Teaching in Haiti

The Teaching and Learning with Compassion Teaching team has just completed our first week of teaching.

It has been an amazing experience with the people of Haiti. The extremes of life exist here. The intensity of life at polar opposites that depend upon each other for existance. Unless you have been here it is very difficult to describe with full understanding. Perhaps, no where in the world does one see such trauma and joy and desperation and pride.

The earthquake of January 12 has not stopped people from needing. Needing hope, love, food, shelter and the touch of another human being. People smile while sitting and selling fruit in the hot sun, children walk with their parents to school singing, and men pick stones from a home that has collapsed as they share water from a plastic bag.

What can we do here to change the need? My team has felt such extremes if only for one week thus far. The need for change demands the acknowledgement that smething is very very wrong. How does one end the extremes and give fresh life here? The compassionate hearts of TLC not only bind us together but also to the people here. We did not know one another very well before coming to Haiti. However now it is like we have all always been friends.

As we teach in sweltering heat, we know that what we give goes deep. The Haitian teachers are keen, open to change and full of spirit. Our senses our bursting with the vibrant colour and frenzy in the streets, the rich flavours of food,  and the constant sounds of life. We know that once we leave the sameness will continue.

TLC feels so privileged to represent not only Canadian teachers but all of you who have contributed to the people we are able to serve. Thank-you for supporting us.