Smiling Graduates
WHY ARE THESE WOMEN SMILING?
They have just completed a three-year intensive course of study at the Women’s Trade School in Terre Blanche.
Among other things, this includes learning to sew with a machine and by hand. And while this may sound like a not-too-difficult task, many of these women have never had a pair of scissors in their hands.
Additionally, they learn to design and make patterns, cook nutritious meals, care for themselves and small children, and decorate and host formal events like wedding receptions. Proper manners and techniques such as getting grease out of a mechanic’s clothing are also part of their curriculum.
The final testing to pass the course and receive a national certificate takes five days because it involves writing and practical testing.
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS CLASS?
The most recent graduating class had some of the oldest women to complete the Trade School in Terre Blanche. Two women were in their 50’s, and one of these women (age 56) has seven children and 16 grandchildren. Imagine the impact she will have on her family – to see a Haitian woman go back to school for three years and continue to learn!
WHAT WAS THEIR GRADUATION GIFT?
Twenty women graduated in this class and each graduate received their own tool for life – a treadle sewing machine. This was made possible by the generosity of the partners (donors) of Haiti Foundation of Hope. Thank you!
WHAT IS NEXT FOR THESE WOMEN?
Many people ask if these women will have employment. Looking around the schoolyard in Terre Blanche, one can see job opportunities locally. There are nearly 1,000 students in the Terre Blanche school (pre-school to secondary school) and they all need uniforms. Students all over Haiti wear uniforms to school.
Your donations to Haiti Foundation of Hope make it possible for these young students to have fabric but parents must pay for the uniforms to be sewn. And these trade school graduates are just the people to help.
We’ve heard it said by former team members that Terre Blanche does not look the same as on previous trips. We can say the same for 2016. Thanks to all the support to upgrade the cafeteria, the Haiti Foundation of Hope campus is much different.
Libonet was sitting on the bench in the hallway of the annex at the Clinic of Hope. Next to him sat a volunteer and a patient who had been seen by the visiting eye surgeon. Libonet was using the English he learned at the school in Terre Blanche to translate instructions from the volunteer to the patient. This scene was repeated throughout the week that the March medical team was at the clinic.
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