Click here to read an article in Christian Science Monitor about Haiti Partners work in social business to improve quality of education in Haiti.

Today is the 2^nd anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti. It will be marked across the country by services of remembrance for the dead, but also the celebration of life. Meanwhile, the work of building a better future goes on. We’ve filmed a special update video to bring you up-to-date on the situation in Haiti, as well as the progress you’re making possible through Haiti Partners’ work in education. We’re grateful for your continued commitment and prayers, today and in the days ahead.

The Kenbe La Foundation was founded by New Zealander Emily Sanson-Rejouis in honor of her husband Emmanuel (Haitian) and their two small children, Kofie-Jade (5) and Zenzie (3) who lost their lives in the 2010 earthquake. Click here to read this story of tragedy and hope that brings tears to my (John) and my wife Merline’s eyes nearly every time we think of it. Like countless others, we draw inspiration from Emily’s determination to “Kenbe la” (Never Give Up) and to help children in Haiti.

Please, I encourage you to watch this video. It fabulously communicates Haitian talent and also determination in the face of tragedy. My children Daniel (5) and Leila (3) request it be played regularly. They break into dance immediately when hearing it and sing along. Kofie-Jade, Zenzie and Emmanuel, we regret we never met you even though we feel like we know you. We feel your spirits here with us when our family dances together to Kenbe La.

Haiti Partners is honored to be in partnership with Kenbe La Foundation. Three containers filled with school furniture and supplies and a prefab building that will be used as a clinic beside Henri Christophe School are on their way to Haiti. Once they land, the UN (Emily and Emmanuel were UN staff) will deliver them to Darbonne for our partner schools. Emily and a team of construction professionals are planning to come to Haiti in April 2012 to work with community members to erect the building and transform the containers into usable space for a clinic and the school. Emily, Merline and I can’t wait to finally meet you in person.

Friend Scott Henderson, or “Scotty Hendo” is doing a daily blog during his time in Haiti with us right now. Below are first couple paragraphs of today’s with link. Thanks Scotty Hendo for partnering with us and for coming to Haiti with us!

#1 Thing to Learn from This Post:
The community school is the foundation for educating children, parents, and community members, giving the people of Haiti the bridge to a better life.

A More Detailed Exploration:
Waking up at 6:00am, our team hit the road shortly after 7:00am to make the drive to Leogane, the epicenter of the 2010 7.0 magnitude earthquake and where the Haiti Partners team first began its work here twenty years ago. On a typical weekday, this twenty-five mile journey from Bellevue can take anywhere from 2-1/2 to 4 hours depending on flooding, traffic, and other factors.

Thankfully, traveling on a Saturday meant considerable less traffic and we made it there in 1-1/2 hours. It also helped that most of the highway is a paved, divided four-lane road. Last year, it was still under construction and considerably more arduous. Having a functional system of roads and highways is vital. (Click here to continue)

Allan and Mary Pautz Klotche came to Haiti again as planned. In addition to spending time with Wozo choir, they did a music seminar for 22 school directors and teachers on how to use music to improve children’s learning and create more joy in the classroom. It was a great success. Allan and Mary rallied their friends and colleagues and created music kits that for each of Haiti Partners seven partner schools. Each kits include instruments, ipods equipped with music, speakers etc and have a value of nearly $400.

Nine of my close colleagues and I (John Engle) drew inspiration from Muhammad Yunus today. Hats off to Grameen Creative Lab for organizing this conference of thought leaders, entrepreneurs (all ages) and many like my colleagues and I who are committed to social business. It was wonderful to see the two young people awarded their prizes of all expenses paid to participate in Social Business Conference in Austria.

Later in the afternoon I joined with others working in close partnership with Grameen to discuss with Muhammad Yunus our various plans and projects for social businesses. His insights, questions and comments that come from decades of experience are golden.

Here’s a super quick video (14 seconds) of community meeting yesterday with Philippe Lagrenade facilitating a brainstorming about possible social businesses that could help fund the Children’s Academy and which will also help meet a community need. Philippe is doing meetings like this with all communities where our partner schools are. Today he arrived in the remote community of Bel Platon on the island of La Gonave.

We’re fortunate to have Philippe and to be in partnership with Grameen Creative Lab. Click here to learn more about this partnership and Grameen Creative Lab.

Many thanks to Dr. Guylaine Richard and Dr. Yanique Edmond for coming again to Henri Christophe Community school and providing training in first aid.  With help from Abelard Xavier of Fondasyon Esperyansla, Drs. Richard and Edmond met with a group of 10 community members, including teachers from our partner schools.  As you can see in the pictures below, they distributed first aid materials and provided hands-on instruction in how to apply first aid in the case of an emergency.

Haiti Partners believes strongly in the critical role that schools can play in a community’s development. In addition to helping our partner schools improve education for students, we are also committed to helping the schools serve their communities in other ways such as training for adults.

Drs. Richard and Edmond are with WISEOP, Inc., a US-based non-profit dedicated to serving communities in need.  They are both Haitian-Americans and bring a special wealth of experience to working with our local partners.  To learn more about WISEOP, Inc., follow this link: http://wiseop-inc.org/

We welcome Philippe Lagrenade to our team!

We’re excited about helping more Haitian children have access to quality education thanks to our partnership with GCLH (Grameen Creative Lab Haiti)

Philippe has extensive experience in helping groups start businesses in Haiti and in consulting small businesses. Thanks to a grant from Vista Hermosa Foundation, Philippe’s joined the staff of Grameen Creative Lab Haiti and will focus full-time on helping Haiti Partners partner schools to develop social businesses that will accomplish three things:

• Provide a well-needed product or service for community
• Create an additional revenue source for school which can help pay teachers’ salaries and other school expenses
• Help school staff, students and parents learn entrepreneurship

Below is short video from our meeting yesterday at GCLH offices introducing Philippe to representatives from our partner schools and discussing plans for moving forward together.

GCLH Country Director Claudine Francois in photo below with HP Partner School liaison Abelard Xavier

Students, teachers, parents and staff at Southbank International School, members of Pangaea group, we want to extend a very special thank you from Haiti! Thank you Julia McCormick for helping to mobilize your fellow students and school to support relief and educational efforts in Haiti after the January 12, 2010 earthquake. We are grateful!

Southbank Intl School and so many others have helped Haiti Partners to rebuild schools better than they were before and to provide more teacher training and materials so that children are better able to discover their potential.

What a joy to see children fully engaged as they learn new things. That’s what I (John Engle) witnessed yesterday at Henri Christophe School. School doesn’t start officially for weeks but at Henri Christophe School, there’s a lot of learning and activity happening. Thanks to Inveneo, six new Hewlett Packard computers with Microsoft Windows, were installed yesterday. These computers are powered by solar panels, which were also provided by Inveneo along with batteries, inverter and installation. High speed internet connection will come next week.

We’re also excited about our partnership with Grameen Creative Lab which will make it possible for Henri Christophe and other partner schools to start social businesses that generate revenue for the school and help students, teachers and parents learn entrepreneurial skills. Click here to learn more about this initiative.

Click here to learn more about Haiti Partners “partner schools.” Click here for more information about Henri Christophe school.

Click here to view more photos.