Example of Choix art project, described in detail below.
Sixth grade artist depicting (left) greatest fear: gang violence (“give me money”), and (right) source of courage: his mother, a street vendor who sells food products,
which she produces herself.
Update from Haiti
Conditions on the ground in Haiti continue to be turbulent and unpredictable, at best. The country’s most powerful gangs have maintained a stronghold on transportation gateways, not only presenting safety and security challenges but also constricting all access to fuel and other resources for months. A seven-day reprieve was announced in mid-November to permit fuel deliveries; however, at the time of this mailing, there is no end in sight to the political stand-off.
Notwithstanding these conditions, Choix was able to remain open and to operate fully, consistently and safely throughout its Fall trimester, thanks to the faithful support from our contributors and the stalwart commitment of our team! Our students participated in classes and in our after school activities, received their full nutritional and health program, and completed their end-of-term exams this past Friday.
Several of Choix’s younger students who live near campus chat and catch up on the day’s events while waiting for their caregivers to walk them home.
The results of those exams demonstrate the profound value of Choix’s practically perfect attendance rate, even under these tumultuous circumstances. Student performance does not seem to be impacted and final marks were very much in line with prior years’ consistently impressive levels – a major achievement not only for our students but also for our faculty!
While most other programs throughout Haiti have had no choice but to close early for lack of resources, we implemented a solid strategy since the beginning of the term that allowed us to complete the academic program for this trimester once exams were completed. We will re-open for second term on January 10, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
Fourth grade professor Wastoode continues his work after the school day concludes for the afternoon, grading exams that demonstrate encouraging student progress.
As is the norm for Choix, attendance has been practically perfect and, in over ten years of operation, nothing that has happened around us has caused us to miss a payroll period for our staff. When our contributors are there for us, we figure out a way to be here for our students, our faculty and our staff.
None of these accomplishments diminish the almost suffocating toll of the traumatic environment in which we work every day. Our students and staff face hardships, loss, risks and danger that no one ever should have to confront merely to access or provide quality education. Yet, their commitment bears witness to the profound value of Choix, and to all that our contributors help us to achieve every day.
Thank you.
Exam week is not only about testing our students. Choix’s end-of-trimester schedule also includes a comprehensive review of learning materials from the entire term, ensuring that they have the greatest potential for mastery of subjects and lessons.
Student Project:
“My Fears, and My Refuge”
Our students witness current events in Haiti not only through communication networks such as radio and social media, but sadly at times through their own eyes. The purpose of this creative project was to allow them to process these extremely traumatizing experiences and to help them through creative expression to explore their thoughts and feelings around them. Given Choix’s emphasis on transparency and honesty in all we do, we wanted to allow every student to practice critical thinking in a safe space, even when it might be scary or uncomfortable. Specifically, our students are afraid that these same acts of violence may happen in their own lives, because they know that they are happening to people close to them.
Students’ drawings were shared with student sponsors, and we include several example images here. On the left side of each drawing, students were asked to identify their greatest fear at this time. We asked them to consider when they are most uncomfortable, what are they afraid of, what are the fears they have for themselves, for their family, what has affected them, their friends and their country? In the majority of the images, sadly, we see a great deal of violence, people being threatened in violent ways, including firearms.
On the right side of each page, we asked our students to illustrate what brings them a sense of peace; we asked them when they feel brave, courageous, strong, or comforted. What was beautiful was that they offered drawings in many cases of the people in their lives; a neighbor who walks them to the bus stop, people at home, at Choix, those who provide them with a sense of security and protection.
It is so important to know that they feel that they have these connections and relationships throughout their community, especially in this time when there is so much that we all are missing. It is profound to acknowledge that we still have so much that makes our lives stronger, safer and healthier.
Fifth grade artist: (left), kidnapping students, gang violence (“give me $5,000,” “I don’t have any money”), (right) arriving at Choix’s campus, safe space.
Third grade artist: (left), darkness (no electricity, no candles), being alone, snakes, (right) being with friends “my friend doesn’t have a face because I have lots of friends!”
Second grade artist: (left) gun violence, (right) student explained that he reads his schoolbook to his neighbor, feels safe when he is in the company of this male adult, and comforted when he is able to share these school lessons involving a bigger world outside of Haiti.
First grade artist: (left) insects, germs, gun violence, darkness, house breaking in earthquake, (right) her family – siblings and parents.
Giving Thanks
Choix is able to serve its community as a source of safety and strength only because of the generosity of its contributors. This Thanksgiving, we are so incredibly grateful to the contributors who make this work possible. In the midst of these turbulent times – in Haiti and throughout the world – support from our contributors shows our community that they have not been abandoned.
Will you make a gift today to partner with Choix so we can continue to serve as a haven of strength and hope to our community for the future?
Your contribution will show Choix students that they are not alone. Together, we will make our students’ drawings of peace and courage a lasting reality for themselves and for their families.
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