The Haiti Partnership

The community of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church and School has supported the people of Buteau , Haiti for over 28 years. Over the years hundreds of people have given generously to this program in support of the community in Haiti . St. Patrick’s sponsorship helps pay salaries for teachers, provides scholarships, books and supplies for students, and provides a hot lunch for students that for many is their only meal of the day. We have assisted with major construction projects as well as music lessons, and more importantly developed strong personal relationships with many people in the Haitian community.

St. Etienne School

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church and School has supported the children at St.Etienne School for over 28 years. Our sponsorships help to lower tuition for all families, pay teacher salaries and provide for books and supplies. Donations of $25 per student provide a hot lunch each day.

In addition, our elementary school students collect school supplies, shoes and underwear to send to the children of St. Etienne as well as basic medical supplies for the community.

Christ Redempteur School

This school opened 15 years ago to provide a second elementary school opportunity to the children in the Buteau area. In 2002 the school expanded to include a middle school, providing the graduates of the elementary schools the opportunity to continue their education. Christ Redempteur is the only middle school in the entire region. Our donations help defray tuition costs and provide a hot lunch each weekday for the students. Funds from St. Patrick’s parishioners build the water cistern and retaining walls around the school and build the classrooms for the students.

Haiti Music Program

Our first relationship in Haiti was with the Holy Trinity Music School in Port-au- Prince. St. Patrick’s Church and Day School now support the music programs at our sister parish, St. Etienne’s in Haiti , and at its affiliated St. Etienne and Christ Redempteur Schools .

In the past we have hosted the Petit Chanteurs Boys Choir from the Holy Trinity Music School . This community supported a music student from Haiti during his studies at Howard University . We continue to provide financial support for the music programs at St. Etienne.

Haiti Art Show

Every March, Lionel DeLatour, from the Rainbow Gallery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, selects new artwork by local Haitian artists and ships them to St. Patrick’s for our annual Art Show. Now in its’ 18 th year, the proceeds from this event fund our construction projects in Haiti. Over the past 10 years we have rebuilt the church roof, reinforced the hillside around St. Etienne and brought drinkable water to the town for the first time. Please support our construction projects in Haiti. Attend the Art Show scheduled for March 14-19, 2008.

Haiti Work Trips

For 24 years the Parish sponsored a June work trip to Haiti . In addition to building desks and chairs, these trips allowed us to get to know our Haitian friends and learn much about their culture and traditions. While the political realities have precluded work trips for the past several years, individual members of our parish continue to travel to Buteau to see how we can continue to support this vibrant community. Several people will travel to Haiti in November of 2007 to meet with the local community leaders and begin planning the next work trip.

We have been advised by our friends in Haiti that the political situation continues to improve and we hope to be able to schedule a parish work trip in 2008.

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