Happy Easter!

We had a wonderful Holy Week, where the Espwa children, staff, and community came together as we honored the death and resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ. The week was filled with joy and reflection, ending with the beautiful baptisms of 31 children.

We wish you all a wonderful and blessed Easter!

Welcome Home!

As most students throughout Haiti are on spring break this week, Espwa welcomed home their "transitioning" students that have spent this past year living on their own. 

Meeting in small groups, the students talked among one another and with an Espwa staff member about their experiences so far--what was working well, and how they thought the program could improve. It also was a wonderful opportunity for the students to reconnect with one another as many are in schools across the country. 

They were greeted by the Espwa community with love, laughter, and home-cooked meals prepared by some of Espwa's students and staff.

Thank you to all those who have supported our students as they make the difficult transition out of Espwa. To learn more or to make a donation so Espwa can continue to provide the resources to help our students succeed, please visit www.freethekids.org. 

Palm Sunday at Espwa!

 Espwa started mass this morning in front of the girls' village and continued with a procession to the church. The kids were all very enthusiastic about receiving their palms! 

Thank you for supporting Espwa. We wish you a happy Palm Sunday!

Espwa loves science!

Espwa was lucky to have engineering students from Valparaiso University come visit! In addition to collecting water samples and fixing things around the quad, the students taught daily science classes to our kids!  

Some of the topics included sound, momentum, electrostatics, and pressure! 

All the classes were hands-on and encouraged the kids to ask questions about why things work the way they do.

And of course there were fun crafts for the kids to enjoy as well. 

    

Thank you, Valpo!

Flurry of Activity!

We had an action packed week with Westside Presbyterian here! We had a team of doctors, who saw over 300 patients, including Espwa students, members of the community, and even students at Espwa's school in Camp Perrin. Thanks to their expertise and generosity they were able to provide the resources for much needed medication, and follow up care, such as scheduling sessions with an optometrist in town.

In addition, the group of students transitioning out of Espwa this year were able to benefit from the talented and insightful psychiatrist who was visiting with the group. He worked with them all week to discuss their anxieties and fears in anticipation of living outside of Espwa's gates.

Simultaneously, there was a team keeping the kids busy with tons of fun arts and crafts, ballet, and even a tea party! 

Last but not least, in addition to performing much needed maintenance on the kitchen's septic system and installing a new toilet and sink in the boys' village, Westside generously provided the funds and helped facilitate the installation of six solar lights in the boys village. With these lights, the boys now have light so they can safely play outside after dark or study for school, so they are not dependent on Haiti's inconsistent electricity.

Thank you all for sharing your incredible talents, energy, and love and for making Espwa an even better and more comfortable place for its children.

Happy International Women's Day!

We wish you a Happy International Women's Day! 

To celebrate, Espwa's incredible women were spotted around campus wearing a pin in honor of this special day, and Childcare facilitated a presentation with boys and girls talking about the importance of recognizing women's capabilities and achievements. 

Thank you to all of the wonderful women who make Espwa possible!

RIP Mimi

We are sad to announce that the quad's cat, Mimi, has passed away. She has lived at the quad for many years and has definitely surpassed her nine lives. After many pregnancies, it was her most recent pregnancy that was too much for her. Thank you to everyone who has cared for Espwa's animals!