Back in October, I wrote about my friend Carlos (see “My Friend Carlos”). He continues to write emails to me when he can get access to a computer. In this time when it is not possible for us to travel to Haiti, Carlos has become an important, reliable source of news about the people of the Ecovillages and the school. In a recent email, he wrote about the present situation:
“At the moment things are very complicated in the villages. The land is completely dry, deserted, with no planting because the rainy season has not yet started. During this period the villagers have no activity.
The rainy season gives them activity. They will work together in their gardens when all the villages are green and very beautiful. When the rainy season arrives (this year), I don't think they will have the means to cultivate their land since they barely manage to find food once a day.
The current situation is extremely difficult for them. I could see it in 2 villages that I visited but my father told me that it is like that in all the villages. They share food with each other when possible. I saw my family feeding the children of another neighbor and it pleases my father very much to be able to help people even if he also needs help.
We are in the mango season. Some children eat them prematurely for lunch and sometimes for the whole day. They buy food on credit more often than not and cannot pay.
Once the mayor or the delegate of the city of Hinche sent a small bit of rice for them and my father took advantage to benefit the people who live near the villages because they are also in the same starvation situation.
The school hasn't been running for more than a month or so (as all schools in Haiti are shutdown during the pandemic). I think the kids will not lose the whole school year.”
An image from 2019 after the rains have arrived.
In the United States, losing your job may mean you have to drive to a food bank to be able to feed your family. But, in Haiti, there is no safety net; just going without. They share what little they have with each other. When they contact us, they ask “how are you doing?”
submitted by C. Calia