35 LAPTOPS TO HAITI

A quick update on the 35 laptops project, a component of our 3-year Capacity Building program in Haiti.

7 of our Haitian colleagues have already received laptops and 5 more will in two weeks.

While the total on the Give Meaning website is about $3,500, the actual raised to-date is closer to $10,000. Hurray! You just can't imagine how excited my Haitian colleagues and I are about getting them laptops so that they can be more effective as educators and community leaders. A giant THANKS to everyone who has contributed!

Paulaine Presandieu, one of the people participating in the Capacity Building program just spent a week with my wife and I. She's picture above and in video (link below). She talked about these laptops as she's taking 2, one for her and her colleague, back to Haiti:

"Getting access to a computer and internet in Haiti is not easy. There are little cyber cafes here and there but they're normally packed full with people and the computers are in terrible condition. It's common to have to wait in line to use a computer and then it can take an hour to successfully respond to a couple of emails. The computers have viruses and are old and have to be shut down and restarted etc. It gets so discouraging. Getting a good laptop like this is wonderful!"

Click here to view a 55 second video update with a number of the laptops pictured.

Our group of 40 (35 do not have a computer) convened for training and exchange in April and again in June. Click here for photo gallery. The energy and enthusiasm for this training is high and the laptops play an important part of this. A very special thanks goes to Mark and Claire Dowds and Steve Walchek for spearheading fundraising for laptops.

Let's spread the word! Learn more and contribute at Give Meaning.

During the last week of June I was in Haiti with a group of seventy people from all over the country. It was our 8th Annual Open Space meeting. They’re all impressive people—working hard for change in difficult circumstances. Click here to browse hundreds of great photos.

These meetings are a time of hope, joy and creativity, not to mention deep learning and trust building. Important work gets done. During the days small and large groups convene all around the guesthouse campus to address topics hot on people’s minds like “How Can Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) improve their/our impact” and “How we’re funding teachers’ salaries with social enterprises.” In the evenings we set up the projector and laptop and did Internet training, a session on self-evaluation, and viewed an exciting presentation about man-made lakes in Haiti that feed people (fish production) and reduce flooding.

Eric Graham, a retired Haitian and professional photographer has committed to participating in our meetings and taking pictures. In addition to having beautiful photographs his involvement also connects us to a wonderful initiative of Haiti’s private business sector called “Mwen Renmen Peyi m” (I Love My Country). Eric is a founding member and is making sure that there’s good cross-pollination between our networks.

There are so many exciting things happening. We couldn't be more grateful for the generous support and encouragement from so many.