Originally Published 8/05.
 Despite the looming elections, the general state of insecurity, and kidnappings which were as common as Tap-Taps driving up and down busy Port-au-Prince streets, HaitiXchange decided to go to Haiti recently with an organization called Haiti Lumiere de Demain. Surprisingly, I found Haiti to be the calmest I had seen it at least two years.
Haiti Lumiere de Demain (HLD), founded by Louis Elneus, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization with the primary goal of promoting literacy in primary and secondary schools in Haiti. Louis, a native of the Island of La Gonave, makes frequent trips to the island, often bringing foreigners (blans), to sample the island’s richness and help out in any way they can.
This particular trip was to explore introducing music instruction in the regular curriculum. Although music is an integral part of Haitian culture, there is very little, if any, formal instruction in Haiti’s public schools.
 This trip was comprised of Monica Attell, a music teacher from Connecticut who had obtained 75 donated recorders (flutes) which she would use to introduce music in the classroom to teachers as well as their students. This would be her very first time in Haiti.
Billy Fitzgerald, a consummate filmmaker, also accompanied us and would document the trip for the purpose of making a documentary of Monica’s efforts, entitled “The Pied Piper of La Gonave”.
Mark Stanczak, who was making his first trip out of the U.S., let alone to Haiti, captured the trip in a series of remarkable photographs.
 |
 |
Pascal of HaitiXchange chillin’ in La Gonave |
Louis Elneus,, founder of Haiti Lumiere de Demain. |
I went along because t had been a long time since I had been to Haiti, and I wanted to report on La Gonave for HaitiXchange.com. Also, I was excited about this, because although I have traveled extensively throughout Haiti, I had never been to La Gonave and had always wanted to know exactly what was there.
After getting through the hair-raising boat ride to the island, we discovered a place which had no roads, no running water, or electricity…but was full of beauty, friendly people, and free of the stresses that you find on the Haitian mainland. We were able to walk the streets at 3 o’clock in the morning and feel completely safe.
 |
 |
Filmmaker Billy Fitzgerald, Photographer Mark Stanczak, and Pascal of HaitiXchange. |
The children of La Gonave get ready to learn how to play the recorder. |
As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been to
Haiti often, but this trip will probably be one of my most memorable trips. What I will remember the most is all the kids who would show up day after day in their very best clothes for Monica’s music lessons.
|
