Songs Choir Sang for Dawn Richard
August 30, 2010
What a pleasure it was to have Dawn Richard visit Haiti Partners Youth Choir, Wozo. The kids were so taken by her love, enthusiasm and encouragement. Below are the songs Wozo performed during Dawn’s visit. To download words with English translation, click on: Words to Wozo Songs
Posted in ADVOCATES Program, Haiti Partners, Special Projects, Uncategorized, Youth Choir | No Comments |
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Dawn Richard Dances With Choir
August 29, 2010
Today, Hip Hop artist Dawn Richard visited WOZO, which is Haiti Partners youth choir and dance troupe. The kids were thrilled! Dawn, who has Haitian roots couldn’t have been more loving and fun. She connected with them deeply… laughing with them, applauding them, encouraging them, showing them a dance and learning a dance with them. We were truly blessed to have her. Thank you, Dawn. Thank you so much!
Her visit was filmed by Halogen TV as part of their Nobel Exchange series. Thank you Tamara and team for what you’re doing. We are honored to be a part of this.
Watch Dawn teach our choir a new dance and learn a dance from them here:
Posted in Haiti Partners, Special Projects, Uncategorized, Youth Choir | 5 Comments | Email This Post
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XO Laptop Helps Healing
August 29, 2010
Haiti Partners participated in a pilot with Waveplace and OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) of 200 xo laptops in April and May of this year. Last week I (John Engle) visited with about 20 students from our various partner schools to see how they’re progressing. Respecting one of OLPC’s principles, all students in our partner schools keep the laptops so that they can continue learning.
I was amazed to see progress they’ve made in using them: typing, doing illustrations, taking and manipulating photos, creating electronic books, doing math, etc.
I was also deeply touched by “Lordz” story. (pictured below) Her mother was killed on December 26, 2009. Stabbed by her father. “I moved in with my godmother. Then, the earthquake destroyed our home several weeks later. When I become overwhelmed by sadness I grab my laptop and my tears go away.”
Short video in front of Haiti Partners partner school, Cabois Community School. It was destroyed by earthquake and thanks to Zyman Foundation and generosity of others, construction of new building is almost complete.
Posted in Cabois Community School, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, Uncategorized, XO Laptop Pilot, Zyman Foundation | No Comments | Email This Post
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Phoebe’s photos, Gia’s video
August 22, 2010
Phoebe Driscoll and Gia Ellis came to Haiti last week with us. Here are some of their photos and a video. Beautiful, Phoebe and Gia! Again, it was a joy having you and your sisters, your cousins and grandmother.
Gia Ellis posted a video of Haiti Partners Youth Choir singing Mwen Renmen Peyi m (I love my country) at a gathering with students and teachers. Click here to view. Thank you, Gia!
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Progress on Cabois Learning Center
August 19, 2010
I (John Engle) was pleased to see construction progress today at Cabois Learning Center. But we have a challenge. Can you help? In the video you’ll see that we have a very large space that we need to subdivide into about 8 classrooms. The challenge is that we want the dividers to be easily removable so that the entire space can be used for community wide meetings and events. Any suggestions?
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Thank you for Micro-Finance Project
This is a 4-minute video thanking the two churches that generously made the micro-finance project within the Disciples Program possible. It’s so far (and it will keep rippling out) been a huge help to 234 families.
They’ve each received between $70 and $250 loans (depending on their business plan, their experience handling money, etc). Two of the five scheduled repayments have already happened, and there is nearly 100% repayment so far (except for a few families that have had health problems).
Thank you to Church of the Resurrection (Wheaton, IL) and Stopsley Baptist Church (Luton, England) for making this possible.
In addition to helping the 234 families, the Haiti Partners church network that is managing this project are grateful because it’s an opportunity for them to demonstrate the gospel in such a practical, needed way–and also helps reinforce the work they’ve been doing with the Bibles and Christian education in churches, schools, and communities.
Posted in DISCIPLES Program, Haiti Partners, Special Projects, Uncategorized | No Comments | Email This Post
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Thank you Jesse and Friends!
August 2, 2010
It’s a little more than 6 months since Jesse Engle’s birthday and since he and so many friends contributed to Haiti Partners through Facebook Causes, enabling us to install internet and electrical system.
