Page 30 - May 2014 Dell & Cannon

WHAT’S
Happening
at RE
28 May 2014 I Ransom Everglades School I Dell + Cannon
the past year. Located in the mountains of Haiti the trip to the orphanage was a breathtaking experience. The
orphanage sits on thirteen acres, is primarily self-sustainable and includes a water filtration system, a garden
and a tilapia farm. All of the children live and attend school on the property. Conditions are rudimentary by
our standards, but the orphanage provides more than these kids may be able to afford on their own. The
dormitories are bare, with concrete floors and little to no decorations. The bathrooms are much in need of
repair, and the walls enclosing the orphanage are crumbling. Our guide stressed the need to secure the facility
and that money is needed to repair the walls. Inside the compound walls music filled the air and soccer served
as a main attraction at the center of the campus.
The best part of our visit was spending time with the children. We brought coloring books, crayons, markers,
and little games. It was magical to watch them play. We spoke with the older kids about their interests and
what we could do to help make their lives better. The high school girls urged us to send popular magazines like
Seventeen and People — the images decorate their walls and provide a window into our world. They shared
our love of Beyonce as evidenced by the magazine clippings of her among celebrities decorating their walls.
We asked how they would like us to help. Many responded by saying how grateful and fortunate they were
to be in the orphanage. We then asked what little things would brighten their days. In response the Ransom
Everglades Haiti Initiative will be collecting magazines and other decorative dorm supplies for the girls. The
boys of the orphanage enjoy the outdoors and do not have adequate athletic equipment, so we will collect
and send balls and other sports gear. Please drop your donations off in the VSO boxes located outside of
Dean Cramp’s office.
RE Visits St. Helene’s Orphanage, continued.
Sophi Butnaru ’14, Rachel Carta Wagman ’14, Ashley Dotson ’14,
Ellison Hersch ’15, Christy Abraham ’15, Natalie Austin ’15, Adele
Austin ’15, Sageene Francis ’15, and Rebecca Fransique ’15
Scholars visited several galleries
Mr. Webber Charles, Haiti’s President of the Senate Simon
Dieuseul Desras, and Mrs. Laura Miller
Campus News
We would like to thank Youri Mevs for her unwavering generosity
and hospitality by providing lodging, food, security, and travel
accommodations during our mission in Haiti. We would also like to
thank Maggie Austin for her support in the planning of our visit.