Educational Clinics
Sharon, Tiffany, Madame Wendel, Lilias, Madame Duclair, Tammy, Madame Wilma
When we started on this trip, we talked to our translators to get an idea of something that could be done to help the people of the area. One thing that kept coming up was an educational clinic. Education is not always learning to read or write, it is sometimes learning about how to care for your body or your family. Talking to some amazing ladies, we worked to form an educational clinic that would discuss sex education, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, proper hygiene including hand washing, and discussion of the family unit.
We learned that one thing that would be very valuable would be hygiene products. Sometimes something as simple as a toothbrush or wash cloth are shared by all members of a family. So we started a fundraising effort to provide some basic hygiene products. We received a generous donation of toothbrushes from a local dental business. We had our translator do some pricing in Haiti (as we like to purchase in country as much as possible) and found that wash clothes were more expensive in Haiti, so we purchased many washcloths to take with us. When we arrived, several of our team members along with our translator Ronald went to local markets and stores to purchase toothpaste, bags, and bars of soap. We spent a fun evening putting together gift bags that would be handed out to each person who attended.
We hosted a clinic at 3 locations, using our wonderful new friends to do the teaching. Lots of questions were asked by those in attendance, lots of laughs were had, and when asked what we could do at another time, more education was requested. Reinforcement of proper ways to wash the hands and brush the teeth goes a long ways in helping keep the body healthy.
We want to thank our educators, Claudine Duclair, Magalie Fleurimond, and Madame Michael. And as always, our amazing translator and friend Ronald, who helped to pull it all together.
