\/==\/==\/==\/==\/==\/==\/==\/==\/==\/==\/==\/==\/==\/==\/ Windows on Our Worlds E-News April 2004: Volume 1, Number 1 /\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\ WINDOWS ON OUR WORLDS is a free e-newsletter from Partners in Progress (PIP), a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation registered in Pennsylvania.  Donations are tax deductible. Visit our website at www.PIPHaiti.org where back issues of Windows on Our Worlds E-News will be archived. © Copyright Partners in Progress (PIP) 2004 __________________________________________________________ CONTENTS University of Fondwa 2004 Inauguration St. Antoine School in Fondwa New Sponsorship program: “Education for Change“ Medical Laboratory progress Rich in Mercy (RIM) “Skip a Lunch, Save a Child” _________________________________________________________ UNIVERSITY OF FONDWA 2004 BORN IN JANUARY After two years of planning involving delegates from 5 countries, the vision of a “university of the mountains“ became a reality when the University of Fondwa 2004 officially opened on January 4, 2004. Archbishop Serge Miot traveled to Fondwa from Port au Prince to celebrate mass on the grounds of the St. Antoine School.  Pictures are available at the Virtual Visit link on the PIP website:  www.PIPHaiti.org ! The Fondwa community CELEBRATED this even with music and dancing and a wonderful meal prepared for more than 300 people in the visitors’ center kitchen! The university has enrolled 20 students and classes began on January 12. The administration and classroom building as well as the library and computer lab are located a short distance from the APF commercial center in Tomb Gato.  Student residences are located nearby. Partners in Progress is acting as the fiscal sponsor for the university project and has made development grants for the US based UNIF development office and for infrastructure needs in Fondwa totaling more than US $50,000. More information about UNIF is available on the PIP website and on the UNIF website. PIP is currently focused on raising funds to cover the cost of food, water, and transportation for the students and staff and on raising US $40,000 to fund the Makaya Water Project, which will provide water for students and staff as well as an estimated 300 additional residents of Tomb Gato. __________________________________________________________ 2. LEKOL SEN ANTWAN (St. Antoine School) The St. Antoine School has 621 children enrolled this academic year. Thanks to grants from Partners in Progress and Family Health Ministries APF has stable funding to cover the salaries of the 35 teachers and staff members.  Grants from PIP and FHM have also made it possible to reopen a daily lunch program for the children, a program that had to be discontinued temporarily until new funding for it could be arranged.  PIP is most grateful to Betty Hanigan and the Haiti Committee of Sacred Heart Church in Pittsburgh, PA for their determined and successful efforts to provide the necessary funds for 50% of the teachers’ salaries and for partial funding for the lunch program.  Mesi Anpil! Thanks to a grant from a donor organization in France the school campus has a new playground complete with slides, swings, and other play equipment. __________________________________________________________ 3. NEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY:  “EDUCATION FOR CHANGE “ After hearing PIP Acting Ex. Director’s description of the community-based model of sustainable development that APF is testing in Fondwa, Carrie Masterson of Jeannette, PA felt a need to do something to support it. She has created a new sponsorship program called “Education for Change“.  Working through her church, family, and friends, Carrie is asking for US $5 a month, a sum that amounts to “pocket change“ but that will help support APF educational programs especially the University of Fondwa.  More information will be posted on the PIP website as this program develops. Donations can be made online by going to the PIP secure donations page. __________________________________________________________ 4. MEDICAL LABORATORY PROGRESS PIP board member Rosemary Edwards, MD, a pathologist at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, has been spearheading the planning and installation of a medical laboratory in Fondwa that will expand the health care services provided through the APF medical clinic.  She spent 10 days in Fondwa in February in order to move the project forward and to provide some community health training to the women’s group with which long-term volunteer Renate Schneider has been working. More information about the Medical laboratory is available on the Development Projects in Fondwa page. __________________________________________________________ 4. RICH IN MERCY “SKIP A LUNCH, SAVE A CHILD“ The Calvary United Methodist Church of Ligonier, PA under the leadership of Pastor Bill Pieringer has taken the “Skip a Lunch, Save a Child“ program as its focus for Lent 2004. PIP (acting) Executive Director, Rich Gosser, addressed the congregation during a Sunday worship service to share the mission of Partners in Progress and Rich in Mercy and to explain the “Skip a Lunch, Save a Child“ program that helps provide daily educational enrichment and nutritious meals to more than 50 pre-schoolers in the St. Louis de Montfort parish in Port au Prince. Sr. Eileen Davey is in charge of this “head start“ program that was initiated by the pastor of St. Louis de Montfort, Fr. Nicolas Gerard.  “Skip a Lunch, Save a Child“ is a sponsorship program created by a Rich in Mercy “reverse mission“ participant Marlene Shaw of Republic, PA, who also administers the program for Rich in Mercy. Judy Colvin of Connellsville, PA is also a booster of this program that invites people to commit to donating US $5 every month (about the price of a lunch) to support Sr. Eileen’s preschool program in Haiti.. “Mesi anpil“ to the more than 50 participants from Calvary United Methodist Church who are giving up meals during Lent and donating the money to PIP for this program! Click here to learn more about “Skip a Lunch, Save a Child“. Rich in Mercy is the “faith based“ division of PIP that promotes elements of the Fondwa model of sustainable development by helping to support numerous clinics, schools, orphanages, and vocational programs in addition to the APF projects in Fondwa.  __________________________________________________________ ABOUT PARTNERS IN PROGRESS Partners in Progress is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our mission is to promote and support a community-based model of sustainable rural development in Haiti through educational outreach and resource networking.  Learn more about us at http://www.PIPHaiti.org SUPPORT US The support of our friends is essential for to be able to carry out our mission. You can donate to PIP online by visiting our donations page.  Questions about donations should be directed to donations@PIPHaiti.org. YOUR PRIVACY The WOW e-mail list is used exclusively for the distribution of this newsletter and for communicating with you.  E-mail addresses of our subscribers are never sold, traded or given to any other organization. QUESTIONS? FEEDBACK? We welcome your feedback and your questions. Send your email inquiries or comments to info@PIPHaiti.org CONTACT INFORMATION Partners In Progress 329 N. Fairfield Street 724.238.9204 info@PIPHaiti.org