St. Thomas School, Cite Soleil

St. Thomas School, Cite Soleil
Originally uploaded by John Engle.

The three story nicely painted school stands out.

Staff and leadership at St. Thomas School, which is funded and supported by Harvest Time, use Reflection Circles and Open Space. Typically, this school is a bit of an oasis, if there is such a thing, in the slum of Cite Soleil, where gangs frequently clash with UN troops.
The 120-130 students receive an education from committed teachers and they also eat a hot meal each day. Recently, the school was sprayed by gunfire. See photos below.

Harvest Time Partners

Harvest Time partners Open Space training
Originally uploaded by John Engle.

Leaders and teachers of St. Thomas School, SPARE, and Boston (Cite Soleil) Youth Association pictured here during Open Space session, October 2006.

Welcome to St. Thomas School, Cite Soleil

Guy & St. Thomas School 3rd grading class 06-07
Originally uploaded by John Engle.

Guy Theodore, who grew up in Cite Soleil and is one of school leaders, pictured here with 3rd grade class.

Life in Cite Soleil where even schools are shot at.

UN troops shoot up school, Nov 2006
Originally uploaded by John Engle.

Students at St. Thomas School

UN troops shoot up school, Nov 2006
Originally uploaded by John Engle.

Fortunately, these students were not in class when the school came under UN troop fire. Notice where bullets penetrated walls.

UN bullets penetrate St. Thomas School

UN bullets penetrate St. Thomas School
Originally uploaded by John Engle.

UN bullets penetrate St. Thomas School

UN bullets penetrate St. Thomas School
Originally uploaded by John Engle.

St. Thomas school underfire by UN troops

St. Thomas school underfire by UN troops
Originally uploaded by John Engle.

In November there were several clashes between UN troops and gangs. St. Thomas School was not spared from a shower of bullets, which allegedly came from guns of UN troops. Fortunately, this happened late in the afternoon when the school was empty.