Children’s Culture ConnectionFostering peace by helping young Americans

Connect with other cultures

And make a difference in the lives of children in need worldwide

2

recently returnedfrom a visit to Haiti. Here'swhat she had to say duringher trip:

As I wrap up a five day visitto L'Athletique d'Haiti, theChildren's CultureConnection-supportedNGO that serves Haitianchildren in need, I realizethat I need to get thisexperience written down assoon as possible…partly infear that I may convincemyself that it was all just adream.

Although I always lookforward to my CCC tripsabroad to visit the kidsserved through ourprogram, I was nervouscoming here because Ireally only knew threethings about Haiti:

1. It is a politically unstablecountry in the Caribbean.

2. It is the poorest countryin the western hemisphere.

3. 80% of the people livebelow the poverty line.From what I have seen inonly five short days, there isno question that thosethings are true.

I saw United Nationssoldiers patrollingneighborhoods on foot,driving the streets inheavily armored vehicles,and running randomcheck points on streetcorners.

How To Take The Out Of The Boardroom

3

Haitian’s carry buckets of water on their head

4

All with their fingers on thetrigger of their assaultrifles, ready to engage at amoments notice.(Apparently all hell willbreak loose if they were towithdraw, and intimidationremains the name of thegame.)

I helped unload a trailerfilled with dried food aidfrom US non-profits andsaw it distributed to hungryfamilies with no otheroptions. For people whowonder where all thoseboxes of food packed bythe

volunteers and ends

up, here it is.

I also had the experience ofriding shotgun on a watertruck that distributes waterto a Port Au Prince slumthat looks like the

A place where thousandsline up to receive a bucketof water that must last themup to a week. Waiting inthe oppressive heat for abucket of water. Notconcert tickets, not a Wii,

not the latest video gameto hit the market...butwater. Just. Plain. Water.

Just Plain Water - Unbelievable

5The little red truck that could..... save more more lives every day.

6

The water truck is funded by aMinnesota-based charity organized by

, a retired Catholicpriest, in response to the lack of facilitiesprovided to the people of this slum.

As I stood alongside the water truckwatching the seemingly endless stream ofmen, women and children hoisting 5-gallon buckets of water up on their headto carry home, I wondered how long anelderly priest can carry on such a majorundertaking. I wondered what wouldhappen if the money stopped coming infrom his friends and parishioners thatsupport this.

I wondered if I would ever be able to takea guilt free bubble bath again.

However, while Haiti’s problems seemed so overwhelming at times it made my headhurt, the spirit of theHaitian people was sooverwhelming it made myheart melt.

Despite the harsh realitiesof their world, Haiti is alsoa country filled with color,chaos and a passion forlife...no matter how difficultthe lives there may be.Haiti's winding narrowstreets are filled withcolorful stores, billboards,bougainvillea bushes,

(artistic graffiti-coveredtaxis), and the lively sounds

of Compa music coming from nearly every streetcorner.

7

On breezy afternoons,kids fly colorfulhomemade kites(ingenious creationscrafted from plasticbags, a few sticks andsome string), and in theevenings, 'rah-rahbands' (rag-tag bands ofmusicians) stroll up anddown the streets in amake-shift parade,playing music, laughing,singing and basicallycelebrating anything atall. It’s like at the end of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” when eventhough the decorations and toys were gone the spirit of the people (or theWhos in Whoville) was still completely present.

It is this spirit of hope that radiatesoff of the Haitian people ...and inparticular, Robert Duval.

is not only thefounder of L'Athletique d'Haiti, he isa one-man revolution bringinghope and opportunity to theHaitian people and their childrenthrough his incredible program.(And to any of you who think thatthat I am high energy, intense, anddramatic. ...just wait until you meetBoby.) He is a former soccer star,political activist, political prisoner,and humanitarian-turned nonprofitfounder.

Twelve years ago he startedl'Athletique d'Haiti, a sports

8

training/educationprogram that captures thedreams of impoverishedHaitian kids, infuses theirworlds with structure,discipline, team-buildingand education, inaddition to one hot mealper day.

Often the only meal thesekids will have. Over theyears he has grown hisprogram from onetraining center to five andhe currently serves 1,300children around thecountry.

His goal is to open 25 centers and give the sameopportunity to every child in Haiti. After spendingtime getting to know the kids in his program I cansay one thing for certain: this idea is working!!!

These kids who came from the same slum Idelivered water to were some of the most energetic,spirited and healthy kids I have seen ...and they allhave big dreams for their futures.

I spent an afternoon with a group of L’Athletiqueboys who I challenged to a friendly competition. Itold them that I wanted to show some Minnesotasoccer teams that not only can the Haitians athletestear up a soccer field, but their creative ingenuity isa force to be reckoned with as well.

So I collected a pile of garbage from around thearea (plastic bottles, old rice bags, bottle caps,sticks, plastic bags, etc.), placed them in a pile onthe table and told the kids to show me what they

Dina Fesler

9

can turn this stuff into. In less than 30minutes, the boys had created toy cars,kites and other imaginative items thatjust blew me away…although I imaginethe Grinch would have been prettypissed off.

We shall see if I can find a Minnesotasoccer team game to reciprocate.

Whether they become the future soccerstars they dream about or not, they arebecoming the future problem solvers oftheir world through their education, lifeskills and competitive spirit. Personally, Ibelieve that these kids are exactly whatcan pull Haiti out of the trenches ofdespair and put Feed My StarvingChildren out of business (in a good way,of course).

Despite the political instability, unrest,poverty, and overwhelming need, theHaitian people are proud, passionate

and loving people who all want to see a better life for their children. According toBoby, “kids are the only thing that Haitians can agree on.” I couldn't agree more.

~ Dina Fesler

P.O. Box 141Dennison, Minnesota 55018www.childrenscultureconnection.org

c/o Robert DuvalP.O Box 15572Petion-Ville, Haitiwww.lathletiquedhaiti.com

c/o Fr. Bernard Reiser Water Truck1800 - 111th Ave NW Apt 320Coon Rapids, MN 55433www.reiserrelief.com

401 93rd Avenue NWCoon Rapids, MN 55433www.fmsc.org

6401 Lyons RoadCoconut Creek, FL 33073www.foodforthepoor.org

10