What You’ve Been Missing
When I was presented with the opportunity to visit a very dear friend at the new organization he is working at in Haiti, I felt honored that Jonathan would ask me to come help out. As a teacher, I have time throughout the summer to do things that I truly enjoy, like going to Haiti and helping out friends. This trip would serve as more than just a way to help Haiti and help out a friend- but expose me to many new experiences as well. I would get to experience a new organization in a different part of a country that I already loved.
Admittedly, I didn’t do much research about Mercy Beyond Borders before going on my trip. I just went trusting that Jonathan was a part of something great and was happy to share that with me. My grandmother asked me several questions about the organization before I went, and I was unable to answer her. I told her I would inform her when I returned. I have learned that MBB is an organization that is all about providing education to young women who otherwise wouldn’t be able to continue going to school.
Something that truly hits home as a teacher and a young woman who values education. So often we take for granted in the United States the fact that we are provided with free public education when so many others in the world are not provided this as an undeniable right and natural part of life. My eyes were opened to this on my very first trip to Haiti in 2013. Knowing what I know now about MBB and the way in which education is provided to girls, I’m so very glad that I got involved when Jonathan invited me to visit.
During my first week at MBB, I got to help out with the Leadership Camp. The leader of this week, Jenn is a great person and I’m so glad that I got to meet her as well. Jenn was such a wonderful leader and role model to the girls throughout the week. She spoke about many things, like trusting others, staying true to yourself, and being confident. I also had the wonderful privilege of meeting Sr. Marilyn Lacey during the week at Leadership Camp. She took many opportunities to speak to the girls. Not only could you see visibly that the girls were getting something wonderful out of this experience, I too felt as though I was learning from Sr. Marilyn.
Sr. Marilyn talked about how we can learn leadership skills from nature and about the “power pose” that can boost your confidence. We all did the “power pose” together for a minute. A powerful minute that I will never forget. Being surrounded by these wonderful up and coming leaders in their communities- hope for Haitian women in that moment. We wrapped up the week with a wonderful reflection night in which the girls were able to share the growth they felt through the week and how they were affected. At this time I shared with the girls that I had no idea what I was coming down to do other than help out a good friend, Jonathan, at MBB, and how glad I am that I got to be a part of their leadership development. I’m so grateful that I got to know these girls through the course of the week.
During my second week at MBB, I had the wonderful privilege of working side by side with the Haitian Scholarship Coordinator, Evadly. Evadly is a lively spirit who loves the girls she works with. We spent much of our time visiting schools in Gros Morne to obtain 4th quarter scores and 9th grade exam results. We also worked diligently on an inventory of textbooks for all grades 7th through 13th and re-organizing the filing system of the folders of the girls’ information. It was such a wonderful experience to get to help Evadly. She would proudly introduce me to everyone we met as the woman who came to give her training. It’s such a breath of fresh air to be welcomed so much and see the desire for improvement among the staff at MBB.
As a kindergarten teacher in the state of Rhode Island, I had a very humbling moment while walking through the MBB women’s center one afternoon. Madame Anne was teaching her literacy class and I saw this much older woman at the board working diligently on writing the alphabet. From my prior experience in Haiti, I know that many are illiterate and a significant number of older people cannot read and write. As I walked through I decided to quickly grab my phone to snap a few photos of this woman. When she finished writing the alphabet I asked if I could grab a photo of her displaying her work. She proudly turned around and smiled so brightly. Madame Anne then told me that the woman in the class was 85 years old and had informed her when she started the classes that she “wants to learn how to write her name before she dies”. I was immediately overwhelmed with emotion, smiled and quickly walked away at which point Iwas overwhelmed with tears. Such a simple thing as writing one’s name that we in the USA learn how to do by 5 years old this 85 year old woman desired to learn how to do. Haiti gets to me yet again!
I’m so very grateful to Jonathan for inviting me down to see his “new” life at MBB and have him share with me the experiences that he gets to have there. It was refreshing to be a part of an organization that is truly making a difference in the lives of the 180 scholars that it services, not to mention the women the center serves. I am eager to find out how life will continue to allow me to be involved at MBB and support the work that is being done here.
A great thank you to the women at MBB, the girls that I met at Leadership Camp, Jenn, Evadly, Sister Marilyn, and most of all my friend Jonathan for getting me involved in something that I didn’t know I was missing until now. Until next time, my heart remains ever hopeful in the wonderful work that MBB is doing for the future women of Haiti!
Amanda ❤
