Haitian Roots - Supporting Haiti's Children Through Education
Haiti has an unemployment rate of over 60 percent. It has been estimated that 90 percent of the population lives on less than $100 a year. With the cost of public schooling at about $250 per child each year, education is a luxury many children just cannot afford.
Without access to even a basic education, Haiti's children are trapped in a cycle of poverty that has plagued the country for generations. We realize that one effective way to break this cycle is through education. For $250 a year, we are able to send a child to
their local school and provide proper school uniforms and books when needed. At Haitian Roots, we believe the old Chinese proverb that says, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Please join us in
supporting Haiti's children and make a donation today!
Article in Ogden Standard Examiner
January 30th, 2010
Students dig deep all week to help Haiti
OGDEN — Students across the Top of Utah are digging deep into their pockets to raise money to send to Haiti’s earthquake victims.
Students at Bonneville and Davis high schools, Rocky Mountain and North Ogden junior high schools and Uintah Elementary School are participating in a weeklong fundraiser called “Hope for Haiti: Dig Deep Week.”
The goal is to raise as much loose change as possible by today to send to the country devastated by earthquakes.
“We are just trying to raise as much money as we can for the amazing earthquake victims,” said Davis High School student Kelsey Coy.
“They are so strong, and we have so much here, so it’s our responsibility to give back what we can.”
The fundraiser was coordinated by Shannon Cox, Nancy Waterfall and Chareyl Moyes, who are members of Haitian Roots, a local charitable organization whose purpose is to provide education opportunities for Haitian children.
In light of the current situation in Haiti, the women began asking students for help in providing disaster relief.
“Each school is being asked to run a weeklong project inviting students, faculty and staff to contribute their change to containers located in classrooms,” Waterfall said.
“We felt it would be good to let the community enjoy the blessings of such a project.”
Emilee Barker, student body president of North Ogden Junior High School, is excited her school was asked to participate.
“It’s such a sad situation over there, we want to raise as much money as we can,” she said. “On Monday, we had a ‘Musical Monday,’ where we played inspirational music during classes. We were hoping this music would make students want to donate.”
On $2 Tuesday, students were asked to bring in a couple of bucks to donate.
Wednesday was Haiti Hat Day, so students who gave $2 at the beginning of school got to wear a hat all day.
“Hats are against the dress code rules, so to be able to wear a hat for just one day would be a lot of fun,” Emilee said.
Students were asked to bring in $3 on Thursday, and today’s schedule features a home basketball game, another opportunity to donate.
Principal Gina Butters said one student donated the $50 he received for his birthday.
Each fifth-grade class is competing to raise the most donations, with the winners getting root beer floats, she said.
Mimi Miller, student body vice president, said she made several canvas bags to sell for $7. She said other students have been babysitting, shoveling snow and forgoing candy bars to donate money.
“At first, we were nervous about asking people for money because of the economy, and we just had a big Christmas fundraiser, but our school is the type that would donate again,” Mimi said.
“We feel like this is our chance to make a difference, and everyone is way pumped up about it.”
Cox, who co-founded Haitian Roots and adopted a son from Haiti, and Waterfall will collect the money today.
Haitian Roots President Isson Joseph will travel to Haiti to oversee the distribution of funds to buy food, medical supplies and other life-sustaining necessities as well as to help the children being aided within the organization.
“We really want to impress upon people that the rebirth of Haiti is going to be a very long and difficult process, and we don’t want people to forget,” Cox said.
“If any school is interested in getting involved in a similar project, please contact us at info@haitianroots.com.”
Haitian Roots also is trying to collect and buy tents.
The organization has been able to account so far for only about 40 of the 133 children it supports.
“We already know that many of them are homeless. At least a few of them are newly orphaned. We have lost some of them,” Cox said.
“Chareyl is in Haiti right now on adoption business but is also trying to help locate our children.”
Donations to Haitian Roots are tax-deductible. If you would like to help, go to www.haitianroots.com.