Having regular internet access has been absolutely key in Haiti Partners receiving over 100 visitors and in obtaining funding to rebuild schools and help thousands of people. Thank you!
A very special thanks to Jess, Desslie, Leslie, Thomas, and Lisa and others who reached out and recruited so many others. And an additional special thanks to Doug, Scott, and Betsy for your significant individual contributions and to so many others who gave generously.
My Haiti Partners co-workers and I (John Engle) can’t thank you enough!
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Choir Kids Cleaning Streets
July 27, 2010
Quick video of kids in Wozo, which is Haiti Partners’ Youth Choir, dumping trash they collected. They come to our (John and Merline’s) home every Saturday and Sunday afternoons to practice, learn and work on service projects. It’s wonderful to see how they’re learning to take responsibility, to make decisions together and to manage conflicts that arise. They’re also constantly improving as a choir and dance troupe.
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Bibles From Canadian Bible Society
July 24, 2010
The vast majority of Haitians are self-proclaimed Christians. More frequent than not, when you ask a Haitian adult in a literacy program why they want to learn to read and write their answer will be, “So that I can read the Bible and read hymnal when singing in church.”
Haiti Partners is grateful for our partnership with Canadian Bible Society making it possible to distribute 10,000 Bibles a year over the next three years to literacy programs, churches and schools. In addition to receiving the Bibles, people receive training in Lectio Divina, a participatory approach to Bible study and prayer where EVERY voice is valued, where pastor and person who is illiterate stand on equal ground in the group as they seek to hear God, cultivate their faith, and build unity.
Posted in ADVOCATES Program, Canadian Bible Society, DISCIPLES Program, Grants, Haiti Partners, Special Projects, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Email This Post
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Faith in Society after Earthquake
July 23, 2010
Mother Chloe Breyer shares about her trip in Haiti with us.
Posted in ADVOCATES Program, Canadian Bible Society, DISCIPLES Program, Grants, Haiti Partners, Special Projects, Uncategorized | No Comments | Email This Post
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Micah Institute Advocacy Trip to Haiti
July 23, 2010
Dr. Peter Heltzel of New York Theological Seminary along with Chloe Breyer, Carl Nazaire and Kenel St. Vil share about their experience in Haiti on the first Micah Institute Haiti Advocacy Trip with Haiti Partners.
Posted in ADVOCATES Program, Canadian Bible Society, DISCIPLES Program, Grants, Haiti Partners, Special Projects, Uncategorized | No Comments | Email This Post
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Progress on 2nd Learning Center
July 20, 2010
A quick video showing progress on our 2nd Learning Center that will serve Henri Christophe School. This is being built on land donated by a Haitian colleague. We are grateful for the support of all the people who are making this possible.
Posted in Grants, Haiti Partners, Henri Christophe Community School, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Special Projects, Uncategorized, Vista Hermosa Foundation, XO Laptop Pilot, Zyman Foundation | 1 Comment | Email This Post
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Open Space meeting at Bèl Platon Community School
July 19, 2010
Last Saturday, Haiti Partners long-time colleague, Enel Angervil, new staff member, Benaja Antoine, and two local partners, Pastor Ilven Obel and Principal Jean-Thony Delus, organized and conducted a community-wide Open Space meeting in the remote island village of Bèl Platon, where one of our partner schools is located. Despite a rain storm, 56 participants came from 10 regional institutions and included local officials, representatives of international non-governmental organizations, as well as a number of school principals, teachers, and pastors. The theme of the meeting was: What kind of education and activities are best for community development?
For more post-quake pictures from Bèl Platon Community School, click here.
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More Than Education at Cabois
July 17, 2010
I visited Cabois Learning Center yesterday and witnessed first hand how this building is already serving as a shelter. The rain poured and crews working on the roads came in for shelter. Gerald, school administrator, also shared how the micro-credit, that families of students are receiving, is helping them to rebuild.
Posted in Cabois Community School, Grants, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Special Projects, Uncategorized, Vista Hermosa Foundation, Zyman Foundation | No Comments | Email This Post
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6-Month Update
July 12, 2010
Here’s a quick update on what our donors and partners are making possible in Haiti.
