When we started an English program, our hope for the students was that they would be blessed with an opportunity to learn English, which is a door to other opportunities, including a chance to gain employment and with it, the ability for a better economic future, for them and potentially their entire family. We had no ability to even imagine what was actually going to occur.
This group of students worked on their own time to learn English, it is an extra-curricular activity for them and takes place on Saturday and Sunday. The community in which they live is an economically depressed (even by Haitian standards) community and English language classes are not within reach. We do not know of any within walking distance of the neighborhood and none of them are free of charge to the student. Additionally, they have limited access to ANYONE that speaks English, making the learning process an even bigger challenge. The determination and commitment to learning in these students is remarkable.
We gathered at 4 pm with the English Program students, the English Professor (Lorry), the School Administrator (Guerline), our Director of in Country Operations (Angelo), many Haitian friends and tons of neighborhood kids for a formal graduation ceremony
To our surprise and delight, Guerline had arranged to have cake and juice for everyone as well.
Guerline is on a mission to change her community, for the past 4 years, she has dedicated her life (her time, her talents and her treasure) to providing food, safety, education and love to the young people in her neighborhood. She is truly a remarkable human being. If it wasn’t or Guerline, we would have no English Program and these students would have no graduation today
After the diplomas were handed out, Guerline ( who was also a graduate of the English Program!!) continued to do what she always does, surprise us all with her outpouring of love for everyone!
Guerline and several students prepared a performance to celebrate the graduation, the students, the English Program and Kolej Project – by thanking the one who made it all possible. Words would not suffice in describing the performance, so a video is included with this blog post.
I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to know each one of these people, for the blessing they are in my life, for the inspiration they give me every day, and for Guerline, who is an example of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself and what it looks like to do to others as you would want them to do to you.
I pray today that I can grow to become more like Guerline and love her neighborhood in the truly selfless way that she does.