Love and Community at COHH– A Volunteer Shares Her Experience

Caroline Bruno, a long time volunteer with COHH in the United States, recently made her first trip to Hinche, Haiti to spend a week at our site with the children and staff.  She was kind enough to share her impressions with us.  We are grateful to Caroline for the dedication she has shown COHH and for her words:

Amidst the hustle and busyness of life we ought to take pause to evaluate our plans. Organizations and individuals take stock of current status of things to determine how they fear, and then decide on a course of action for moving forward.  At the heart of this exercise is the question, “What’s working?”  At the Center of Hope (Haiti) school and orphanage in Hinche, Haiti the answer to that question is-- Love.

The love that staff exude toward each other, students, parents and visitors is wholesome, and offered as if there is no substitute.  At COHH, love is evident in every aspect of the day:  in an early morning walk around the compound with carefully maintained landscaping; in the vibrant chant of Haiti’s national anthem by students doing their assembly ritual; teachers who supervise students during this exercise and whose voices bellow in chorus.

Lessons begin and one can tell there is teaching and learning.  On this day students in grade 2 are learning masculine and feminine nouns with grand enthusiasm.  Meanwhile, kitchen staff are responsible for the intoxicating smells permeating the air.  Soon enough there is a burst of energy as kids approach the dining hall knowing something good is about to be served.  Some more love make it to a pot of stew.  Staff are diligent in preparation, always delivering a fine meal.

At afternoon recreation there is a ruckus, sounding more like a racket, and lots and lots of running.  Skipping and football are a must, and you bet fallen mangoes onto school property will not go to waste.  At day’s end all students leave for home except four precious orphans.

The four orphans live on-site where they are loved and cared for by Rolane, a dedicated staffer who joined COHH in June 2015.  She easily puts her nursing background to work, making the orphans want for nothing in the realm of care.  She treats them like they are her children.  The love is reciprocal.  Center of Hope (Haiti) is home to these four orphans and it is second to none in their impressionable lives.  Rolane joins me for a moment to share the joy of her experience.  In an emotional plea (to me only at that time), she wishes COHH could blast “billboards” in Morique for “tout mond lan” (all the world), to give visibility to the huge undertaking by COHH.  She will remain here as long as they need her.  She is a love ambassador.

By now it’s a quieter part of the day.  The only distraction is tapping and distant chatter coming from the construction site.  A group of men enjoy each other’s company as they complete the foundational structure for the new school classrooms.

Another day, teachers effortlessly engage in conversation, sharing why they are here.  In Creole they explain their love for teaching, for education, and for the “bon travay” (good work) that COHH is doing.  Teachers are hopeful that COHH will produce nurses, doctors, lawyers, and……..a country president someday.

 Any visitor to a classroom is greeted with a warm welcome (in chorus) by students who stand as a mark of respect and courtesy.  One need not understand the entire greeting.  It starts with “Bon”.  And it’s all “good”.  A random stop in a class reveals a potential future leader.  A third-grader is at the board with a pointer leading her classmates in a lesson.

Another day ends this time, signaled by the screeching of the main entrance gate.  It also signals the safety and security of those – staffers, volunteers, visitors – who remain on-site to wind down and plan ahead another day. 

What’s working?  Bon bagay.  Good things.  Amongst these good things is love.