Quebec-based Haiti support group hopes for eastern Ontario expansion

A young Quebec-based grassroots support group for education programs in Haiti, founded in the wake of the country's major earthquake this past January, is hoping to expand its network across the Ontario border.

Unie pour Haiti (United for Haiti), based in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region of western Quebec, was formed two weeks after the January 12 earthquake following a discussion between a handful of concerned citizens from towns like Hudson, Vaudreuil, and Rigaud.

The group of a dozen residents decided to put their support behind two grassroots education organizations with connections to the region - SOPUDEP and Fraternité Haiti des Trois Lacs - and channel donations directly to them.

"We got together two weeks after the earthquake, and we set up the group and decided to basically support these two schools because there are already charities set up to facilitate donations to Haiti (for the earthquake), and everybody wanted to point out charities that we could get money to directly," said Ann Anderson, of Unie pour Haiti.

SOPUDEP, a free school in Pétionville, Haiti that educates 550 of the area's poorest children, including street children, is supported by the Sawatzky Family Foundation in Orillia, Ontario, located about 400 kilometres west of Ottawa.

Anderson said she would therefore like to expand the efforts of Unie pour Haiti into the eastern Ontario region, bridging the gap between Orillia and western Quebec. Such a move is especially important at the present time, given the "winding down" of the relief efforts and charitable donations.

"There are no overhead costs," she said. "Any donations made to them go straight to the schools and that's why we really liked the projects. At the moment the whole relief effort is winding down, and a lot of the aid is still not getting through, so it's vital these grassroots organizations get the money."

The group held a discussion in Hudson on Friday, March 19, regarding the reconstruction and aid efforts in Haiti. The evening's speakers included Montreal Gazette journalist Sue Montgomery, Montreal-based photojournalist Darren Ell, and Tina Brooks of Brooks Pepperfire Foods in Rigaud.

Montgomery, who had recently returned from Haiti, told the audience that her experience covering the earthquake relief efforts highlighted the importance of grassroots organizations: "I'm frustrated with the fact that, no matter how many disasters we've had, [the aid] was all sitting at the airport. If there's one thing we learn from this, it's that we have to be better prepared - and make these aid organizations accountable for their actions. Frankly, I think of the thousands of NGOs in Haiti, a lot of them are doing a lot of damage. It's in the grassroots, where it's going to happen."

SOPUDEP school director and grassroots organizer Réa Dol has lately been using the school for local relief in light of the earthquake - which partially destroyed the building - and all current funding is being geared towards food and shelter, explained Anderson.

"It's emergency money until the school organizers can get back on their feet and then we want to rebuild the school," she said. "We want this to get ongoing so that the schools do get rebuilt.

"Whatever extra money comes in, spills over into other schools or projects, like housing street children. [Dol] is an amazing woman, a real pillar of strength for the community. All money that goes to her goes to supporting new projects to support these kids."

The school and foundation's entire budget is available online.

The Sawatzky Family Foundation was founded by Ryan Sawatzky and his parents following a 2008 trip to Haiti where they met Dol. The school also has the support of Brooks Pepperfire Foods in Rigaud, as well as photojournalist Darren Ell, who met Dol in 2006 on one of his many trips to the country.
The Vaudreuil-Dorion-based charity Fraternité Haiti des Trois Lacs operates a student sponsorship program for children in rural Haiti, and is now fundraising to rebuild part of the damaged school and increase its sponsorship program. Under the Catholic order, Les Petite Soeurs de Ste-Thérèse, the program has supported 120 children - 30 of whom have since graduated.

Finally, a committee of interior architecture students and professors at Ryerson University has been working to finalize a temporary school and shelter design for SOPUDEP. According to their current plans, committee head Kathlene McGuinness said one 60-square-foot school and ten shelters would cost $2,000 to $3,000 in Haiti.

"I'm hoping the group will spur people into doing projects in their locality," said Anderson. "I want people to discuss helping local Haitian groups, because they are the ones who are going to be there when the big aid agencies leave."

For more information about SOPUDEP, to view their financial statements or to read a recent letter by Darren Ell, visit www.sopudep.com.