CRS visit

Peter, Espwa's Project manager, Berthony, our Director, Michelet, Engineer manager for CRS and Greg, Supervisor of the CRS Program.
The ribbon is about to be cut to officially inaugurate the food distribution center at Castel-Pere. All those who had a hand in this project were there. Our kids put on a "really good shew" (remember ed Sullivan?). We look foward to more projects with CRS in the future that will benefit us and the folks in our area.

Food Distribution Center

Here's a long shot of the Food Distribution Center with yours truly. The doors ARE forest green as hoped for. All the folks who worked on this building are very proud as they should be. Thanks to USAID and CRS for this opportunity.

Food Depot

Hard to get a sense of the size of it from this photo but the food depot is a whopping 3,600 square feet. It will be the central food storage area for our food, the food that CRS-USAID provides and the dry food for the Work for Peace Program. It is funded by USAID.

CRS training

The folks from CRS have been really present these last couple of days. Two reps from CRS spent all morning yesterday and this morning doing some training on the rights and responsibilities of children. There was good attendance and lots of positive feedback. Good going, CRS.

Dry food distribution

One of our security staff, a beneficiary and the local, elected official.

Here was the scene yesterday when we distributed food to 200 families in the area.

USAID through their agent, Catholic Relief Services, will be providing dry food for 800 families living in our area. The folks come to our center and the distribution is made for a month. We provide the infrastructure (personnel and space) which is taxing but well, well worth it! The program will last a year. A huge thanks to the American people for this help.

Reality Check

It rained cats and dogs yesterday morning which put a real damper on the construction of the new house. Both the electrician and the plumber were delayed (yes, there will be indoor plumbing!) so we hope that today will present itself with sunny skies. Man proposes and God disposes, oui?
Jeff McIntosh and Dr. Jean-Marie Banatte of CRS-Haiti came for a visit yesterday morning and so did reps from Farmer to Farmer, an organization that matches our agricultural needs with an experienced farmer. That went very well so we are looking forward to a long and healthy relationship with this group. I had the opportunity to meet the new director of the local prison who appeared very concerned about the welfare of the prison and the inmates. Will be meeting him again soon to discuss possible ways of collaborating.