March 2004 Dear Friends of PIP and Haiti: The recent tragic events in Haiti have had a severe impact on the country and the majority of Haitians, already struggling to survive, are now pushed even closer to the brink.  Recently gasoline was selling for US $5 a gallon. The resulting jump in transportation costs has caused proportionate increases in the prices of everything else.  Already living in the third hungriest country in the world, Haitians are even less able now to feed themselves and their families. We are eager to reassure you that Fr. Joseph and all our APF friends in Port au Prince and Fondwa are safe although no one in Port au Prince has been immune from the disruptions of ordinary life and the fear and anxiety resulting from the insecurity experienced in the absence of the rule of law during the past month. In Fondwa life has continued pretty much as usual. The St. Antoine School, closed for the week of Mardi Gras and for an additional week because of the difficulty of traveling during the violent uprising that marked much of the country, is open normally now and the children have returned to their studies.  The University of Fondwa, which began classes with 20 students on January 12, also experienced some temporary disruption after the Mardi Gras break, but has now resumed classes. Some of the international staff had to return home because of concerns about their security, but APF members educated outside of Haiti have stepped in to continue the classes. The other APF projects continue to operate and even the bakery is expected to reopen sometime in 2004. That the slow but steady development of the Fondwa region continues unabated in spite of the recent events is a continuing sign of HOPE in a troubled land. It is uncertain what final political resolution will come out of the turmoil that Haiti is experiencing now. Whatever the outcome, however, we are confident that APF will continue working to build a community model of sustainable rural development that can bring hope to other parts of Haiti while at the same time making life better for the people of Fondwa.  Partners in Progress will continue working “man nan men” (“hand in hand”) with APF in order to prove that the organized poor CAN solve the problems they face IF they have the tools that they need. Thank you to all our friends and benefactors for your faithful support for Partners in Progress and our APF collaborators. Now, more than ever, we need to continue working together in concrete and practical solidarity with the organized poor of Haiti!   Together we CAN make their world, and OURS, a better place for everyone! Sincerely yours, Dr. Richard A. Gosser (Acting) Executive Director