Fanshawe/St. Peter's Seminary Trip to Haiti

ROBERT'S BLOG- Day 4 April 28, 2016

After a restful night at Le Xaragua, we began today’s journey with a trip to Ogier-Fombrun Museum just outside of St. Marc. Here we learned about the history of the Haitian people and their liberation. The grounds were previously a sugar mill and rum distillery; and the first place where freed slaves were employed. What caused the most awe for us, at this location, was a statue of “the call to revolution”, which depicted a black slave breaking from his chains and trumpeting a conch shell to rally his fellow men to fight for freedom.

Croix des Bouquet was our next stop, a metal art village run by Haitian artisans, who re-used the tin metal from barrels to make beautiful artwork. Here we had the opportunity to observe how this art is skillfully made, and learn the art form of bartering. Most of us left with a work of metal art, which most captured our interests. We then travelled to the Apparent Project, which featured a restaurant called the Clay Cafe and store called Papillon. At Clay Cafe, we were treated to cheeseburgers in paradise and a cold beverage, with a view overseeing Port-au-Prince.

After lunch, we toured the Apparent Project in Port-au-Prince, which is a program started by Shelly Clay. Shelly came to Haiti to adopt a child, but learned that the mother very much wanted to keep her child but was unable to as she could not support her. So, rather than adopt, Shelly began an organization which taps into the Haitian creativity by teaching parents how to create pottery, jewellery, clothing and more. With these new skills, and their involvement at the Apparent Project, parents are then able to support their families and maintain a good standard of living. There is also a free daycare at the Apparent Project, which cares for children while their parents are at work. A standard for us, yet much needed for Haitian families. To learn more about what they do, and support their cause through their online store, visit Apparent Project’s website at http://www.apparentproject.org/.

After our visit we then travelled back, through busy traffic, to Wall’s Guest House. We wrapped up our day with a discussion question on some of the “why’s” that have been running through our minds about things we have seen or heard in Haiti. We ended the day early, to rest before tomorrow’s drive to Wings of Hope in Jacmel.