cheered wildly – they all wanted to touch and thank Fr. Martin and the parishioners who were traveling with him.

A year later, in April, 2004, with more than half of the village families now living in dignified shelter, Fr. Martin returned to spend Holy Week with the villagers. They had by now renamed their village “Nativity Village,” in honor of the parishioners and friends of Nativity Church who had made such a positive difference in their lives. On this Holy Week visit, Fr. Martin reaffirmed his promise to continue building houses, in spite of the growing political turmoil and violence in Haiti. He held a town meeting to ask the villagers about their future hopes and desires. Trusting in Fr. Martin’s promise of a decent house for every family, the people of Nativity Village talked about how vocational training, jobs, and small enterprise opportunities could help them break the chains of poverty. They spoke of the need for basic health care in graphic terms – 2 women told of having their babies die in their arms as they walked miles to find a clinic that would help them.

Fr. Martin listened carefully to the people of Nativity Village. He returned to his parish and began planning the next phase of development, knowing that the housing construction would soon be complete. Working with his parishioners and with Food For The Poor, and with the voices of the Haitian people in his heart, Fr. Martin is proposing a new phase of development assistance for Nativity Village.

NATIVITY VILLAGE FUTURE PLAN ANNOUNCED

NATIVITY VILLAGE PHASE II – “Hope Realized”

A vision for the future of the 500 families in Nativity Village, Haiti, was revealed on November 10. Following a series of meetings hosted by Food For The Poor at their Deerfield Beach, Florida headquarters, Fr. Richard Martin announced an ambitious plan for education, health care, and enterprise projects, providing basic human needs and investing in the entrepreneurial spirit of the residents, leading to a self-sustaining future.

The plan was developed with input from the residents of Nativity Village, gathered during a town meeting in April, 2003. Assisting with the planning were project and development experts from Food For The Poor; the village priest, Fr. Berard Wedner; Sara Amodio, a Ph.D. candidate in Education from Boulder, Colorado; Fr. Martin and Jim McDaniel from Nativity Church.

The plan for Nativity Village includes the following elements:

• A school building with lunch area and vocational training space. Currently more than 200 children are crowded into an open-air pavilion. 4 grades share one room with only 2 teachers.
• The opportunity for all children in the village to attend school. About 200 children attend classes. 80 children are currently registered for school but cannot afford the $31 annual tuition. Several hundred more do not have the opportunity to go to school at all.
• A nutritious meal for children once a day. Malnutrition and resulting health problems are very evident in the younger population. Through a partnership with Caritas and Food For The Poor, each child would receive one good meal a day at the school facility.
• Vocational training for teenagers and young mothers. Teens, without skills, have no chance for employment. Many young women are raising children without fathers. Job skills training would take place in the school building evenings and weekends and would bring the possibility of jobs and wages to these young people.
• A sewing co-op program. 10 – 12 women would be set up with treadle sewing machines, fabric and thread. They would be trained by experienced seamstresses who are living nearby, and they would produce school uniforms, first for village children, then for sale to others.
• Expansion of Ste. Madeleine Clinic. We would work with the existing clinic operation at Ste. Madeleine, about 5 km. away. Project Starfish would provide resources to expand the capacity of this clinic, allowing them to serve Nativity Village residents, who are now turned away because of overcrowding.
• Starting a chicken farm. With training from Food For The Poor’s agricultural facility at Santos, selected village candidates would be helped in developing a community chicken raising operation. Chickens and/or eggs would be sold and profits would be put back into expanding the farm.
• Experimenting with micro-lending. Using a cautious approach, we would find a third-party partner with solid experience and a record of success to set up a small micro-lending bank in Nativity Village. This would help jump-start the talented local entrepreneurs with small loans to set up vending, food, supply or other enterprises.

Fr. Martin made an immediate commitment of Project Starfish funds to get the 80 registered students who have no tuition money back into their classrooms. At this time, cost estimates and implementation details are being developed for all the above elements.

