Sister, Sister A Look Back on a 20-Year Partnership with Haiti

BY CATENYA MCHENRY

St. Stephen’s celebrates its 20-year partnership with Haitian sister school St. Etienne Episcopal School in rural Salmadere, Haiti. Initiated by former head of school Roger Bowen, John Moon, director of Orchestras and retired Biology teacher Johnny Wilson were the first participants. Their goal was to begin planning and planting seeds of support in the Central Plateau of Haiti and with the Haitian Episcopal Diocese.

“I thought it would be a good experience to get out of my comfort zone,” said Moon.

Through the years, the duo has traveled to Haiti countless times during the spring and summer months, accompanied by dozens of St. Stephen’s students and faculty members. Students have served in volunteer capacities, teaching music lessons, interacting with St. Etienne school children, and assisting wherever they're needed. They have worked to establish and build the sister school, implement and grow an agriculture project, a music program, provide instruments and muchneeded supplies and support.

“Over 20 years, there’s been good work done there, and because that school has been built, it has raised the bar for that community, so there’s a lot more support in other directions,” said Moon.

Wilson believes their work in Haiti has made a long-lasting positive impact not only on the school but also the economy.

“I’ve told the story of the woman who says when she goes to the market, she has pride and can hold her head up because she has cash to buy things, and she’s got stuff to sell. To be able to provide somebody with the means of feeling pride or better about themselves or their life, it’s priceless. That’s when you know that what you’re doing is really significant,” said Wilson.

Both Moon and Wilson have visited Haiti nearly every year since 2003, but political unrest, the global pandemic and natural disasters in Haiti have forced a two-year hiatus. They are both anxious to return. Moon says he has a closet full of instruments that he’s excited to donate. Until they can return, both men reflect on what the last 20 years have meant to them personally and how they have been changed for the better.

“For the people in that small, little community, they have more hope for the future than they did before, so hope is increasing,” said Wilson.

For Moon, the Haiti partnership has redefined what it means to be a good global citizen.

“It’s being able to connect with different cultures and to work together and to help and to give — to create something that is sustainable that is worthy and genuine,” said Moon. “If you’re a human being that connects that way then you are being a good global citizen, then you’re not going there with biases. You’re going over there human to human, brothers and sisters, everyone is the same.”

Commemorative books are available for purchase in the St. Stephen's bookstore, $50 each (supplies are limited)