Haiti Impressions | July 2012
by Caroline Carson, St. Paul's Episopal Church, Director of Music
 Dr. Caroline Carson (pictured at left, working with campers), Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal and Director of Choral Studies at The University of New Orleans, had the amazing chance of a lifetime this past July 2012. She traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti with the Red Thread Promise (www.redthreadpromise.org ) to take part in Camp Jake and represent St. Paul’s continuing and much-needed support of the St. Vincent Episcopal School and Home.
Camp Jake is an annual summer camp designed to meet the special needs of handicapped children from the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The team consisted of 16 counselors who worked with 45 campers—including the blind, deaf and non-ambulatory - for a week on the Haitian coast. The camp removed physical and emotional barriers, giving participating children the chance to engage in creative arts, as well as physical and social activities under the supervision of a team of volunteer counselors, artists, musicians, mentors and healthcare professionals.
St. Vincent's is an Episcopal orphanage and home for the disabled and handicapped in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It is both a residential and a day school with a good medical clinic. They host between 200 and 300 children and residents range in age from five to 61. It was founded in 1945 by the sisters of the  order of St. Margaret, an Episcopal order. The school is now under the Episcopal diocese of Haiti. There are caregivers on site and food, medical needs, and living quarters are provided, but the center is greatly underfunded. While they receive visitors throughout the year and members are selected for Camp Jake (The Red Thread Promise), it is all they can do to provide for basic needs. They have medical, educational, and prosthetic programs at the school. Father Sadoni is connected to St. Vincent's, though he has a church of his own where he is rector. The Episcopal Church in Haiti is large and had a presence at the 2012 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, held in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Diocese of Haiti is the Anglican Communion diocese which is actually the entire country of Haiti. Holy Trinity Cathedral, located in Port-au-Prince has been destroyed six times, including in the most recent earthquake of 2010.
The concept for Camp Jake was inspired by 13-year-old Jacob Richard, who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a degenerative terminal illness,” said Tom Landry II, director of Camp Jake and a  member of The Red Thread board. “Our camp brings Jacob's selfless, energetic spirit to the orphaned children of St. Vincent's. We believe every child deserves the most life has to offer, regardless of disability, class, race or circumstance. Camp Jake assures that physical limitations are left behind and replaced with endless opportunities for emotional and physical development in a fun-filled atmosphere."
“While in Haiti, I worked as one of the musical leaders for the camp, helping to lead singing and rhythm instrument practice. My fellow team members were Casey Savage, guitar, and Andy Richard, cajon drum and guitar. Music served as an engaging activity for the entire camp and also a stress reliever for some of the campers, enabling them to learn teamwork, gain confidence, and laugh together.
 Another activity that I led was storytelling. Mostly the blind children enjoyed sitting and listening to fairy tales and funny stories and they brought their friends over to hear what was going on.
One evening, while helping one group and returning upstairs to meet with my three campers, Rosanna, Roseline, and Jesula, I found them singing in three-part harmony.
It was so beautiful and had mesmerized the other counselors nearby. I was able to record some of the singing here at these links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Fh-hLEAik&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6r9ZXxiVc0&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3IIyWJTmzY&feature=youtu.be
Some of the most wonderful parts of the camp included seeing how the campers opened up to us throughout the week and watching them gain confidence as well as a sense of dignity. A shining example: I saw several kids literally coming alive here when one of the counselors spoke to them or picked them up and swirled them into the air. Little Diyana in her wheelchair STOOD UP at one point during one of the crazy music jam sessions and she was wiggling a little dance. We all went nuts. One time, Sonya held little Auguste in her arms and he stood up out of his chair and smiled and just hugged her back super strongly and stroked her face and arms. It was INCREDIBLE to see what a little contact and love could do!
One thing that struck me from the very beginning is that this Camp Jake experience is a hallmark of our young campers’ lives. About a third are blind, a third are deaf, and there are many in wheelchairs. There were initial big smiles as they descended from the buses, but it took a day or so to see some of them truly opening up and letting their personalities out. They were so much fun!! They are a vibrant and sparkling group. I have trouble with any country or government that feels anyone with any disability is a “waste of life” or "untouchable". Our campers were AMAZING. I loved to see how they help each other and look out for each other. I also loved seeing them become more open with us during the week, teasing us, or speaking out in group activities
Oxilous – a.k.a. “Freebird” enjoying a rare ice cream treat!
It is a powerful thing to be witness to someone’s life change and to be changed by your witness to their experience. Thank you St. Paul’s for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful week of incredible love and work. I hope you will continue to support this wonderful project and The Red Thread Promise! For blog posts from Caroline with more photos and videos, please see: www.carsonia.blogspot.com
ABOUT THE RED THREAD PROMISE
The Red Thread Promise (TRTP) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide hope and healing for needy and orphaned children—children who have no one to advocate for them and cannot advocate for themselves. Our program exists to improve the quality of life for these children. We provide them with the treatment they need so that they can each lead a life with dignity, health and hope. Find us online at www.redthreadpromise.org. Follow us on Facebook: The Red Thread Promise or on Twitter: Red Thread Promise.
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St. Paul's Music Director Goes to Haiti
Dr. Caroline Carson, Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal and Director of Choral Studies at The University of New Orleans, has the chance of a lifetime this July 2012. While she has traveled internationally and taught overseas in academic situations, Caroline jumped at the opportunity to go to and make a difference in the lives of others in a non-tourist location: Port-au-Prince, Haiti with the Red Thread Promise.
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Religion and Ethics News Weekly (PBS) | January 6, 2012
Tis the season of love, hope and miracles.
Here's a gift that has them all. Help us unwrap our very special gift from Be Productions by clicking on the link below, then please share it with your friends, family and colleagues.
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Wheelchair project in Hait
Together we can and do make a difference.
Thank you St. Paul's and many Episcopal churches across the US and Canada for helping to make our first wheelchair distribution in Haiti possible. View our story by visiting:
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2011, 2010
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