Partners who have assisted in funding the housing construction in Nativity Village, such as St. Colette’s Church in Michigan, will be contacted to see if they will continue to help. Other potential partners who might provide in-kind services will also be approached. The major portion of funding for this work will come from Nativity Church parishioners and friends through their “Starfish” Project. Work on all aspects of the development plan can be done simultaneously, depending on funding.

During the Phase I house construction, a spirit of hope was kindled in the hearts of Nativity Village families. As we begin Phase II, this hope will be realized as more children go to school, fill their tummies, and receive inoculations. This hope will be realized as teenagers and young mothers build self-esteem with job skills. This hope will be realized as people start small businesses and reduce their dependence on outside help. This hope will be realized as Nativity Church and its Project Starfish can look back at a healthy, thriving Nativity Village, and feel comfortable moving on to other compelling needs in service to the poor.

ADVENT KIT AVAILABLE

Looking for a family, church or group Advent project? Our partners at Food For the Poor will send you a kit with a 2004 Advent calendar, a Project Starfish Bank, stickers and an information sheet. Daily scripture readings help make the Advent season a spiritual experience for you.

For your Advent kit, contact Barbara Fazekas: barbf@foodforthepoor.org, 954-427-2222 ext. 6258.

Group quantities available.

HAITIAN PRIEST ARRESTED (correction)

Last month we ran this story with Sr. Kathleen Coll’s name and email address misspelled. We apologize to Sr. Kathleen and to our readers. Here, in its entirety, is the corrected story:

Sr. Kathleen Coll, who traveled to Haiti with a Nativity Church pilgrimage last year passes along the following information:

On Wednesday, October 13, 2004, hooded and heavily armed police forcibly entered St. Claire Church located in Petite Place Cazeau, a poor neighborhood in the Delmas section of Port-au-Prince. Father Gerard Jean-Juste was arrested without a warrant and transported to a police station holding cell where he is now being held incommunicado. He was dragged from his rectory against his will when he refused to leave the feeding of 600 children as he does every Wednesday and Friday. A well-known journalist reported that the priest was punched, his foot was injured, and he was bleeding from the wrists because of the handcuffs.

If you would like to know more about this case and other social justice needs in Haiti, please contact:
Sr. Kathleen Koll (kcoll@ssjphila.org), or
Bob DellaValle-Rauth (delrauth@aol.com), (540)297-6493

For more details on the Fr. Jean-Juste story, go to:
http://www.natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2004d/102904/102904n.php

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

A NOTE ABOUT DR. KERSAINT

I have been to Haiti several times, for family vacations, etc. I was reading [Jim McDaniel’s] story of his trip in 1999 to Haiti [on the Project Starfish web site]. I had not been there for the first time until September of that year. Mentioned in the article is Dr. Ulrick Kersaint. Ulrick is my father in law. Most patient, calm person I know. I went to ork with him several times (sort of a bonding thing I suppose), and have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I have since been to Haiti 6 times, and try to experience it differently every time. I have been to places where I have been looked down upon,
however I have never been shown disrespect since I have always proven to be an helpful asset during my voyages there. Our last visit was January of this year, before the rioting came to its peek. I was still able to voyage through Port au Prince (Ulrick has a clinic there as well), and although I did show a bit of caution, I still was able to help with many ordinary things on the street. Somehow they always seem to be surprised when I do this, but that just makes me feel better about it. I help push a car, I
get blind stares... etc... Being I am in the high-tech field, I have gathered many (what we consider outdated) computers for schools and such in Haiti. Other than that, only my two hands have helped where they can.
Anyhow, I enjoyed reading your article. Good work.
Peter Milanese (peterm@milanese.cc)
(Note: Dr. Kersaint is the Medical Director at Hopital Food For The Poor in Arcachon. He and his staff have spent much time recently in Gonaives saving the lives of flooding victims. Many Nativity parishioners have met Dr. Kersaint on their visits to Arcachon.)

FOOD FOR THE POOR NEWS

Mr. Robin Mahfood, President and CEO of Food For The Poor, shares a note he recently wrote to FFP employees:

The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which is the foremost publication in the non-profit industry, just released their rankings of all non-profit organizations in the United States for 2004. I am pleased to tell you that Food For The Poor has been ranked at #19 in the entire country for 2004. Up from #23 in 2003, our growth has been nothing short of amazing, as we have risen from #63 in 2000, #47 in 2001, to # 33 in 2002.

