I got a message from Angelo today. He said he needed to tell me something and it was very important.
If you’re like me, just the wording of a request like this causes concern. "I need to tell you something important" usually means bad news, or disappointing news or at a minimum something is about to change and it may not be what you want to hear.
I admit, I did have some of these thoughts/reactions. I thought, uh oh, what happened? But like anyone who has worked in Haiti and developed relationships with Haitians, I also know that Haitians have a very direct, limited details and no nonsense way of communicating. SO I also thought this could also be a communication about one of the colleges or possibly a newly discovered “fee” (which is also a very common occurrence, there is the price or cost of something, then when payment is made, there are previously undisclosed fees for things we all assume are part of the stated fee – not so much in Haiti)
So, in this case, my experience caused me to be more curious than concerned. In this case, I was about to be really surprised.
When I finally had the time to connect with Angelo, here is what he wanted to tell me – this is copied directly from the message he sent:
"There is something I want to talk to you about. Something wrong and I am so sorry for that.
What happened is when I have taken the exchange rate, it was at a bank which is not western union. And when you have sent me the money for the college, it was completely different from what thought it would be with the exchange.
Where I have taken the exchange rate it is at 64 gourdes per dollars. Like for 1$ they would give me 64 gourdes. But at the western union it is at 65.5 gourdes per dollars. So the money you have sent is 16$ more than what it should be. It mean, you where supposed to send me, I am so sorry."
Sixteen dollars. An extra Sixteen dollars.
I sent what he asked for and that turned out to me Sixteen dollars too much after the funds were exchanged.
Sixteen dollars that we would never have known was overpaid for tuition. Sixteen dollars that he could have just put in his pocket.
Sixteen dollars that Angelo brought to our attention because he thought he was responsible for the overpayment and didn’t want to misuse the funds. I was without words.
I thought about how and why this occurred. What about this situation / relationship was so different than that of so many other organizations in Haiti have (or at least what is reported).
I think it’s a result of years of doing things differently in Haiti, one person at a time. I think it’s a result of working with individuals, one on one, developing skills and providing opportunities. I think it’s our mission to include Haitians IN the organization, and not just in the programs.
Sixteen dollars. This is the character of our Director on In Country Operations. Years of building trust, investing in his life, advising, supporting, encouraging, counseling, and expanding his responsibilities - this is the person he has grown to be.
What a joy and honor for all of us to see the fruits of our efforts over years, working with people one on one, as individuals – for the long term.
Everyday Angelo makes sure our programs are operating and everything is running smoothly in Haiti. He is also setting an example.
We could not be more proud of his character and that he is a part of our organization and our family.