School in Haiti opens doors to displaced students

Gonaives, Haiti

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Flames filled the pitch-black sky recently as a crowd watched a fire destroy the Ecole National de Desronville public school in Gonaives, Haiti. The news of the October 7 fire was just one more blow to a town still working to recover from the devastating hurricane season of 2008. More than 800 students would have to stay home the following morning, and there was no answer to whether they would be able to return to finish the school year.

That's when Nazarenes in Gonaives stepped in to lend a helping hand - and an open door.

"I was very concerned when I heard [of the fire] because I didn't want the children to lose a school year," said Madame Zamor, a representative of the local Nazarene school, Institution Mixte Saint Pierre. "We are here to help, so if someone needs help we must help them."

And that's exactly what she and other Nazarenes are doing. After a meeting with the local government, it was decided that the 800 public school students would join 350 students at the already packed Nazarene school. Institution Mixte Saint Pierre was chosen because they wanted to bring the displaced students to a good, safe school that would not cost the students more in tuition than their other school. After two days away, students returned to classes October 12. Both schools had previously held only morning classes, so Madame Zamor offered to switch their classes to the afternoon to accommodate the displaced students. Some classes must be held outside, but all the students are able to continue their education.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. "There are all kinds of speculation," explained Madame Chatelin Ozéle Pierre, director of the public school. "Most think arson, but we cannot know for sure. All we do know is that all the benches, all the plywood, all the sewing machines - all of it, everything is gone."

The repairs will be slow, but as long as there is a need, Nazarenes in Gonaives plan to respond sacrificially. In a country where only half the children even have an opportunity to attend school, they'll continue to keep the doors open to students in their community. And in the process, they hope to teach their neighbors what God-given compassion looks like.

Note: To learn how to help support the Nazarene school as they search for ways to assist these displaced students, please E-mail ncm@caribnaz.org. (Slideshow available)
--Caribbean Communications Office

 

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