We are now the 5th largest International Charity in the nation, just behind Feed the Children, World Vision, AmeriCares Foundation, and a newcomer to the list, King Benevolent Fund. And we have become the #1 charitable organization in the state of Florida.

These rankings are determined based upon the organization's financial statements and Federal 990 reports, and rank the charities based upon the amount of support generated from the private sector.

My congratulations to all of you, for your hard work and dedication. Above all, thanks to God for his continued blessings on this ministry, which enables us to care for the poorest of the poor.

Good Bless,

Robin

FROM SR. MARY BETH COYLE IN CAMDEN, NJ…

Jim, I've been thinking a lot about the people of Haiti lately. It was so sad to see the devastation brought about by the hurricanes. I am also so sorry about the violence going on down there. Thank you for all you and your parish do to alleviate their suffering. God bless you! Sr. Mary Beth

NOVEMBER PRAYER REQUESTS

Our readers have submitted the following prayer requests for this month:

† For the repose of the soul of Macedonio Obledo, that our loving Lord will hold him close and bring his family peace and healing;

† For Sr. Francis Annice, that her upcoming surgery is successful, and that her always good spirits continue to be an example for us;

† For Catherine Hermantin, who is moving back to Haiti to be able to better manage our work at Nativity Village, for all our friends at Food For The Poor, and for all those who work here and abroad to alleviate suffering;

† For the people of Haiti, that the violence may subside, and that the international community come together to help alleviate their suffering;

† In appreciation for the freedoms and quality of life we enjoy in this country, and especially for those who are giving their lives right now in service to our nation, may they rest in the peace of Christ, and may their families be comforted by God’s love;

† That we may be ever mindful of God’s chosen ones – the poor, especially those who have touched us in Haiti;

For these and all our intentions, hear us, Oh Lord…

HAITIAN WISDOM

Jezi, frè nou,

Nou kouche sou vant devan’w,
N’ap tann ou menm, ki gran frè nou,
Pou’w montre nou.

Pawòl ou tankou yon glas pou nou
Yon ben, ak poud, e pafen.

Ede n’ donk pou nou sa leve
Ak yon twalèt frèch,
Pou n’ale pami lemonm semen sa a.

Jesus, our brother,

We lie in front of you on our bellies
As we wait for you as a big brother
To teach us.

Your words are to us a mirror, a bath,
A powdering and perfuming.

Help us rise up with a fresh bath
And go out among the world this week.

---Courtesy of the Haiti Baptist Mission

PROJECT-STARFISH WEB SITE UPDATED

Visit us at www.project-starfish.org . The Welcome Page has been updated and there are photos from the flood in Gonaives.

For information on Food For The Poor’s programs in Haiti, contact Barbara Fazekas at 954-427-2222 x6258; barbf@foodforthepoor.com. Web: www.foodforthepoor.org.

CLOSING THOUGHT…

According to the U.S. State Department, as of November 10, the amount of clean water being distributed to the people of Gonaives is 500 cubic meters per day. The population of Gonaives is 200,000. A population that size requires a minimum of 3,500 cubic meters of water per day.

When was the last time you were thirsty?

God Bless You…

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CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? If you no longer wish to receive Project Starfish news, send an email to Jim@project-starfish.org or send a note to the address above.

PROJECT-STARFISH NEWSLETTER (Vol. III, Issue 9), Nov., 2004: 0411newsltr
Edited this month by Jim McDaniel (Jim@project-starfish.org)

PROJECT-STARFISH: MAKING A DIFFERENCE, ONE PERSON AT A TIME

As a young boy walked the beach at dawn, he noticed an old man ahead of him picking up starfish and tossing them into the sea. Catching up with the man, the boy asked why he was doing this. The old man explained to the boy that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.

“But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish,” exclaimed the boy. “How can your effort make any difference?”

The old man looked at the starfish in his hand and then threw it safely into the waves. He turned to the boy and said, “It made a difference to that one.”