LASALLIAN LASALLIAN
VISIONS VISIONS FLORIDA
BROTHERS THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS H DISTRICT EASTERN NORTH AMERICA BROTHERS OFOF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS H DISTRICT OFOF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
JANUARY 2015 • NO. 11
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
FEBRUARY 2017 • NO. 18
HAITI
ONE SCHOOL, AMIDST THE ENDLESS CHAOSPOSSIBILITIES JAMAICA
For the island nation of Haiti, destruction and rebuilding are common themes. In a seemingly fruitless cycle, as the people of Haiti pick themselves up from the 2010 “...A NURTURING, PEACEFUL earthquake, they faced Hurricane Matthew’s OF of the wrath on October 4,PLACE 2016. Much awayENVIRONMENT...A
THE LASALLIAN MISSION GROWS
Continued generosity locally helps the Lasallian Family an ocean
JOY AND HOPE...”
— BR. TIMOTHY FROEHLICH, FSC
CAPTION
College St. Jean Baptiste de La Salle brings stability and hope to the children of Haiti.
A Look at the College Saint Jean Baptiste de La Salle in Haiti southwestern section of the country
Like a ripple in water, a single source of hope and charity can have far-reaching effects. Two years after its opening, and four years after the earthquake that devastated the island nation of Haiti, College Saint Jean Baptiste de La Salle is providing valuable resources beyond academia and inspiring Lasallian students to get involved. Executive Director for Mission and Ministry Alan Weyland, has made six trips to Haiti, serving as primary liaison for the District of Eastern North America and their partners in the District of Antilles-South Mexico. More than simply checking on progress, the visits are meant to build relationships with the people of the community. “We’re engaged in seeing what their needs are and what we can do to meet some of those needs,” he said. Manhattan College sent their second volunteer group at the beginning of January of 2015 while La Salle University is sending their first group in February. The educational compound, which provides Pre-K to 6th grade with an all-Haitian teaching staff, has seen a significant increase in enrollment over two years, from only 78 students at its opening to 300, its maximum capacity. The School Children assemble in the courtyard Brothers looking possibly a separate structure between theirare current schoolinto building and thebuilding new building solely fortoPre-K, thusincreasing freeing space for future enrollment. They constructed help handle enrollment.
finds
itselfa rebuilding again.focused on vocations like also plan to implement middle school God’s grace,A the animal husbandry and By basic farming. hugeCollege step forSt.theJean school and the community Baptiste has been de theLa completion the water Salle near of Haiti’s capitalfiltration city, system, allowing students and teachers to enjoyThe clean, Port-au-Prince, was spared. needsconsumfor able water in addition sellingand it tothe thechildren community cheaper the toschool they atserve, rates than in the marketplaces. Fundraising however, have continuedprimarily to grow.provides Amidst incoming students with scholarships as well as some school supplies. this chaos, more than 500 children currently are However, resources nourished are not readily available despite efforts each day—intellectually, physically,such as DENA’s past threeand advent season fundraisers. Residents simply spiritually. They fill two classes at the Predo not have much toK spend on education. “To operate the school 3, Pre-K 4, Kindergarten, and first grade there’s a lot of help that’s needed financially,” said Alan. levels, with single classes in all other grades. District Director of Finance FSC, In an attemptBrother to keepTimothy pace withFroehlich, the climbing described his first trip to thepopulation, school. Hea was by how student new struck two-story, five the school’s nurturing, classroom peaceful environment drastically contrasted building has been constructed, and with the poverty offoundation the rest ofwork the area. He was also amazed at has been laid for another the joy and hope hebuilding saw intothe students. felt grades a great6 sense house middle “I school to 8. of pride that our Institute,Inand our district, is supporting this educaa recent trip, Brother Dennis Malloy, tional mission,” he said. “To see in action how our donations FSC, Provincial/Visitor of the District are working, touching the hearts ofNorth these kids, was very gratifying. of Eastern America, and Mr. Alan It does the heart good to witness such goodness...it certainly Weyland, Executive Director for touched the mine.” District’s Office for Mission & Ministry met (continued on page 4) continued on page 4