Posted in ADVOCATES Program, Cabois Community School, Canadian Bible Society, DISCIPLES Program, Grants, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, School Interns Program, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Uncategorized, Zyman Foundation | 1 Comment | Email This Post
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Update from Henri Christophe Community School
July 7, 2010
Below are a couple videos from my (Erik Badger) recent visit to Haiti. The first is by Benaja Antoine, Haiti Partners Program Coordinator, of Henri Christophe Community School in action in their original school building. The second is of the new site where the school will soon be relocated. Great to see so much progress!
Posted in Haiti Partners, Henri Christophe Community School, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Vista Hermosa Foundation | No Comments | Email This Post
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Carrying Generators For Hours
July 7, 2010
Many of the 240 generators we received from Briggs and Stratton are being carried to extremely remote locations throughout Haiti. These fellas walked more than three hours to get this one to its destination.
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Partner School Cistern Project
July 2, 2010
Thanks to a generous contribution from DAS, students and their families at partner school Bèl Platon have water!
Posted in Bèl Platon Community School, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Uncategorized, Vista Hermosa Foundation | No Comments | Email This Post
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Women and Children: Briggs and Stratton Generators Help
June 27, 2010
Long-time colleague Eramith Delva, who just received a generator from Briggs and Stratton, shares how it will benefit Haitian women and children.
Posted in Capacity Building 3 Training, Capacity Building 3 Training, Haiti Partners, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Uncategorized, Vista Hermosa Foundation | 1 Comment | Email This Post
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9th Annual Haiti Open Space
June 27, 2010
Among the highlights for me (John Engle) at our 9th* Annual Haiti Open Space meeting that convened more than 80 Haitians from around the country was emphasis on social enterprise. In particular, social or “community” enterprise that can generate funds to pay teachers’ salaries which will lead to better education that is accessible to more Haitian children. This is something to get excited about.
Stay tuned. Our film about a Haitian success story using community enterprise to fund teachers salaries in numerous community schools and a companion booklet should both be finished by end of August. We’re grateful to Vista Hermosa for a grant that’s making this possible. Below is a short video about this. Click here to view photos.
*I erred in video saying 8th Annual Haiti Open Space. It’s the 9th.
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Epic River Crossing
June 22, 2010
Yesterday our group from Silver Spring Presbyterian Church (Mechanicsburg, PA) traveled to Darbonne and Cabois with Haiti Partners Youth Choir. They connected with the students and teachers in song and stories. Great fun! The roads are washed out and with a bus for all 33 of us there was no way to cross the river except by foot. Some are not familiar with river crossing and were quite scared and emotional ; ). No one was hurt or swept away by river.
Posted in ADVOCATES Program, Cabois Community School, Haiti Partners, STUDENTS Program, Special Projects, Uncategorized, Youth Choir | No Comments | Email This Post
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Silver Spring Presbyterian Sing With Haiti Partners Youth Choir
June 20, 2010
We’re delighted to be hosting a group of 12 people from Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. The group includes 9 youth. This morning we prayed and sang and learned news songs along side Haiti Partners Youth Choir. It was great!
Posted in ADVOCATES Program, Haiti Partners, Special Projects, Uncategorized, Youth Choir | 1 Comment | Email This Post
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CABOIS LEARNING CENTER CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
June 10, 2010
Progress continues at Cabois Learning Center. And, this week construction began at Henri Christophe Learning Center!
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Donation of 240 Generators In The News
June 10, 2010
Click here for an article in Vero Beach News.
Click here for article in TMJ Milwaukee news and here for the video.
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XO Laptop Exchange in Virgin Islands
June 4, 2010
Last weekend my Haitian co-worker Benaja Antoine and I (John Engle) participated in an XO Laptop conference in the Virgin Islands. Not only were there students and mentors working on learning and teaching XO Laptops but the conference also convened people from around the world, including 3 from Afghanistan, who have been involved in “deployments” of XO Laptops.
