Sponsor's update from Santo, Haiti

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Santo, Haiti from Summer 2008.

The kids of the village are considered as the most beautiful precious stone given by the nature and these precious stone are everywhere in the village. They are in security there and they feel good. Thanks to all of you, by your generosity we’re able to have the kids a family and they can live proudly. One more time we’re looking forward to sharing with you all the activities in the village of Santo.

At the beginning of December, on one of the most beautiful beaches of “Côtes des Arcadins” located in north of the country was celebrated the wedding of a former of the village. All of the staff were there, the village director Mr. Michel Louis, the mothers and aunts. The couple chose as witness the former director regional Mr. Norbert Bernd. Holson Theodore, just married was proud and happy by the attendance of all his SOS family though he is independent and his mother was weeping for joy because she was touched to see her son.

To end the 2007 year in beauty and make the kids feel what this period means, an adoration mass was celebrated for the commemoration of Jesus birth. The kids were waiting for “Santa Claus” coming for the gifts while making wishes. All the families were on the village yard to end this night by a midnight party.

After that, comes Carnival period, in Haiti this is a happy period, new ideas, new music and new fancy dress. The new theme of this big feast this year was “Rale menen vini pou yon ayiti vèt” this theme was the main idea for to increase public awareness of the environment problems. That’s why stands, float were decorated in that way. The kids of the village couldn’t miss such occasion; they were playing all kind of instruments as bamboo, tchatcha, cymbal and so forth. Like the other bands they played all the carnival hits: roots, Rap, compa ect. It was very funny. The young of the community went to champ de Mars the most beautiful public place with their guardian for that big festival.

Events in Santo

Then this is the spring, time of plants budding and flowering, the journey is sunny and the weather was nice. At the beginning of March was celebrated the international day of women. In this great day all the mothers in the village were celebrating happily and they received a nice kiss from their kids while making them feel their importance in their life.

After the carnival this is a fast Period, for the catholic this is the period for the Easter time. This is in the habit of the Christian to meditate on the meaning of the celebration of Jesus Death and his Resurrection. In the village as in the community to well celebrate Easter each family went to church and after that they have prepared a nice dinner.

In this period the kids had two weeks off: a soccer Championship was organised by the kids of the community and it was a nice rendez vous for the kids to enjoy themselves. That was not all; the young committee of SOS School found a great idea that consist in exploring a former sugar premise that is now a museum called “Parc Historique de la canne à sucre “.

This historical heritage reminds us of the big sugar production that was of the French colonial period the main part of the economy. With the guides, the kids discovered a lot of beautiful colonial things: barrels, steam room, boiler, mill, bell, factory, train. This visit was very helpful for the kids who discovered antiquities of the colonial period.

Community support and children's future

Though April in Haiti, we had food crises that provoke a series of manifestation against the government. Those Manifestations blocked all the activities: school, industries, trade were closed for a week. But this situation seemed not to worry people in the village; everything was quite all right except for those who had to go to school out of the village.

Now ballad time and exploring time are over, final exam is coming and everybody is focus on the preparation of the final exam. Papi Michel (the village director) promises the kids gifts given by one of the sponsor if they obtain between 7,5 and 9 as grade ,and they have other prizes to win on June 23th the text context which was organised by the sponsorship office and the same time it’ll be the villager birthday too that means our birthday!!! It’s nice to see how the kids worried about their success, hope they’ll keep their promises.

They are already making plans, friends, relatives, kids, young of the community; going to the beach is their favorite plan. They see themselves already drinking coconut water, eating grille seafood. They are waiting for new adventures.

It’ll be a pleasure for us to share with you in the report of the end of 2008 the summer that will be soon while thinking you another time for your generous help to SOS Children’s Village of Santo.