St. Edward's has been committed to helping with the development of St. Patrick's School for more than a decade.  Each year we attempt to raise enough money to fund 100 full year scholorships for students at St. Patrick's.  Additionally, over the years, we have contributed a goat herd, paid for the construction of new school rooms, funded the construction of a well and even found an accordian for the local parish.  Accordians are very popular worship instruments in rural haiti. 

St. Patrick's is located in the mountainous eastern part of Haiti near Hinche and the Dominican Republic. 

In 2005 George Lockwood, a member of St. Dunstan's Church in Carmel, CA visited the region of Hinche, Haiti.  Here's is an excerpt from his report:

The economic depravity and human suffering of Haiti is worse than I have witnessed before.  The people in Hinche have not had municipal electric power for months.  Road conditions have deteriorated and driving is almost impossible. The municipal water supply has failed and the people bathe and wash their clothes in the muddy, filthy river.  They also obtain their drinking water from the same river.  Latrines also need to be built to accommodate the community.  The police force has been destroyed so there is often lawlessness.The people lack food and necessities to live. Children from the Central Plateau around Hinche are tricked by recruiters to be sold for slaves to neighboring Dominican Republic.  Boys are forced to cut sugar cane which is hot and dangerous work and the girls are often sold as prostitutes. There is much to be done for this very poor and needy country...

In 2005 the life expectancy in Haiti was only 46!  If children in the region around St. Patrick's are able to attend school, they will only go through the sixth grade.  The Clergy there are trying to set up a secondary school, 7-12th grades, but that is a future dream right now.  The economy is virtually non-existent and there are few jobs for young people.  Many community members young and old are starving and malnutrition is impacting the students' ability to concentrate and learn. 

The local priest is responsible for 9 separate churches.  Many, including St. Patrick's are without a physical church building.  In 2004, thanks to Crossroads 90 funds, the local priest was able to pay for a portion of his loan on a truck he purchased for transportation.  But there are other needs as well: (1) funds for students' scholarships   (2) funds to increase the teachers' salaries  (3) more classrooms, churches, buildings, latrines  (4) food for the hungry.  In short, their requirements are overwhelming! 

One of the main priorities of St. Patrick's (besides providing schooling for the children) is to construct a church building.  Having a place to worship is very important for the people  They really want a secure place and one that will protect them from the elements and mud especially during the rainy season.  In one emails, Fr. Walin DeCamp, the  priest at that time explained that when the people learned of the funds St. Edward's would be sending to help with construction of a church building they waved and cried together saying, "the church the church".  They stood in prayer asking the Lord to bless the ministry and all the friends of St. Edward's. We are humbled. Some money has been used to purchase basic materials for construction, but funds are not consistant...so the process is slow.  Fr. Walin remarked, "step by step, the bird is making its nest".

With 80 percent of the population living in utter poverty, Haiti has many residents who do not have enough food or income. The Haiti Goat Project gives the poor a means for both. Unemployed Haitians who have little to no property receive a pregnant goat and training on how to be a goat farmer. In addition to providing milk and meat, the goats also provide income when they are sold.

A 70-year-old widow, who has no education and lives in a primitive hut, used money she earned from the goats for food and home repairs. She even gave goat kids to her neighbors who had helped her, so they could start their own herd. While it may take up to two years to build up a small herd of goats, for many Haitians that first goat is their first step out of poverty.

In January, 2005, Fr. Walin DeCamp visited St. Edward's and explained about the hardship he had in trying to obtain a replacement male goat for the one that had died. With funds received he has used some of it to purchase more goats and to provide pens and food for them. Fr. Walin emphasizes the importance of this project to the community of St. Patrick's.

Some of the ways St. Edward's has been able to help St. Patrick's are even more basic. Clean water, something we all take for granted is not a given in Haiti. We were delighted to help with the construction of a well.  The new well, located in Locarbe, Haiti near St. Patrick's School was drilled thanks to funds provided by St. Edward's. It was blessed by Bishop Duracin of Haiti, in November 2002.

Each year brings new opportunities to share our blessings.  We remain committed to St. Patrick's and look forward to working with our sister church and school for many years to come.