Benaja and I are grateful for the opportunity to learn what others are doing. We are also grateful to have spent time with OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) and Waveplace staff. Waveplace is the organization we teamed up with for the 200 XO Laptop pilot during April and May. We’re optimistic that we’re going to receive XO Laptops for majority of students in some or all of our partner schools in coming months. Here’s a short video:
Posted in Annonciation Community School, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Special Projects, Uncategorized, XO Laptop Pilot | No Comments | Email This Post
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BRIGGS AND STRATTON
June 4, 2010
I (John Engle) had the privilege of leading a group this week with Briggs and Stratton. Briggs and Stratton donated 240, 5,500 watt generators to Haiti Partners for schools, churches and grassroots organizations. These generators are valued at nearly $200,000. In Haiti, they would cost much more. Briggs and Stratton people have come to learn about Haiti and capture images on film. What a pleasure being with them, showing them Haiti and introducing them to our Haitian colleagues. What great people and how inspiring to learn about their corporate culture of community and generosity.
We had the opportunity to meet with Antoine Bien-Aimer, the Minister of Interior and his Director of Civil Protection. And something totally unexpected was hanging out with Jimmy Buffett (see below). Laura Timm, Briggs and Stratton executive, is keeping a blog. Click here to view.
Haiti Partners is deeply grateful to Briggs and Stratton for reaching out to Haiti in such a generous way.
Above: Children beside a donated Briggs and Stratton generator at Mission Ranch in Cite Soleil where Haiti Clinic functions.
Above: A child is receives medical care at Mission Ranch, where a Briggs and Stratton generator provides power for lights and fan and some refrigeration.
Above: We meet with Eramithe Delva in tent city by Haiti’s National Palace to learn more about how her organization for women who are victims of violence will benefit from a generator. Eramithe is part of Haiti Partners’ Leaders Program.
Above: Right to Left: Allan Klotsche (Haiti Partners’ Advisory Board Member), Laura Timm with Briggs and Stratton, Jimmy Buffett and I (John Engle) at Hotel Oloffson
Above: An example of the destruction all over Port au Prince.
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More great progress at Cabois Community School!
May 28, 2010
Here are a few photos (by Luke Renner) from a recent visit to Cabois Community School. As you can see, they’re making great progress! This project has become a beacon of hope in this small, rural community. Thanks for your support in making it happen! (Click here to download these photos in high resolution)
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HAITIAN FLAG DAY – WOZO CHOIR
May 26, 2010
Wozo Youth Choir, sponsored by Haiti Partners, sings on Flag Day at the historic Fort Jacques, which was built by slaves after independence. The fort suffered significant damage from earthquake.
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GREAT CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS!
May 19, 2010
I’m (John Engle) thrilled by the progress! Please take 2 minutes to look at the video to see construction underway. Education for children in communities of Cabois, Darbonne, Lalo and others where Learning Centers are being built is going to be so much better than before the earthquake, thanks to generous contributions from people like Zyman Foundation and YOU! (Click here to view photos)
Posted in Cabois Community School, Grants, Haiti Partners, Henri Christophe Community School, Lalo Community School, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Uncategorized, Vista Hermosa Foundation, Zyman Foundation | No Comments | Email This Post
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CABOIS LEARNING CENTER PROGRESS
May 9, 2010
Cabois Learning Center is being built! And, school leadership is getting trained to manage a $10,000 fund for parents of students to get small loans to help them do commerce and get back on their feet. With deep gratitude to Zyman Foundation and Zyman family for making all this possible!
Posted in Cabois Community School, Grants, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Uncategorized, Vista Hermosa Foundation, Zyman Foundation | No Comments | Email This Post
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XO Laptop Update: Great Stuff!
May 1, 2010
Haiti Partners is grateful to be in partnership with Waveplace and OLPC in this pilot. We are excited about this pilot leading to ALL students in our 7 partner schools having XO laptops!
Posted in Annonciation Community School, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Special Projects, Uncategorized, XO Laptop Pilot | No Comments | Email This Post
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Cabois Community School Breaks Ground
May 1, 2010
I (John Engle) was encouraged to see that all the rubble from Cabois Community School has been removed and used to improve roads and that the foundation has been dug for a new Cabois Community Learning Center/Shelter. The locals are doing a great job and they along with Haiti Partners couldn’t be more grateful to Zyman Foundation, who is funding the new Learning Center. It was an encouraging day today as another organizations was also distributing sheets of tin for roofs along with wood for construction. I’ll continue regular video updates on building.
