The Vision

For over a decade the What If? Foundation has shared a vision with our Haitian partners for creating a neighborhood school for impoverished children. Finally, this vision is starting to become a reality. Our partners want this school to be a model for what’s possible in terms of education for the poor in Haiti, and hope that it will prepare students academically while also teaching them practical skills that will help them support themselves after graduation. It will also include a kitchen and eating area where students as well as other hungry children can be fed.

We are currently working with a team of builders, all affiliated with Builders Without Borders, to bring this vision into reality. In the months ahead, once a design and cost estimates for the project have been determined, the What If? Foundation will launch a building campaign to raise funds for the project.

We will continue to use this page to keep you informed about the building process, which we are committed to undertaking in a sound and sustainable manner. In the meantime, thank you to each and every one of you for helping us hold and manifest our vision for creating a permanent home for the food and education programs on this new land. We could not do it without you!

Purchase of the land

After the earthquake, the What If? Foundation purchased a half acre of land in Port-au-Prince, about a mile away from the St. Clare’s rectory. (See photo at right.) This purchase was prompted by news that the new priest of St. Clare’s planned to use the rectory building, where the food program was housed for more than 11 years, for other purposes.

Using the land while waiting for construction to begin

In the spring of 2010, the education program office and the summer camp and after-school programs relocated to a rented house next to the new property. While waiting for paperwork to be processed and other necessary steps to be taken so that the building process can begin, our Haitian partners cleared a portion of the new land for use by the annual summer camp, for outdoor classes and to give the children plenty of room to play games. In addition, a covered seating area was built so that the education team would have a space to use for student and parent meetings and other gatherings.

In September 2011, the food program moved out of the St. Clare’s rectory. Food for the program is now being prepared in a temporary kitchen, set up on the side of a cook’s house, and transported to a site next to the new land, where it is served on tables under temporary tarp structures.

Our building partners: Builders Without Borders

We are grateful to be working to build the school and cafeteria with a talented team of builders: architect Martin Hammer, engineer Henri Mannik, and builder Andy Mueller. (On the right is a photo of Martin and Henri with Lavarice on the new property.) They are all affiliated with Builders Without Borders (BWB), an international network of builders dedicated to natural and culturally-sensitive building. (See below for more information about the building team and their approach to the project.)

Having visited the new property, spent time talking with our Haitian partners, and observed the programs we fund in Haiti, the team is now in the phase of creating preliminary design options. Once a design is approved and we have clear cost estimates for the project, we’ll look forward to sharing this information with our donors so that we can begin working together to raise the funds to make this vision a reality. Our hope is to begin building a perimeter security wall around the new property and to launch the first phase of the construction process in early 2012.

Some of the reasons we chose to partner with this team from Builders Without Borders

1) They have experience in a variety of sustainable building systems with successful experience in hurricane and earthquake resistant design and engineering, some of it in post-earthquake Haiti.

2) They have demonstrated respect for and understanding of Haitian culture, a commitment to working closely with our Haitian partners, and a keen sensitivity to the challenges and complexities of this project.

3) They are committed to employing local workers and expertise, providing jobs for Haitians.

4) They will use local building materials where possible, thereby supporting the Haitian economy.

5) Martin, Henri and Andy have all read Margaret’s book and have read about Father Gerry’s life, and are as excited as we are about what we hope to build with our partners in Port-au-Prince!