I’m always eager to tell my friends that some good things are happening in the midst of what often seems like a hopeless situation in Haiti. And I’m proud to be a small part of this endeavor, a feeling shared by my wife Jean.

Ray D., of Cumberland, MD

Today, January 12th, marks the 2 year anniversary of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince.  My heart breaks when I think about that day and all the suffering that has happened since.

Our Haitian partners reinforce what’s appearing in the news this week:  that little has changed for the majority of people in and around the city since the earthquake.  More than 550,000 people continue to live in tent communities, and much of the rubble remains uncleared.  I find it so frustrating to read about what a small percentage of the aid pledged to help rebuild Haiti has actually been sent directly to Haiti, how much that has been allocated or given remains unspent, and how Haitian organizations have been excluded from the rebuilding process.  (Click here to read an article by Bill Quigley and Amber Ramanauskas about where money pledged or given to rebuild Haiti did or did not go.)

At the same time, I am so grateful to rest in the knowing that your donations to the What If? Foundation have made an incredible difference in the lives of thousands of children and their families in the Ti Plas Kazo neighborhood of Port-au-Prince.  Your gifts have funded nutritious meals, school scholarships, and other educational opportunities that have brought hope to the community.   And as our program liaison Lavarice Gaudin shared with me this week, the way this support is given is so important: “We’re small and can’t help everyone.  But whatever we do, we do with dignity and love.  Piti piti na rive.”

Amidst the rubble and the injustices, we continue to walk hand in hand with our partners in Haiti to bring these community-based programs to the children who need them, day-in and day-out.  We are grateful for what we’ve been able to accomplish together, both before and after the earthquake. This spirit of hope, collaboration, faith, and sharing is what has sustained us for the last 12 years.

Thank you for being on this journey with us.  And thank you for your donations, which are critical to our reaching our goal of keeping the food and education programs going strong as we prepare to build a safe, permanent home for them, as well as a much-needed neighborhood school.  At this time of remembering and reflection, we invite you to tell your friends about the What If? Foundation and why you support us.  As you know, every donation, whatever its size, will help make a life-changing difference in Haiti.

This afternoon, Lavarice and other members of the Ti Plas Kazo community will hold a candlelight vigil for those who lost their lives in the earthquake and for those who survived.  We will be with them in spirit as we light our candles, and invite you to join us as well.

Thank you for your continued support and for your prayers this week and always,

Margaret

Margaret Trost
Founder, What If? Foundation

As 2011 comes to a close, all of us at the What If? Foundation want to express our gratitude to you for helping us give the gift of hope to so many children in Haiti.

We wish you much love and happiness during the holidays and in the new year!

Margaret, Caitlin, Pamela and the What If? Foundation’s Board of Directors

There are also 2 other ways you can support the programs we fund in Haiti during the holidays and all year long:

1) Consider the gift of Margaret Trost’s book, On That Day Everybody Ate: One Woman’s Story of Hope and Possibility in Haiti. You can read more about the book on Amazon.com. (One friend of What If? decided to give a copy of the book to each of her 8 nieces and nephews for Christmas, so that they could all learn a bit more about Haiti and the What If? Foundation!)

2) Sign up for GoodSearch (which includes GoodShop and GoodCoupons) so that a donation is made to the What If? Foundation each time you shop online or search the internet.

Again, thank you all for your support!

Not long ago, I was talking with Lavarice Gaudin, our Program Liaison in Haiti, and he said something simple and profound that I’ve been reflecting on ever since:

“The best thing we can do for this world is to care for each other.”

With so much suffering taking place in Haiti and across the globe, I find myself overwhelmed at times by the magnitude and injustice of it all.  And then I go back to Lavarice’s words, which remind me of the importance of reaching out, however we can, in a spirit of love and solidarity.

As the second anniversary of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti approaches, I am touched and inspired by the caring each one of you has shown by being on this journey with us.  Each meal served to a hungry child, each school scholarship given to a young person eager to learn, each summer camp or after-school activity, would not be possible without the compassion and generosity of you, our donors.

And now, as the year comes to a close, we reach out to you for your support to help ensure that the programs we fund in the Ti Plas Kazo neighborhood of Port-au-Prince continue.  Together with our Haitian partners, step by step, with respect and heart, we remain committed to supporting the children.  Every dollar you send is appreciated and used carefully to provide nourishment and educational opportunities during these difficult times.

As many of you know, we are moving forward with plans to build a school for impoverished children and a kitchen/cafeteria on the land the What If? Foundation purchased last year in the Ti Plas Kazo neighborhood.  This building project, now in the architectural drawing stage, will offer the programs a permanent, safe location and room to grow into the future.

But right now it is the food and education programs that need your support.  I hope you will consider making a year-end contribution to help us ensure that the meals keep flowing and that children can continue to benefit from all the education programs in 2012.

Thank you for your caring, your continued support, and your prayers.  They are beautiful expressions of love in action.

“Little by little…”,
Margaret
Margaret Trost
Founder, What If? Foundation

When elections were proposed for leadership positions in the club, over 50 of the young students chose to run for office, and each one of them delivered a campaign speech.  A 12-year-old girl was elected EDC president, and she works closely with the other 5 students who were elected to leadership positions. (See photo of the whole EDC leadership team on the right.) The students participating in this new program are all getting the chance to practice presentation, collaboration, leadership, creative thinking and other useful skills through this process.

Our partners are excited to see discussions and debates continuing beyond the weekend meetings, and engaging other members of the community.  Their vision is that this club will, over the long term, help stimulate entrepreneurial business development.

The dance teacher, Mona, is excited to see the confidence of so many of the boys and girls grow as they perform for each other in class and for others at community events. Max, the music teacher, says his classes are also nurturing self-esteem. He is delighted to see so much joy and enthusiasm in his classes, and is amazed at the talent that is emerging.