Posted in Cabois Community School, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Uncategorized, Zyman Foundation | No Comments | Email This Post
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MIT STUDENTS AND OLPC VISIT OUR PILOT
Arpil 29, 2010
Students from MIT under leadership of Dale Joachim and Barry Vercoe, who are with OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) and MIT, visited our XO Laptop pilot yesterday. It was great to have them exchange with our school directors, mentors and students who are involved in the pilot program. Click here for more photos.
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XO LAPTOP PILOT GOING GREAT!
April 24, 2010
What a joy it is to see these children engaging so intently as they discover the potential of their XO laptops. 40 children and 10 mentors from four of our partner schools in Darbonne, the epicenter, are part of a 200 XO laptop pilot project. Click here for more photos.
Special thanks to Beth Santos, Bill Seltzer and Tim Falconer with Waveplace along with good folks at OLPC for making this pilot possible. Photos by Bill Seltzer.
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Wozo, Haiti Partners Youth Choir Ready to Tour!
April 20, 2010
Pro-music teacher/choir director, Kayla Werlin, who has coached our youth choir and director during her short yearly visits says they’re ready to perform in US. Very exciting!
Kayla is super impressed with progress they’ve made and is amazed by how quickly they learn new stuff. Here’s a short video that her friend, Jacob, filmed.
We’re excited! And, we’re looking for supporters, sponsors and organizers who might wish to help in bringing the choir for a tour in the US.
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Schools of Students in XO Laptop project
April 9, 2010
I visited yesterday the XO laptop training of the children and mentors in Darbonne, Haiti. I couldn’t have been more impressed! The confidence of the mentors as they worked with the students and the confidence and pride of the students as the made those laptops do what they wanted them to made my heart sing. This truly is an opportunity to leapfrog forward in education for these children. Here are images of the schools where these children went before the earthquake:
Posted in Annonciation Community School, Cabois Community School, Haiti Partners, Henri Christophe Community School, IMN Community School, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Special Projects, Uncategorized, XO Laptop Pilot | No Comments | Email This Post
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Students Learn XO Laptops
April 7, 2010
An update with 40 students beginning a month long training on XO laptops. Plus, Zyman Foundation is going to fund entire Cabois Learning Center/Shelter! Thank you to the Zyman family! Finally, longtime friend and colleague Kim Montroll working with us to create Intern Program.
Posted in Annonciation Community School, Cabois Community School, Grants, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, School Interns Program, Special Projects, Uncategorized, XO Laptop Pilot, Zyman Foundation | No Comments | Email This Post
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Haiti Partners Youth Choir Sings For Vero Beach Friends
April 3, 2010
This morning before departing for airport and after taking hike to future site of Learning Center, Haiti Partners Youth Choir sings for Vero Beach friends.
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Thank you DHL and Individual Contributors!
March 30, 2010
Yesterday we cleared from customs the 200 XO laptops for Haitian children contributed by individuals and shipped without charge by DHL. Haiti Partners is grateful to be in partnership with OLPC and Waveplace on this pilot project, which involves training 40 carefully selected Haitian “mentors” who will each work over 6 weeks with five Haitian students. Expect to see photos and videos of this next week!
We’re working hard to make make this pilot a success and anticipate that eventually ALL students in our Learning Centers will have XO laptops. We’re committed to doing everything possible to help Haiti to leapfrog forward and our Learning Centers and XO laptops are key strategies.
Again, individual contributors, DHL, OLPC, Waveplace, thank you! We’re honored to be in partnership with you.
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Both Relief and Development
March 22, 2010
Our medical team left today and the child laptop team arrived last night. These are examples of how Haiti Partners is involved in both relief and development to support the communities where we have partner schools.
Please note: I indicated in video that the community of one of our partner schools has not had any aid to date. I meant to say that they’ve not had any aid from any organization other than Haiti Partners.
Posted in ADVOCATES Program, Cabois Community School, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Special Projects, Uncategorized, XO Laptop Pilot | No Comments | Email This Post
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